Tres Westbrook
Member
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2013
- Messages
- 122
Zion has become my favorite national park. Just a couple years ago I had never even been out to southern Utah. Now we have visited it twice in person and, thanks to the internet, including Backcountrypost.com, I can read trip reports, see photos, and watch videos from Zion trips at will, and envy everyone who lives in the area and can visit just about any time they want. The first time we came to Zion it was as a one-day side trip on our way from Las Vegas to GSENM. We hiked up the narrows to Orderville Canyon. It was amazing. Anyway, when planning our next trip to the area over Memorial Day week, 2014, my wife suggested that we do the whole thing from the top down. So on May 28th and 29th, 2014, we did the narrows from the top down, camping at campsite no. 5 in the heart of the canyon.
For the first three miles from the Chamberlain's Ranch trail head, the Virgin River lazily meanders through pasture land. The trail follows a dirt road alongside the river.
![0859.jpg 0859.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28369-867bcefff9e26e876a24e46173bb4312.jpg)
After nearly three miles you come to an old dilapidated log cabin. It signals that the dirt road trail is soon to end.
![0940.jpg 0940.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28370-2aede049a04225ffd33bab6455843e02.jpg)
End of the trail. Time to get wet. Not for the last time.
![1019.jpg 1019.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28371-25698ed7e0dff95cadb0847539a13781.jpg)
For the next few miles the canyon is wide, but the walls get progressively higher. This is a little arch above the trail.
![1042.jpg 1042.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28372-4954f0f24c0070cc2ca846e0f3965358.jpg)
Then it starts getting narrower.
![1226.jpg 1226.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28373-7874622a0a421830266947917fe05b08.jpg)
A couple more miles and you reach the first set of narrows. From here on the canyon is characterized by high walls and periodic narrows.
![1452.jpg 1452.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28374-09f3dae8f76e04072061ca950f06c127.jpg)
Just jaw dropping.
![1523.jpg 1523.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28375-9ed88b288115af82fbddae8228653737.jpg)
About 6 miles in you reach the waterfall. When we were there the water level was down. Usually it pours over the top log in the jam.
![1544.jpg 1544.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28378-33de3b07840cff74d2e0027174782804.jpg)
Every now and then you have to negotiate through flash flood debris.
![425.JPG 425.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28377-d772407344c86ac75f912439a4a53623.jpg)
Campsite no. 5. Trying to dry out our neoprene socks and shoes.
![1751.jpg 1751.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28376-9bf2c80edf332772b51c5d4c495b264d.jpg)
One of the best parts of the hike was the stillness of the canyon in the early morning.
![454.jpg 454.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28379-11612eee877539711b049f2886fada71.jpg)
Big Springs, about five miles from the end. It is a nice spot, but it also means that soon you will be among the crowds.
![464.jpg 464.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28383-58ca7f72f667ccd73b7f8c0191da0648.jpg)
The canyon south of Big Springs is called Wall Street, for obvious reasons.
![471.jpg 471.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28385-ca9c12a4b800faa3452548ae9bed0c6a.jpg)
The views don't suck.
![487.jpg 487.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28386-e1d87bd8b5bc762db8604c5428e8fcd2.jpg)
The water is cold, but you get used to it quickly.
![494.jpg 494.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28387-587d033922cfb11a6b4251bdd6c3fc8d.jpg)
Near the entrance to Orderville Canyon.
![501.jpg 501.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28388-32ef8f7fc6a60652814dfd4a0550f02f.jpg)
The end is in sight.
![510.jpg 510.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28389-fbbfcc11d09728999e7072bb21fecda8.jpg)
The view down canyon from Riverside Walk.
![Zion Narrows 20.jpg Zion Narrows 20.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28390-acac48ddd48fbfd3c2fe01521628921a.jpg)
I can't wait to get back to Zion again.
Here's a video of the trip I put together:
Featured image for home page:
![slide.jpg slide.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28391-28b234a27b12191619656d1fd0467407.jpg)
For the first three miles from the Chamberlain's Ranch trail head, the Virgin River lazily meanders through pasture land. The trail follows a dirt road alongside the river.
![0859.jpg 0859.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28369-867bcefff9e26e876a24e46173bb4312.jpg)
After nearly three miles you come to an old dilapidated log cabin. It signals that the dirt road trail is soon to end.
![0940.jpg 0940.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28370-2aede049a04225ffd33bab6455843e02.jpg)
End of the trail. Time to get wet. Not for the last time.
![1019.jpg 1019.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28371-25698ed7e0dff95cadb0847539a13781.jpg)
For the next few miles the canyon is wide, but the walls get progressively higher. This is a little arch above the trail.
![1042.jpg 1042.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28372-4954f0f24c0070cc2ca846e0f3965358.jpg)
Then it starts getting narrower.
![1226.jpg 1226.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28373-7874622a0a421830266947917fe05b08.jpg)
A couple more miles and you reach the first set of narrows. From here on the canyon is characterized by high walls and periodic narrows.
![1452.jpg 1452.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28374-09f3dae8f76e04072061ca950f06c127.jpg)
Just jaw dropping.
![1523.jpg 1523.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28375-9ed88b288115af82fbddae8228653737.jpg)
About 6 miles in you reach the waterfall. When we were there the water level was down. Usually it pours over the top log in the jam.
![1544.jpg 1544.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28378-33de3b07840cff74d2e0027174782804.jpg)
Every now and then you have to negotiate through flash flood debris.
![425.JPG 425.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28377-d772407344c86ac75f912439a4a53623.jpg)
Campsite no. 5. Trying to dry out our neoprene socks and shoes.
![1751.jpg 1751.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28376-9bf2c80edf332772b51c5d4c495b264d.jpg)
One of the best parts of the hike was the stillness of the canyon in the early morning.
![454.jpg 454.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28379-11612eee877539711b049f2886fada71.jpg)
Big Springs, about five miles from the end. It is a nice spot, but it also means that soon you will be among the crowds.
![464.jpg 464.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28383-58ca7f72f667ccd73b7f8c0191da0648.jpg)
The canyon south of Big Springs is called Wall Street, for obvious reasons.
![471.jpg 471.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28385-ca9c12a4b800faa3452548ae9bed0c6a.jpg)
The views don't suck.
![487.jpg 487.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28386-e1d87bd8b5bc762db8604c5428e8fcd2.jpg)
The water is cold, but you get used to it quickly.
![494.jpg 494.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28387-587d033922cfb11a6b4251bdd6c3fc8d.jpg)
Near the entrance to Orderville Canyon.
![501.jpg 501.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28388-32ef8f7fc6a60652814dfd4a0550f02f.jpg)
The end is in sight.
![510.jpg 510.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28389-fbbfcc11d09728999e7072bb21fecda8.jpg)
The view down canyon from Riverside Walk.
![Zion Narrows 20.jpg Zion Narrows 20.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28390-acac48ddd48fbfd3c2fe01521628921a.jpg)
I can't wait to get back to Zion again.
Here's a video of the trip I put together:
Featured image for home page:
![slide.jpg slide.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/28/28391-28b234a27b12191619656d1fd0467407.jpg)
Last edited: