The Best Time to Hike the Zion NarrowsWater levels in July and August are good for hiking, but those months are hot and the risk of thunderstorms is high. Always check the weather forecast before attempting the Narrows.
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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.
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.
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.
The Narrows is located in the narrowest part of Zion Canyon and the Virgin River that runs through the canyon is the trail for the hike. 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.
The park shuttle bus is required to access the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive and most of the hikes in Zion Canyon. Summer is the busiest time to visit Zion. Be prepared to share the park with around a half million other people each month. All available parking in Zion is often full by 9:00 am.
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.
The weather from June through September is usually 45 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. With Bryce Canyon being at a higher elevation of 8,000 to 9,000 feet, the nights cool down quite a bit. July is the hottest month of the summer with temperatures sometimes reaching into the 90s.
Wear Quick-Dry Clothes, Preferably ShortsYou will get wet on The Narrows hike, and it's best if your clothing can dry quickly. During hot weather, I recommend wearing shorts made of a quick-drying fabric. In chilly weather, dry pants are recommended.
Best time of day to hike the NarrowsIf you are only looking to do a small portion of the Narrows, then we recommend visiting in the late afternoon when it has warmed up a bit. The big rush tends to be in the morning as the people who want to hike the furthest start early.
The summer months of late May-early September are the best times to visit Utah for families and kids. To avoid scorching temps, I recommend visiting Utah in either late May, early June, or early September.
Best Time to Go to Zion National Park to Avoid CrowdsThe least crowded months in Zion are December to February when the weather is cold. If you're looking for warmer weather with fewer crowds, consider visiting from March to April or October to November instead.
Two completely different hikes. Narrows is level...as long as you consider walking in the river level (which it is not). Angels Landing is much more strenuous, uphill, and people with height or edge concerns are strongly discouraged.
The Narrows closes when the Virgin River flow rate is over 150 cubic feet per second (CFS) and when the National Weather Service issues a Flash Flood Warning.