The Virgin River, running from north to south along the floor of Zion, cuts deeply into the surrounding rock forming the valley as we know it today. At the northern end of the valley, the canyon walls close in, creating a slot canyon. As the canyon gets narrower and narrower, the contrast between the bright sunlight and the deep shadows becomes greater, and the scenery more and more impressive. The only way to visit this canyon is by walking up the river — along it, through it, in it, across it. When the river is running at its normal slow flow, the journey up the river is fairly easy with only a few spots where the water’s depth is more than waist high. But if there is a threat of rainfall way upstream, even 50 miles away, the Narrows is closed. Water can rise very quickly in flash floods and there can be no escape to high ground.

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