Zion, Part One is here.
Once we reached the Zion Canyon floor, we found a place to park (difficult, even on a Tuesday in early April) and took a shuttle bus which would carry us to several stops along the Virgin River, which cuts through the Canyon.
While there are many beautiful hikes along the shuttle’s path, my husband and I knew which point would be the most memorable for our kids, since it was the reason we have always claimed Zion is our favorite national park in Utah: Hiking up the Virgin River to the Narrows.
Hiking the Narrows can be dangerous because of flooding — after a rain, the water rushes through the narrow canyon with such force that it can kill those who venture there. But there wasn’t any risk of rain, and although the river was higher than it was when I’d hiked it in the summer 20 years ago, what concerned me most was the frigid temperature. It couldn’t have been much above freezing.
But with a high of nearly 80-degrees air-temperature in the sun, the kids convinced us both we should go on the adventure that would surely create the most memorable journey of our entire trip. This well-worn path directly across from the starting point shows that many have hiked up the narrows. But at this time of year, most are wearing wetsuits.
We followed a pair of Germans as they zig-zagged across the river, so we could watch and see how difficult it might be (we ended up crossing three times up and three times back.) They’d gone without shoes and it seemed hard on their feet, so we left our hiking boots on, a risk to the boots, but not our soles. Although the rushing water reached just above our knees, it came with enough force that the kids were eager to hold Dad’s hands and cross together. As usual, I’m left behind taking photos of the backs of heads;)
A grand site, isn’t it? The only way to get the full magnificence of it is to hike into the Narrows.
As we returned to the starting point, we could see all the Zion visitors watching us. The German we’d followed up he river said,
“They are the tourists, we are the explorers!”
It’s a story our kids will tell their kids…
Southern Utah Series:
Bryce Canyon
ATV and Antelope
Zion National Park
Zion Canyon Family Adventure, Part II
ATV Trails
Mesa Verde, Colorado
Grand Canyon, Arizona
Tags: Narrows, Utah, Zion
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6:20 am
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6:21 am
[...] Utah Series: Bryce Canyon ATV and Antelope Zion National Park Zion Canyon Family Adventure, Part II ATV Trails Four Corners Mesa Verde, Colorado Grand Canyon, Arizona Filed In: *Travel with [...]
6:22 am
[...] of our adventures in Utah! Southern Utah Series: Bryce Canyon ATV and Antelope Zion National Park Zion Canyon Family Adventure, Part II ATV Trails Four Corners Mesa Verde, Colorado Grand Canyon, Arizona Filed In: *Travel with [...]
8:23 pm
Oh wow.
I’m jealous! Lol
Those are very beautiful pictures.
9:56 pm
What a gorgeous area!! I love the pictures!
8:47 pm
absolutely breathtaking (probably the cold water was too?)
All kids needs a parent that will do something like this with them.
1:40 pm
Terrific…an unforgettable family adventure.
Robert McCarty
7:18 am
[...] Utah Series: Bryce Canyon ATV and Antelope Zion National Park Zion Canyon Family Adventure, Part II ATV Trails Four Corners Mesa Verde, Colorado Grand Canyon, Arizona Filed In: *Travel with [...]