Temple of Sinawava - Where the Canyon Narrows
Photo: TerryDOtt, CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
A stop on Zion Canyon, a free self-guided tour.
The road ends here, in a natural amphitheater of red walls. The name comes from Sinawava, the coyote figure of Southern Paiute tradition, a reminder that this canyon held meaning long before anyone gave it English names.
From here the Riverside Walk follows the Virgin River about a mile upstream on a paved path. Along the way, look for hanging gardens on the seeping walls, swallows darting over the water, and squirrels that should never be fed. The canyon grows narrower and higher with every bend.
At the end of the pavement the river itself becomes the trail into the Narrows. Hiking up into the Narrows is a big adventure that depends on conditions. The route can close when the river runs high, and flash floods can sweep through with little warning, even under blue sky. Check the day's flow and forecast at nps.gov or the Visitor Center before wading in, and if you are not prepared, enjoy the view and turn back at the end of the path.
Getting here: Ride the shuttle to the last stop, the Temple of Sinawava, and follow signs to the Riverside Walk.
Did you know?: Wading upstream into the Narrows from here as far as Big Spring needs no permit, but the 16-mile top-down hike from Chamberlain's Ranch does.
Photo op: At the end of the Riverside Walk, frame the river disappearing between the towering walls of the Narrows.
Nearby: Restrooms and water near the Temple of Sinawava shuttle stop; none along the Riverside Walk.
More on Wikipedia: Zion Canyon · The Narrows · Southern Paiute people
Stops on this tour
- Zion Canyon Visitor Center - Gateway to the Canyon
- Pa'rus Trail - Walking with the Watchman
- Zion Human History Museum - People of the Canyon
- Canyon Junction - Where the River Meets the Road
- Court of the Patriarchs - Three Stone Fathers
- Zion Lodge - A Hotel Rebuilt in 100 Days
- Emerald Pools - Waterfalls in the Desert
- The Grotto - Base Camp for Angels Landing
- Weeping Rock - The Cliff That Cries
- Big Bend - Giants All Around
- Temple of Sinawava - Where the Canyon Narrows