Zion! The Narrows

We rode our bikes into the park in the morning. The park shuttle pass was good from 8-9am into the park. Once up in the canyon you can ride around and back down anytime you like. Parking is advertised as very limited and we didn't want to have to pack up the RV if we had an easy alternative, so we rode our bikes the easy mile and walked into the park.

When Jim and I hiked the narrows 15 years ago, I don't remember crowds. We had camped in the park, so maybe we were there early enough, or maybe it just wasn't as popular. But the word is definitely out! It was crowded. But not so much that we couldn't keep our distance.

Hiking up the Narrows involves hiking in the water, stepping on medium sized, rounded rocks, through a narrow canyon with very steep sides. It's not as slippery as you might imagine, but it is as cold as you might imagine. After the initial shock, it's not bad at all (or maybe you go numb?). It is shocking there aren't more sprained ankles, but no injuries for the Caspers. The water depth can vary and there is a sign at the beginning showing how likely a flash flood is that day, so I know the water can come rushing dangerously down. But both times that we've been there, it's been an easy walk. This time, the water was low enough that there were quite a few exposed rock and sand places, so you didn't even have to get wet all the time if you didn't like. But there definitely were a few sections that where you didn't have a choice and had to walk in the water. The kids liked this hike, at least they say they did now that it's over. Adam and I chose to dunk ourselves in one deep section. And Jim and Laura probably got up to their waist by choice. But mostly we were ankle deep.

I like the shadows from the water bugs.

This was a lot like the Horseshoe Bend in Arizona

I told him he looked like a Greek statue in an alcove in a museum, so he played the part well.

I got to do some deep thinking as we walked and it struck me how individual this hike is compared to others. Even though other are people around you, it's not really a group activity. Everyone decides their own water depth, everyone picks their own path and their own rocks to step on, whether it's big or small or the ones peeking out of the top of the water or deep down. You're too busy trying not to fall to have conversation. You spend a lot of time looking down at your feet, and then every once in a while you look up and are amazed all over again at the beauty of the canyon. I know there's other gorgeous places in Zion, and I hope to go back and spend a lot of time there checking them all out, but I'm so glad we fit this hike in on this trip and that the kids enjoyed it as much as I did the first time.