You'll need to ride the shuttle into Zion Canyon, to Temple of Sinawava, and that takes about 45 minutes during the summer season. The starting point is the Temple of Sinawava. Bottom-Up hikers are only permitted to hike as far north as Big Springs. Average hikers travel 3-4 miles up the canyon and then 3-4 miles back. The best light for photography is between 10 am and 3 pm, May-Sept. October and November visitors find fewer people in the river. Early Spring yields higher water due to snow melt. Return hikers find it takes 2/3 the time to hike back as it did to hike in. From the parking lot, it is usually only 2-3 hours into the section of Narrows known as Wall Street. You can hike in as far you would like and turn back at any time.
Depending on water flow, this hike is easy to moderate in summer and ok for most kids 4 feet or taller. The best way for first-time river hikers and those with only a short time in the park. Few people hike during winter and spring when the water is cold, but some go in wearing wet or dry suits. Hiking is usually very pleasant during the summer and fall. Check at the visitor center for current conditions. Late summer thunderstorms occasionally produce flooding. Runoff mostly occurs in April and early May. Hiking is not permitted when the river is high from runoff or flash flooding.
