Returning to a different side of Zion with my best friend.

My first visit to Zion National Park lasted only 2 days. Instead of exploring the Emerald Pools or taking the paved trail up to the bottom of the Narrows, we decided to hike the full 16 miles of the Narrows. The hike began at 8:00am above the north side of the park. There are only 12 campsites in the Narrows, and they are spread out over a three mile stretch, so the chances are you will be by yourself for most of the overnight hike.

The first 2 miles of the hike is on a rancher's dirt road. You don't have to get your feet wet until you reach the log cabin at the road's end. At this point, it will be another 4 miles of crossing the river continuously as the trail switches back from side to side. The stone-cliff walls tower high on both sides, but there is still enough room for a dry trail along the riverside. When you first hit the Narrows, there is no dry trail, only the river. It is a difficult hike at this point, especially with a huge back pack, but the scenery makes it worth the work. At the end of another 3 miles, our campsite awaits.

At 3:30pm, we finally reach the campsite. Instead of exploring the area, we decide to relax and do absolutely nothing, except enjoy the silence that the river carries down the Narrows on its thirsty back. We still have another 7 miles, and the best part of the Narrows is yet to come. You'll have to make the hike yourself in order to experience the last 7 miles.

The images I have included below will give you an idea of what the Narrows look like and how much water I had to walk through.

It is easy to think that this is what "nature" really is. But when we manage a national park, we are forcing our cultural beliefs about nature upon the landscape.  Would I really be hiking down the Narrows if there was not a bus to pick me up at the end of the hike, or if there wasn't a grocery store conveniently located in the middle of the park.  We take great pride in making our national parks comfortable places to visit, but in doing so, we alter the nature of that space.

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