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Zion National Park and the mouth of The Narrows

After hiking Angel’s Landing, it was mid-afternoon when we arrived back on the canyon floor.    My calves felt like jelly and I was seriously craving a burrito, but it was such a beautiful day it seemed like a shame to leave the park already.  We filled up our water bottles and decided to try one more hike leisurely walk to the mouth of The Narrows.

The Narrows is a fairly technical hike through a gorgeous slot canyon; the trail is the river and you can hike for a few hours or for a few days, depending on how far you would like to go.  In some places you’ll have to swim and in some places you’ll have to repel off the cliffs.  I’d love to try this hike, but perhaps when the water isn’t quite so freezing and my calves aren’t quite so sore.  (August, I’m looking at you!)

Wandering along the trail, there are several waterfalls, from the top of the plateau’s to the river below.  The snow in the mountains hadn’t started to really melt yet and the water was slow-ish and calm.  However, after so much more snow and widespread flooding in the rest of the state, I bet this water is gushing and wild by now.

The trail abruptly ends after about a half-mile and The Narrows begin; you just step into the river and keep walking.  I was delighted and surprised to see thousands of cairns marking the trail.  I may have actually squee’d.

B. and D. constructing a cairn at the head of The Narrows trail.  We walked around this little Cairn Garden for a little while, taking pictures, admiring the towers and palaces of rock.  Some were several feet high and had some fairly intricate balancing acts going on.

I swear this looks like something from a fantasy world; so, of course being enamored with all things mythical and fantastical, I loved it.

We had a great weekend, good friends, good conversation, good food, amazing views.  Mother Nature, you do a body good.

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