if you are ever in zion

road-tripping around the united states has been a unique experience since every state offers a diverse landscape, breath-taking horizons, and unforgettable experiences. however, if i had to pick the most unique hike, it would hands down be the narrows - one of the world's hidden gems at zion national park, utah.

and hey you! get ready! for this, you'll have to get your feet wet. there is no trail.

THE NARROWS HIKE

according to the leaflets and tourist information provided at the zion national park, the narrows hike is the narrowest part of zion canyon which attracts thousands of visitors each year.

to avoid long lines and crowds of people, we started the hike at 6am local time along this gorge. the narrow valley between these vibrant, tall, naturally formed rocky walls has an icy cold stream coming through, which is essentially ''the path'' you will be following throughout the hike. having done minimal research on this specific hike, we did not hire any gear such as water hiking shoes or walking sticks that the park recommends. however, comfy light sneakers and our natural body balance did the trick saving us some money and time waiting in line for the rental store to open.

i've got to mention that the first ten minutes of getting into the water so early in the morning when the temperature only reaches 80 degrees, were challenging. but then wooops, and all of a sudden you find yourself looking up in the sky, trying to take in this hypnotizing view of sunrise touching the tops of the rock and coloring it the most beautiful shades of orange you have ever seen. the water doesn't get warmer once the sun rises...but that is the last thing to cross your mind, i promise.

the rock formations and greenery change with every mile you walk. these tall, almost a few hundred meters long rocky cliff walls on both sides of the virgin river make you feel like a little adventurer exploring the sacred land that belongs to somebody else.

maybe because it was the beginning of september, but we were lucky enough to start the hike before it got flooded with people, so the pictures portray the real quiet paradise, our tranquil escape hike. it was a spectacular scenery to say at least.

as we, unfortunately, had to leave zion early in the morning, we walked the river for around 2 hours one way before we had to turn around and go back. it can be an all-day hike if you want. i wish we had more time and got the permit to complete the whole 16 miles hike of the narrows as i am sure this place had so much more to offer.

DEPTH DEPTH DEPTH

speaking of the depth of the water, most parts of the river are shallow and you can walk it easily, yet the water might come up to your knees or just below your waist in some parts. which makes the hike even more eventful and fun if you ask me. if you are a little clumsy like me and tend to trip over on flat land, chances are it is more likely to happen on the slippery rocks in the water. but so just you are prepared, it is recommended to have your cameras and other valuables in waterproof bags, in case you slip and take a morning dip. they say it's better to be careful than sorry, right?

all in all, i cannot stress enough how wonderful, fresh and breath-taking this hike was. and by breath-taking, i don't mean it was hard or required any physical preparation! if anything, it was quite the opposite. it was something, i have never done before but one hundred percent do it again in a heart-beat.

if i had to describe this hike in one word, it would have to be therapeutic.

TIPS I WISH I KNEW BEFORE

there's a couple of things to bear in mind before you hike the narrows besides starting this hike early.

GEAR AND CLOTHES

first of all, if you decided not to rent the water hiking shoes, make sure to use the lightest, closed-toed sneakers you have as they soak in the water and become heavy. also, choose comfort. you don't want any of those blisters ruining your morning.

regardless of the time of year, high canyon walls and the stream create cooler weather conditions than anywhere else in zion park, therefore, it would be smart to bring a fleece with you.

also, we saw many people wearing pans and leggings on this hike. i personally do not like the feeling of wet material touching my skin, so i chose to wear synthetic shorts that tend to dry quickly and they're easy to roll up and avoid it getting wet in the first place!

SNACKS

everywhere we go, we pack:

- sliced apples and oranges

- some nuts and raisin mixes

- cereal/protein bars

- sandwiches ready to be eaten

do not forget to bring plenty of water!

i highly recommend brewing some tea in the morning and bringing a how water flask with you so that you can sit on the rock during lunch, snack, have a hot drink and adore the view.

LITTLE EXTRA

- use the restroom before you hike

- waterproof bag

- the water level fluctuates due to rainfalls and snowmelt, yet floods might happen too, so check the weather forecast and hiking conditions before you go.

- check zion park national park website for any alerts: https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/thenarrows.htm

- apply sunscreen and bring a good mood!