The Riverside Walk also known as the “Gateway to the Narrows” is a nice little paved trail in Zion National Park. Starting at the Temple of Sinawava, bringing you along the river bank into the mouth of the canyon, leading you to The Narrows. This hike is a perfect one for families with young children. This is a extremely well known and popular hike in Zion, seeing nearly 3,000 people per day in the summer months.
Distance: 2 miles (3.22 km)
Elevation Gain – 57 feet (mostly flat)
Duration (book time) – 1.5 hours
Difficulty – Easy
Trailhead (The Starting Location) – The Temple of Sinawava at the end of Zion Canyon ( the 8th and last stop on the Zion Canyon Shuttle)
Seasons – Year Round access
Bathrooms – Bathrooms located at the Temple of Sinawava.
The Trail
The trail starts at the Temple of Sinawava (Zion’s Last Shuttle Stop). The main canyon gets tall and narrow here, with wonderful views of the Virgin River. There is very little elevation gain throughout the entire hike. The trail ends where the paved path ends. At this point, you will see others entering the water to walk upstream for what is known as The Narrows.
Trail Map
Hike Features
Wildlife – This is a great place to spot wildlife, including mule deer, wild turkeys, and blue herons.
Pools – Don’t forget to check out the little pool and the little hanging gardens along the way. There are sandy areas near the end near the entrance to the Narrows to cool your feet in the waters.
Parking
Parking for this trail can be found at the Temple of Sinawava trailhead located in Zion National Park.
Directions
Getting to Zion National Park:
From the North: Travel I-15 south, past Beaver. exit on Hwy 20. Follow US-89 to Mount Carmel Junction. Take SR-9 to Zion’s east entrance.
From the South: Travel I-15 north. Take exit 16 and travel through Hurricane to LaVerkin. Continue on SR-9 to the south entrance of the park. SR-9 through the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway.
Nearby hikes
If you are planning to continue past the Riverside Walk, and into the Zion Narrows, be sure that you check the latest weather and flood conditions.
The Riverside Walk is the beginning portion of The Narrows Hike. Other similar level hikes nearby would be Emerald Pool, Weeping Rock, or the Canyon Overlook trail.
Before You Go
This trail is good for children and is wheelchair accessible.
No permit is required for this hike.
*NOTE* Keep in mind that the trail can close at times in the winter due to icy conditions. Check before you go.
Current Weather Conditions
Springdale, UT
This Afternoon
A chance of snow. Partly sunny. High near 38, with temperatures falling to around 34 in the afternoon. West southwest wind around 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Tonight
A slight chance of snow before 8pm. Partly cloudy. Low around 17, with temperatures rising to around 19 overnight. West northwest wind 2 to 12 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Thursday
Sunny. High near 39, with temperatures falling to around 33 in the afternoon. East wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. East southeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 38. South southwest wind around 7 mph.
Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 19.
Saturday
Partly sunny, with a high near 39.
Additional Photos
Andrea is a writer, hiker, and adventurer from New England. She enjoys snowboarding, sunrise hikes, winter, night hiking, traveling, and photography.