Is there cyanobacteria in the Narrows?

The park has advised visitors against swimming and submerging themselves in the contaminated water. At this time, La Verkin Creek and the North Fork of the Virgin River, including the popular Narrows hike, are under cyanobacteria-related advisories as well.



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“When you undertake the Narrows hike, you are committing to wading through water affected by this cyanobacteria, the park wrote on its Facebook page after detecting the bacteria in 2020. “There is currently an elevated risk to entering the water.

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Scientists have discovered cyanobacteria in Zion at the bottom of the Virgin River and its tributaries. Benthic cyanobacteria are the sort of cyanobacteria found adhering to river bottoms. On rocks, plants, along the banks of rivers, and on the river's edge, benthic cyanobacteria flourishes.

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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.

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Pee - Whenever possible, pee directly into the flowing water of the river. The smell of your urine, on land, will persist for months. At the very least, carry a ziplock bag to pack out your toilet paper. Water – There is reasonable water for drinking almost every step of The Narrows – literally.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Prior to your hike, stop at the visitor center to check the water levels. If the water levels are above 75 cubic feet per-second (cfs), DO NOT HIKE THE NARROWS.

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Dry pants or dry suit — the river can be very cold in the fall, winter, and spring, so you'll need extra gear if you plan on hiking during those seasons. If the water is cold, make sure you choose an outfitter that provides thicker neoprene socks and high-quality dry pants that won't leak through.

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