Last week I mentioned I’d wanted to do an extended essay on the Zion Narrows trail , but hadn’t worked on the images. I took so many images, it still took me a long time to narrow down and then process a few. As mentioned before, the first mile of the trail is an easy paved hike from the end of the canyon road, and even wheelchair accessible for a good part of the way. After the trail ends, you need to hike in the Virgin River to continue up the canyon. I would guess in the blazing summer heat, it’s great to get in. January is a bit different. Fortunately, several outfitters in Springdale, a small community right outside the park entrance, will equip you. I had excellent results with the appropriately named Zion Outfitter, who let me have the equipment the day before at no extra charge so I could get an early start on the hike. The gear included neoprene socks to keep your feet warm, canyoneering boots to walk on the slippery rocks, and dry pants and bibs to keep you dry in the deeper water. And what was most essential—a sturdy walking stick to feel the water depth, where footing might be and keep you upright on slippery rocks in the heavy current. There are a few areas where there are rocks on the side of the canyon that you can get out of the water and walk on.
Fern wall, Zion Narrows
Rocky shore
However, most of the hike is just in water with canyon walls on both sides. The images look calm, and I expected a fairly easy hike. It turned out to be quite strenuous. While the water looks calm, it flows at a vigorous rate that you have to push against going upstream. While it looks clear, the flow and glare don’t allow you to see most steps, so you need to place every footstep carefully on a solid area before going on to the next step. I was using very different muscles for this kind of hike, and they let me know that night!
But there are so many spots to just stop and soak in the view.
Coves and stones
Wall art
Canyon wall tree
Zion is a place of so many contrasts. In the red rock desert, the Virgin River and tributaries are oasis of lush growth. In a frozen January, with snow and ice on the walls, water drips among ferns.
Ice and shower
In a few weeks, the spring thaw will close this hike because the water will be too high. In summer, the trail will be closed when storms are nearby because water will funnel into the canyon and there will be no safe space in the flash flood. The many images I’ve seen of summer hiking has the canyon filled with people since Zion is now the third most visited park. But on this January day, I didn’t see another person for the first two and a half hours, and saw just a dozen people all day enjoying the solitude of this wonder.
