Big Spring: 4 Miles into the Narrows

Big Spring:  a difficult and beautiful destination in the Virgin Narrows

I hiked (and swam) to Big Spring in the Zion Narrows.  I love the Virgin Narrows in Zion National Park and hoped to finally go all the way to a special spot 4 miles upstream where fresh water copiously pours out of solid rock.  I went in September.  Rain had fallen about a week earlier which muddied the river more than I expected.  I walked up in liquid that resembled chocolate milk.  At one point I even had to swim through a deep section!

Big Spring is a lovely destination.  Three different flows come out of the rock with beautiful ferns and trees adjacent.  Photographing this beauty required a wide-angle lens and a polarizer.  The fast flow of water rattled my tripod when I shot in the river itself, making me keep a hand on it at all times.  I climbed up on the spring to shoot these ferns up close but it can be quite slippery (remember, this is called "slickrock") so watch out.

This hike took much longer than a typical 8-mile trek because of the water and the Zion shuttle.

Big Spring in Zion

Big Spring stands at a curve in the Virgin River

Big Spring pours straight out of the Cliff

Big Spring and the Muddy Virgin River

Gordon's hike rating:
Hike Difficulty:                   ★★★★ Strenuous
Trail Condition:                   ★★★ Moderate
Trail Hazards:                      ★★★ Moderate:  slippery boulders everywhere, 1 deep swim
Trailhead:                             Zion:  Temple of Sinewava
Time Required:                     Most of a day, (minimum 7 hours)
Distance round trip:              8 miles
Off the Beaten Path:             ★★★ Yes if you travel this far upstream, 3 Stars
Scenery:                                ★★★★ Excellent, 4 Stars
Photographic Potential:        ★★★ Great, 3 Stars