Are The Narrows at Zion open in December?

You can hike the trail year-round, but due to the chilly water conditions in the winter, you will find less people than you would in the summer. Thankfully, if you decide to venture into The Narrows in the winter, a dry suit from Zion Adventure Co. will keep you nice and toasty throughout the hike.



People Also Ask

Most people hike The Narrows in the summer and early fall when the water tends to be at its warmest and the water level drops. However, life-threatening flash floods are possible at any time and are common during the monsoon season.

MORE DETAILS

The Narrows is a popular hike through the knee-deep Virgin River. Due to cold water temperature and high water levels, the trail is closed in winter and spring. The best time to hike The Narrows is from late May to October, but watch out for summer thunderstorms that can cause deathly flash floods.

MORE DETAILS

In general, most adults with a moderate fitness level will be fine and enjoy this activity. So if you're a beginner wanting to do the Zion Narrows day hike, don't worry! It can seem intimidating, but so long as you don't have difficulties getting around on a typical hike, you will be fine.

MORE DETAILS

Winter (December to February) Winter is a quieter time to visit Zion National Park with fewer visitors and the opportunity to see the park covered in snow. However, some areas of the park may be closed or inaccessible due to snow and ice.

MORE DETAILS

Most trails in Zion Canyon remain open during winter but some trails, such as Weeping Rock, Emerald Pools, Riverside Walk, and Angels Landing, may have areas that see little sun so be wary of icy patches. You may find snow and ice accumulation on trails as you head out of the canyon, so traction aides are recommended.

MORE DETAILS

The Narrows stretches for 16 miles but that's if you hike top-down. Most people hike between 2-6 hours on the Narrows hike when starting at the bottom (~6 miles round trip). Since the Narrows hike is an in-and-out trail, whatever mileage and time you put in hiking in, you have to do out.

MORE DETAILS

Sixteen mile trips through the Virgin River Narrows, from Chamberlain's Ranch to the Temple of Sinawava, can be done as a very long single-day hiking trip, or as a single overnight backpacking trip. Multi-night backpacking trips through the Virgin River Narrows are not permitted.

MORE DETAILS

Layers: The temperatures in the Zion Narrows can be much cooler than the rest of the park. In fact, we were surprisingly cold during most of the hike. Your bottoms are definitely going to get wet so we recommend wearing shorts or a bathing suit on the bottom.

MORE DETAILS

Winter = 40-45 degrees. Spring = 45-55 degrees.

MORE DETAILS