Hikers wading through the Virgin River between tall sandstone walls in the Zion Narrows, Utah

Zion Narrows Top-Down: 2-Day Itinerary and Permits

Sixteen miles in a river, one night at a numbered campsite, and a flow limit that decides if you go.

16.0 mi · 2 days · Hard
By

Photo: Christian Schirm, Public domain

The Narrows top-down is the whole Virgin River gorge in one trip: 16 miles (25.7 km) from Chamberlain's Ranch, outside the park, to the Temple of Sinawava at the end of Zion Canyon, up to 1,000 feet (305 m) deep and in places 30 feet (9 m) wide. There is no maintained trail. The river is the route, and at least 80 percent of it is wading, walking and swimming.

The park allows it in two ways, and both need a permit. One is a single very long day; the park estimates 10 to 14 hours. The other, which this page lays out, is one night at a numbered campsite: 12 sites, all roughly halfway along. You cannot stay more than one night, you cannot walk upstream to a site, and you must start at Chamberlain's Ranch and end at the Temple of Sinawava. If you want a short Narrows day, the bottom-up hike from the Temple of Sinawava is a different trip with no permit, and it does not go beyond Big Spring.

The decision that matters is the river, not the permit. The route closes above 120 cfs and whenever a Flash Flood Warning is out, and permits are not issued during closures. Book a campsite for a date, then watch the flow and the forecast, and be ready to move. Getting to the ranch is its own piece of planning: there is no park shuttle, so you need a permitted shuttle or a second car and a driver.

The Route on the Map

Each day in its own color, with the start and every night's stop numbered along the way.

Loading map...

Elevation Profile

Highest 5,880 ft (1,791 m) · lowest 4,420 ft (1,348 m)

5,880 ft4,420 ft1
0 mi16.0 mi (25.7 km)

Route line: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), simplified. Elevations: USGS 3D Elevation Program (public domain).

Day by Day

2 legs and 1 night on the way, each in a different place.

  1. Shallow clear river over pebbles at the foot of a sheer dark canyon wall in the Zion Narrows, with leafless trees and a sandy bank on the left
    Day 1

    Day 1: Chamberlain's Ranch to your campsite

    Chamberlain's Ranch TrailheadtoNarrows campsite 7

    Distance
    10.2 mi 16.4 km

    The first 3 miles (4.8 km) are a road walk, from the pit toilet across the river to the end of the road past the old cabin; the park's timetable gives Bulloch's Cabin as the first hour. After that you are in the river. The timetable for a one-day trip reaches the First Narrows at 3 hours 30 minutes, a waterfall at 4:15, Deep Creek at 5:00 and Kolob Creek at 5:45, with breaks and photos allowed for. Deep Creek is where campsite 1 sits, and campsite 6 is at the Kolob Creek confluence.

    Campsite 7 is a 10-minute walk beyond Kolob Creek, on the left about 30 feet (9 m) up on a bench, and takes up to 6 people. The park describes sites 1 to 12 in order downstream, so a lower number means a shorter first day and a longer second one. Any of the 12 works for this page: the first day runs from about 9 miles (14.3 km) to site 1 to about 11.4 miles (18.3 km) to site 12. The park publishes no distance to any campsite, so the numbers for the two days are not official. They come from where each campsite sits along a map line of the river, scaled so the whole line equals the official 16 miles (25.7 km). Treat them as approximate. The page splits the days at site 7, about 10.2 miles (16.4 km) in, and leaves 5.8 miles (9.3 km) for day 2.

    Sleep
    Narrows campsite 7 (reservable, up to 6 people) · Backcountry campsite · How to book
    Water
    No safe river water. Carry it all; Big Spring is on day 2, below campsite 12.Reported Nov 2026, verify before you go

    Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0

  2. The clear river runs in riffles between boulders and a gravel bar below red canyon walls and green trees at the Gateway to the Narrows on the Riverside Walk
    Day 2

    Day 2: Campsite to the Temple of Sinawava

    Narrows campsite 7toTemple of Sinawava (Shuttle Stop 9)

    Distance
    5.8 mi 9.3 km

    From the camp the park's timetable puts Goose Creek at 6:35 and Big Spring at 7:20 on a one-day pace, then Orderville Canyon at 10:00, the north end of the Riverside Walk at 11:50 and the Temple of Sinawava at 12:20. The mouth of Goose Creek is easy to miss. Big Spring is on the right bank and hard to miss; it also marks the point where day hikers from the bottom up must turn around, so the canyon below it is busier.

    The last mile (1.6 km) is the paved Riverside Walk, and then the shuttle. In shuttle season check the last bus out of the canyon before you start: the park warns that you may have to walk 9 miles (14.5 km) to the visitor center if you miss it or it is full. Outside shuttle season you can drive to the Temple of Sinawava, so a car can wait for you there.

    Water
    Big Spring flows from the wall about 10 feet (3 m) up and usually runs year-round; treat the water. Tap water at the Temple of Sinawava.Reported Nov 2026, verify before you go

    Photo: John Manard, CC BY-SA 2.0

Permits

A permit is required

Every top-down trip needs a Zion Wilderness permit, even the one-day through-hike. Multi-night trips through the Narrows are not permitted: the overnight permit is for exactly one night in one of the 12 designated campsites, starting at Chamberlain's Ranch and finishing at the Temple of Sinawava. The overnight fee is 20 USD per permit (not refundable) plus 7 USD per person per night (refundable). The maximum group for the Narrows overnight is 12 people, and each campsite has its own limit (2 to 12) on the park's campsite page.

Half of the campsites can be reserved ahead on recreation.gov; the park lists sites 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 12 as online reservations and sites 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 11 as first-come, first-served walk-ins. The recreation.gov page opens reservations in three-month blocks at 10 a.m. Mountain Time, on the 5th of the month before the block starts (5 December for January to March, 5 March for April to June, 5 June for July to September, 5 September for October to December). A reservation is not a permit. The reservation holder must collect the permit in person at the Wilderness Desk in the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, the day before or the day of the trip, with the make, model and plate of each vehicle, and allow at least 20 minutes. The permit cannot be transferred, so cancel on recreation.gov if you drop out.

The walk-in sites are not a plan B you can count on for a date you picked weeks ago: nobody can tell you in advance whether one will be free, and no permits are issued while the river is closed. Pick the permit up the day before, because the ranch is a 1.5-hour drive from the canyon. If the flow or forecast rules out your date, cancel on recreation.gov: the per-person fee is refunded if you cancel or shrink the group before 5 p.m. on the day of the trip, and the 20 USD permit fee never is.

Note, 1 November 2026: the release dates recreation.gov lists run through 5 September 2026, so check the page for the next one.

The lottery

The one-day through-hike has its own lottery. Apply on recreation.gov two days before the trip date, between 12:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Mountain Time, with results by email around 4:00 p.m. It allows one application per person and up to four canyons. Unclaimed permits go first-come, first-served at the Wilderness Desk the day before. Day-use fees are a 6 USD application or reservation fee plus 10 USD per person (refundable). This is the lottery for a day trip only; the overnight trip on this page is booked through the reservation calendar.

The official permit page

Getting There and Back

How to reach the start of the Zion Narrows Top-Down, and how to get home from the end.

The start

Chamberlain's Ranch, a private ranch outside the park, about 1.5 hours from Zion Canyon on paved and dirt roads. The park's directions: from the East Entrance drive 2.5 miles (4.0 km) east on Route 9, turn left on a paved road and continue 18 miles (29.0 km) to a bridge over the North Fork of the Virgin River, then turn left beyond the bridge and drive three-quarters of a mile (1.2 km) to the trailhead. There may be a gate; close it behind you. Park at the pit toilet just before the river crossing. From there you cross the river and walk the road for about 3 miles (4.8 km), and enter the river at the end of the road just past the old cabin. Overnight camping at the trailhead is not allowed.

The end

The Temple of Sinawava, Zion Shuttle Stop 9, at the end of the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. The last stretch is the paved Riverside Walk, which is part of the line on this page. In shuttle season the Zion Canyon shuttle takes about 45 minutes back to the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, where your car can wait.

Shuttle

Permit holders arrange their own ride to Chamberlain's Ranch: the park does not run one. It recommends a commercial shuttle service for through-hikes, which must hold a current Commercial Use Authorization from Zion National Park (search for the authorized list, and book it early). The other way is a second car and a driver who takes you up and goes back. On the Zion Canyon side, private vehicles cannot drive the Scenic Drive during shuttle season, which the park describes as early March through late November. Note, 1 November 2026: the park's timetable runs from 13 September to 2 January 2027 with no service from 29 November to 25 December, and the last bus out of the canyon leaves the Temple of Sinawava at 6:15 p.m. from 25 October to 28 November. The dates change every year. Check the shuttle page for the date you go. If you miss the last bus or it is full, the park says you may have to walk 9 miles (14.5 km) back to the visitor center. Private vehicles may drive the Scenic Drive only when the shuttle is not running, usually December through February.

Parking

Wilderness permit holders may park overnight at trailheads on roads open to private vehicles, or at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center. Put the blue tag with your permit number on the dashboard of every vehicle. At Chamberlain's Ranch, park at the pit toilet before the river crossing; camping at the trailhead is not allowed.

Safety

  • Flash floods. A flash flood in the canyon can arrive as a wall of water 12 feet (3.7 m) or more, within minutes or seconds, from a storm miles away. Read the National Weather Service flash flood potential rating before you start: Not Expected, Possible, Probable or Expected. The park says Possible, Probable and Expected are a serious cause for concern, and flooding can still happen on a day rated Not Expected. If the water turns muddy, carries branches or you hear a roar up-canyon, climb higher at once and stay there. Levels usually drop within 24 hours.

  • Closures. The top-down route is closed whenever the Virgin River flow is above 120 cfs, and the whole river is closed to hiking above 150 cfs and whenever the National Weather Service has a Flash Flood Warning in effect, plus at least 2 hours after it is lifted. The park does not issue permits during a closure. Check the flow on the USGS gauge page that the park links, and have a back-up plan, because the river can close at any time.

  • Cold water. At least 80 percent of the route is wading, walking and swimming in the river, with a swift current and slippery boulders, and some sections need swimming even when the flow is low. Water can be 38 to 45 F (3 to 7 C) in winter. Hypothermia happens quickly in a narrow canyon, and the park says it can happen in summer too. Stop, change into dry layers and warm up at the first shivering, stumbling or confusion.

  • What the park recommends. Beyond the waste bags and food storage above, the park recommends sturdy closed-toe footwear with ankle support (sandals and bare feet are not appropriate), walking sticks or poles for balance and to test depth in cloudy water, a headlamp (a phone light is not enough), and extra warm clothing in a dry bag for every person in every season. In spring, fall and winter the park says neoprene or a wetsuit or drysuit may be needed. Avoid cotton.

  • Injuries. Lower leg fractures are among the most common injuries in the Zion Wilderness, mostly from jumping off rocks. Lower yourself down or go around. Stop walking before you look around. The park says rescues in the Narrows are long and uncomfortable, and that a permit is not a safety net.

  • Water you can drink. The park says never to drink from the river or streams, because cyanotoxins can be present and filters do not remove them to safe levels; the risk rises during and after rain. Take enough for the trip, at least one gallon (3.8 liters) per person per day. If you refill, take it directly from a spring and treat it. Big Spring is just downstream of campsite 12. Springs can vary, so ask at the Wilderness Desk.

  • Waste and food. There are no toilets in the canyon. Every person in a permit group must carry out human waste and toilet paper, with at least one waste bag each. Food must be stored in a hard-sided container or an interlocking wire mesh bag hung out of reach of wildlife.

  • The road. The dirt road to Chamberlain's Ranch is passable for normal cars only when dry, and when wet it may be impassable even for four-wheel drive, sometimes for several days after a storm. Allow the 1.5 hours and a margin for your ride.

Zion Narrows Top-Down: FAQ

Do you need a permit to hike the Narrows from the top down?

Yes, for the single-day through-hike and for the one-night trip. Both start at Chamberlain's Ranch and end at the Temple of Sinawava. The permit is issued in person at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center Wilderness Desk, even if you reserved on recreation.gov. The bottom-up hike from the Temple of Sinawava needs no permit.

How long does the Narrows top-down take?

The park estimates 10 to 14 hours for the 16 miles (25.7 km) in one day, or two days with an overnight permit. The route is about 16 miles (25.7 km) one way, and the park lists 1,300 feet (400 m) under elevation.

When is the Narrows closed because of the river flow?

The top-down route is closed above 120 cfs, and the whole river is closed to hiking above 150 cfs. It is also closed when the National Weather Service issues a Flash Flood Warning, and for at least 2 hours after. Spring snowmelt often closes it in April and May, and monsoon storms in July to September.

How do you get to Chamberlain's Ranch?

By car or a commercial shuttle, about 1.5 hours from Zion Canyon on paved and dirt roads. The park does not provide transportation. Shuttle companies must hold a Commercial Use Authorization from Zion National Park. The road is passable for normal cars only when dry.

How many campsites are there in the Narrows?

Twelve, roughly halfway along, with group limits from 2 to 12 people. Six can be reserved online and six are first-come, first-served walk-ins, picked up in person the day before or the morning of the trip. Overnight trips are limited to one night.

Can you hike the Narrows top-down in one day?

Yes, with a day permit from the advance reservations or the two-days-ahead lottery on recreation.gov. The park estimates 10 to 14 hours. The shuttle season adds a deadline, because you must catch the last bus out of the canyon.

What do you wear and carry for the Narrows?

The park requires a human waste bag for each person and wildlife-proof food storage, and recommends sturdy closed-toe shoes, poles, a headlamp and dry warm clothing in a dry bag. Whether you need neoprene depends on the water: 56 to 68 F (13 to 20 C) in summer, 41 to 53 F (5 to 12 C) in spring and fall.

Is there drinking water in the Narrows?

The park says never to drink from the river, because of cyanotoxins. Springs such as Big Spring are the source if you must refill, and the water needs treating. Carry about one gallon (3.8 liters) per person per day.

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