If you have been planning a trip to Zion National Park in Utah, you have heard of The Narrows hike. This hike takes you through the water between gigantic slot canyons. The pictures are incredible even though countless other people are hiking around you. Due to the cold weather or high water throughout the year, there are times when The Narrows hike is not open to tourists. The trail can be closed for months at a time.

When I scheduled a trip to Zion National Park, my mom and I hoped to hike The Narrows. Unsafe conditions closed the trail though. After communicating with some hiking gear rental companies, we were able to find a similar slot canyon hike just outside of the park. The hike is called Kanarra Falls.

Kanarra Falls Near Zion National Park

Kanarra Falls is about one hour away from Zion National Park. This hike is technically located in Kanarraville, Utah. The hike is less popular, since it is not right in Zion National Park. It is more known to locals and has a lot to offer to the lucky travelers that hear about Kanarra Falls. It is a moderate 3.5 mile roundtrip hike that takes you along rivers, through slot canyons, and by waterfalls. There is a big parking lot when you arrive, so don’t worry about parking.

Permit

Three things to note. One, you need a permit to hike this trail. When we went, the permit was $12 online. There is a limit for how many people can hike this trail per day. Click on this link to check out the website and get your permit. If you are hesitant on spending the money, I will assure you it is worth it! The views are amazing and you aren’t surrounded by hundreds of other people hiking and taking pictures.

Be prepared for the conditions

Two, be prepared for cold water. Although the entire hike is not in the water, a good portion of the trail takes you through cold water. Our trip was in April, so it was pretty chilly yet. We rented waterproof pants and special socks and hiking shoes from a place called Zion Outfitter near Zion National Park for this hike. The package we purchased also came with a walking stick. We felt silly bringing our walking stick, but we certainly needed it at certain points to prop ourselves up when going through tight slot canyons and scaling up rocks. The gear was amazing as there are points in the hike where you are waist-deep in water. People who did not have rental gear had blue feet and legs. Be prepared for the conditions so you aren’t miserable during the memorable hike.

Hiking Requirements

Three, the hike does require you to scale up big rocks and walk up a ladder or two if you decide to go and see the last waterfall at the end of the hike. This hike would not be safe for people with balance issues.

Conclusion

We were glad that some locals informed us of this hike as an alternative to The Narrows. Kanarra Falls ended up being our favorite hike from the trip. Not many people know of this hike, so take a chance on this hidden gem.

Thanks for stopping by! Cheers to nature and making connections around the world. Check out my destinations tab on my website to find my other blog posts.