The Narrows is not a normal hike. You spend most of it walking upstream, in the river, over rock that is round, slick, and invisible under moving water. The gear that makes it comfortable is not the gear in your suitcase, and buying all of it for one hike rarely makes sense. So we rent it.

Water hiking boots

Stiff, grippy, quick-draining boots that stay planted on wet river rock and drain instead of turning into sponges. Regular trail runners get heavy, cold, and slippery within the first ten minutes, and sandals leave your toes exposed to rock you cannot see. We stock sizes 7 through 14. If you are between sizes, go up — you will likely be wearing thicker socks than usual.

Trekking poles

The single most underrated piece of Narrows gear. When you cannot see the bottom, a pole becomes the foot you test the next step with, and on the way back down it takes a real load off your knees. Ours are extendable and collapse small enough to strap to a pack. One pole is enough for most people; two is better if your knees have opinions.

Dry bags

Phones, keys, camera, and a dry set of clothes for the drive home go in a roll-top dry bag and stay sealed even if you go in up to your chest. Which happens more often than people expect. Roll the top three times and clip it — a single fold is not a seal.

Sun hats

The canyon walls give you shade for long stretches, but the walk in from the Temple of Sinawava and the open sections in the middle of the day are exposed. A brimmed hat is a small thing that changes how the last mile feels.

Bottom-up or top-down?

Almost everyone does the bottom-up route, starting at the Temple of Sinawava at the end of the Zion Canyon road and walking upstream as far as they feel like before turning around. It does not require a permit, and you can turn back at any point. The full top-down route from Chamberlain's Ranch is a sixteen-mile through-hike and does require a wilderness permit from the National Park Service, arranged well in advance.

When to go, and when not to

The Narrows closes when the water runs high, which usually means spring snowmelt, and it is closed to entry whenever flash flood risk is elevated. The Park Service publishes a flash flood potential rating and a current flow rate every day — check both the morning you go, not the week before. The water stays cold year-round, and in the colder months most people hike it in a drysuit hired in Springdale rather than in shorts.

What to wear with the rented gear

Quick-drying layers, nothing cotton. Cotton holds water, stays cold, and chafes. Bring more water and food than you think a slow hike needs, because walking upstream is far more work than the mileage suggests.

Picking gear up

Our shop is at 1752 W Plains Dr in Apple Valley, about thirty-five miles from Zion's south entrance, so most people collect gear the evening before and drive in early. During shuttle season you will need the park shuttle to reach the Temple of Sinawava, and the early departures fill up.

What it costs

Individual items — boots, poles, dry bag, sun hat — are $12 a day each. There is also a Zion and Narrows bundle that packages the set together. Pick your dates above to see exactly what is available and what your total comes to.

If you would like a hand sizing boots for a group before you book, call us at (385) 236-8086.