Zion National Park - Riverside Walk - Member Hike

Hike Name:	Zion National Park - Riverside Walk
Country:	United States
State:	Utah
Nearby Town:	Springdale, UT
Rating:
Directions:	Enter Zion National Park either at the east entrance or the south entrance at Springdale, UT. Park at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center just inside the park at the south entrance. Take the canyon shuttle to the last stop at the north end of the canyon -- Temple of Sinawava. Trailhead is immediately to the north of the shuttle stop.
Total Hike Distance:	2.40 miles
Hike Difficulty:	Easy
Permit Required:	No
Hike Type:	In & Out, Backtrack Hike
Hike Starts/Ends:	Riverside Walk Trailhead
Trails Used:	Riverside Walk
Backcountry Campsites:	No
Backcountry Water Sources:	Rivers
Management:	National Park Service
Contact Information:	Zion National Park Springdale, UT 84767 435-772-3256
Best Season:	Spring, Summer, Fall
Users:	Hikers
Road Conditions:	Secondary Paved Roads
Hike Summary:	This is an easy, mostly paved walk along the Virgin River between high vertical cliffs. The trail stays pretty close to the river bank with lots of access points to the river itself. The trail is mostly well-shaded being in a timbered river bottom. The Park Service has a number of exhibits along the way. Things to see include hanging gardens, weeping rocks, beautiful river scenes, and of course, the overwhelming towering cliffs on either side of the river. The trail starts at the Temple of Sinawava shuttle stop. The Temple of Sinawava refers to the small round valley at the top of Zion Canyon with the two towering rocks right in the middle (called altars). As the trail progresses up the canyon, the canyon grows increasingly narrow until the end of the trail where the river enters Zion Canyon from an area between the cliffs known as The Narrows. Intrepid hikers can continue up the Narrows for several more miles by walking in the river. Those that choose this route are rewarded with some absolutely amazing sights in a very narrow defile. Hiking in the Narrows requires trekking poles, short pants, and river shoes. The National Park Service frequently closes the Narrows to hikers because of the danger of flash floods. So if there is any potential rain in the forecast, don't count on being able to hike the Narrows.