Temple of Sinawava — Attraction in Apple Valley

Located at the stop after Big Bend, the Temple of Sinawava (Stop 9) is the final shuttle stop in the park. This is one of the most popular stops aside from Angels Landing due to it being the beginning of the Narrows. From here you can begin the Riverside Walk trail which ends at the mouth of the Narrows. This 1 mile hike is very easy as it is mainly on a flat and paved road all the way until the beginning of the river access. We went during the mid afternoon and found that a lot of people were heading back as they had been hiking in the Narrows since the morning. Although it can be very warm in the sun, as you get deeper into the canyon it can get a bit colder so be prepared especially depending on the time of year and day in which you go. This location is the most secluded from the park and bus access so it definitely feels like you’re exploring new areas away from everything else. Along with this, the distance from the vehicles also provides more opportunity for spotting animals. This was where we got to see several groups of mule deer grazing along the sides of the trail. Since the river is also so accessible this is somewhere we suggest if you enjoy wildlife photography. Towards the end of the trail you’ll also see a few areas to go down closer to the water. This is a great area to sit and rest and take in the views while eating whatever you packed to eat for the day. Unfortunately we weren’t able to hike the narrows this time but at least made it to the trailhead. From this trail you can begin hiking upstream into the narrows for up to 10 miles without a permit. During the summer months both Utah and Arizona experience monsoon season which can make this hike more treacherous due to the chances of flash floods. Because of this it is always important to be aware of weather conditions year-round. The water can also be very cold and the canyon can obscure much of the sunlight which can cause hypothermia if hikers are not prepared especially during colder months. We suggest wearing breathable and synthetic materials to be able to dry off faster and retain heat better than cotton. Because of the slick rocks it is also smart to bring a walking stick or finding one along the trail since some areas may have knee or waist deep waters. There are several rental places in the city of Springdale that can provide rentals of hiking sticks, waterproof boots, and even full suits for around 55 USD per person. For more experienced hikers, there is also a hike of the narrows that goes with the current that is 12 miles total but requires a permit. This can be done as a one day hike, or can be split into two days including a stop to camp in the narrows overnight. Next time around we will be hiking the standard trail and depending on that experience might be back for the full overnight...

The Narrows is one of the most popular hikes in Zion National Park and for an excellent reason, it is unique. 🚌𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: You must take a shuttle from the Visitor Center. The first shuttle starts at 6:00 am and you'll take it to the last stop (the ride will take about 40 mins). •Parking at the Visitor Center is limited and if you arrive after 9:00 am you'll probably have to park in Springdale and walk or take a shuttle to the Visitor Center. 👥𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐝𝐬: •The further you hike in, the fewer people there will be. We went in 3 miles and there weren't that many people. •Start EARLY! The best time to start is around 8-11 am. We headed back at around 12 pm and we saw the amounts of people just arriving and it was crazy! ⏳️𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞: The Narrows is 18 miles long but the beauty of the hike is that you can go as far as you like and turn back when you're ready. It is best to go in at least 3 miles up to Wall Street. ⚠️ 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲: • There are cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in the Virgin River & Zion streams. The park monitors monthly for the presence of harmful cyanobacteria so check their website before you visit. • Make sure there are no flash flood warnings, it can be very dangerous •Rent equipment in Springdale for the hike like waterproof socks, shoes, pants and walking...

The temple of Sinawava is the northmost stop on the park bus system and quite a highlight of the park (which is itself all highlights). This is a gorgeous hike and it's very hard to get proper scale in a photo. It's one of those places you really do have to see for yourself.

We visited in April 2023 when the historic snowmelt had waters running very high. The falls at Sinawava in my video are usually dry but were running strong when we visited. While we could get to the end of the Riverside Walk, the water was so high they were turning back attempts at the advanced part of the hike.

The Riverside Walk portion is very well built up and easy to navigate. I mention this since our party ranged in age from teens to late 70s and everyone could have done the loop given enough time. The Narrows beyond are more advanced and very dependent on conditions.

For those new to the National Parks out west: You're really in nature now. This is the real thing. It gets cold fast, hot fast, wet fast, and of all the places you can fall off cliffs, only 1% of them have railings. Also, despite the signs to the contrary, there is NO WIFI and only fleeting cellular. I'm personally fine with that, but plan accordingly.

Again, you have to see it in person. You cannot do it...