In the Narrows, close to Orderville Canyon

Gates of the Narrows
Orderville Canyon
A delightful way to while away a summer day. This is a must-do for many visitors, and is more a social occasion than a wilderness adventure. This hike wades up the North Fork of the Virgin to the start of the big wall section, where the cliffs tower 400 feet over the river. More fun can be had by branching off into the narrower and drier Orderville Canyon, and explore upcanyon as far as time allows. Push past a few obstacles to enjoy a delightful, natural waterpark in Orderville.

Getting Started: start at the end of the road at the Temple of Sinawava. Take the paved trail north. At 1 mile, there is a large stone veranda and the first river crossing. Proceed up river. Wading will be required about 50% of the time in the first mile, as the canyon gets progressively narrower and deeper. The river twists and turns, and the light filtering down from above is constantly changing. A veritable cathedral.

After about an hour, the first real big wall section of the Narrows is reached. Here, wading is continuous, and the walls sweep vertically upward four hundred feet. Even on roasty-toasty days, it's nice and cool in this section. After 10 minutes of this, Orderville comes in on the right, offering welcome relief from the unrelenting noise of the Virgin River. It is the first canyon entering the Narrows.

Wander up Orderville. There is a small trickle of water and the walls twist most delightfully. After a great narrow section, the canyon opens out and gets some sun, offering respite from the chill, if needed. Several moderate obstacles require some deep wading and scrambling to surmount. At the waterfall, a set of Moki steps on the right allows passage past the little drop. Many people stop here.

The next mile is wet and wonderful, with several difficult obstacles to overcome, and many puddles to splash in. The water gets progressively chillier as you head toward the source springs. Eventually, you will run out of time, or encounter an obstacle too difficult to climb. Return the way you came.