Day 7 Biking through the Canyon at Zion National Park
In advance, we booked a 4 hour private guided bike and hike tour through Zion Guide Hub for day 7 at Zion National Park. Our personal guide took us along the scenic drive through the park. The scenic drive is approximately 8 miles long one way. We made stops at all the major landmarks and our guide told us all about them. This is a great way to see all the scenery throughout the park. Our guide gave us the option to stop and take a short hike, but we chose to continue biking as we had been hiking the entire trip.
If you choose to book a tour like this, you will have the option between an e-bike or a regular pedal bike (hybrid). The e-bike is an extra charge. We went with the hybrid bike, but we saw lots of people on e-bikes. E-bikes appeared to be the most popular option. If you choose the hybrid bike, it will obviously be a little more challenging, but still enjoyable. There is one long gradual incline at the start of the scenic drive which could cause difficulty on the hybrid bike depending on fitness level. The good part about the incline at the beginning is the cruise down on the way back at the end of the tour.
Day 8 The Narrows
The Narrows is the most popular hike in the park. It traverses through the most narrow area of the canyon and if you want to enjoy the hike, you must get your feet wet by hiking through the Virgin River. The hike begins at the Temple of Sinawava, and you can make the hike as long or as short as you want. You can venture all the way to Big Spring, 10 miles from the start, without a permit. Since it is so popular, you will be with quite a crowd so keep that in mind. The hike is unique and offers a different experience from your typical trail.
Gear for the Hike
You have the option to rent gear for the hike at several outdoor retailers near the park. There are several different gear rental packages to choose from as well. We opted for the package with the wet socks, boots, and hiking pole since we visited during the spring. Depending on the weather and how cold it is, you might need additional gear like the dry pants, dry bib, or a full suit. If this is your first time hiking The Narrows, I recommend at least the minimum package that we bought. You will need close toed shoes for this hike due to the amount of rocks on the floor of the river. I highly recommend a stabilization pole as well because the rocks are unstable and slippery.
