The Narrows

Hiking the Narrows is immersive. The route follows the Virgin River into a deep slot canyon in a remote corner of southern Utah, with sculpted sandstone walls soaring more than a thousand feet overhead. Most of the 16-mile trek is so narrow that hikers must submerge themselves in the river, with nowhere to walk but in the rocky streambed.

For years, access to one of the world’s most majestic canyons was on private land and relied on informal agreements. Private landowners granted visitors permission to pass through their land to experience all of the Narrows.

The Narrows trailhead begins on the Chamberlain Ranch, a 258-acre private property two miles east of Zion National Park. The ranch provides direct access to the Zion Narrows.

In 2008, developers purchased the property and obtained approval for a 20-lot subdivision. However, the project stalled due to the recession and faced foreclosure, giving Trust for Public Land an opportunity to protect access to the trail.

TPL worked with many partners to secure funding to purchase a conservation and trail easement, and in June 2013, access to this ever-popular hiking trail received permanent protection.

Protection of this access point was part one of protecting the Narrows. Part two consisted of protecting the last portion of the trail that crossed private land and was not permanently secured by a trail easement.

“It took extraordinary commitment from many partners with diverse views to protect this majestic place for people and shows we can do tremendous things when we work together,” said TPL CEO, Diane Regas. “The permanent protection of the Zion Narrows Trail will give people the opportunity to experience this special place in perpetuity.”