Zion N.P., Utah
Zion Narrows Top-Down
Sixteen miles of river between thousand-foot walls.
Closures & alerts
Checking official closures and alerts…
Straight from the managing agency, but postings lag. Always call or check the park page the week you go.
Hard
Difficulty
16 mi
Distance
350 ft
Elevation
6.5 h
Drive time
Jun – Oct
Best season
Trail map
Trail to take
Zion Narrows Top-Down — 16 mi · Hard
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Overview
You walk in the river almost the whole way. Wall Street narrows to twenty feet wide with light bouncing down from far overhead.
Permits: Wilderness permit required for top-down; check flash flood forecast daily.
Where to get your permit
Fees, lottery dates and quotas change every season — confirm on the agency page before you plan around them.
Where to camp or stay
Popular sites open on a booking window months ahead and sell out fast.
Highlights
Wall Street
Big Springs
Camp site 9 on the sandbar
Deep Creek confluence
Suggested itinerary
Day 1
Chamberlain's Ranch in
Shuttle to the top, 9 river miles, camp on a sandbar.
Day 2
Wall Street out
Early miles through the deepest narrows, finish at Temple of Sinawava.
Packing list
Checked against your gear closet — 4 items to sort out.
- Canyoneering shoes
- Neoprene socks
- Dry bags
- Sturdy walking stick
- Warm sleep layer
Add gear for this trip
Suggestions shift with the trip length, activities and the forecast above.
4 L
Per person, per day
2.5 L
Heaviest carry
5.5 lb
Water weight (2.2 lb/L)
5.5 lb
Gear 0.0 lb + water
- Sources unconfirmed — this assumes one mid-day refill. Check conditions before you go.
Food plan
- No-cook lunches
- One hot dinner
- Extra electrolytes
Weather & conditions
Next few days
National Weather Service
Alerts & notices
No active National Weather Service alerts for this location.
National Park Service · Zion National Park
- • The Narrows closes when Virgin River flow exceeds 150 cfs.
- • Cyanobacteria advisory — do not filter or drink river water.
Land-manager notices are curated; the Forest Service and Park Service don't publish an open alerts feed, so confirm on the official page before you drive.
Nearby camping
Gear recommendations
Know before you go. Routes, distances, elevation and conditions shown here are estimates and may be inaccurate or out of date. Trail conditions change, and closures happen. Check with the managing land agency, carry a topographic map and compass or GPS, tell someone your plans, and know your limits — you're responsible for your own safety in the outdoors.