Whichever way you choose to hike the Narrows, you will have an incredible experience. Smoothly carved sandstone walls, beautifully fluted, twisting slots, and towering walls await you in myriad sections of the 16-mile Narrows corridor. For most hikers, time is the most important factor influencing the big decision: "How can we best spend our precious time in this incredible place?" You have three options:

1. Bottom-Up Day Hike: Most Narrows hikers choose this route for their visit. The Bottom-Up Hike offers the most options, the shortest time commitment, and the opportunity to see the most dramatic sections of narrows, known as "Wall Street." If you are short on time, consider this option. Many people who hike Bottom-Up return in later years for the full Thru-Hike experience.

2. One-Day Thru-Hike: This aggressive, 16-mile day is for those short on time, but filled with energy and motivation. One-Day hikers travel the entire length of the Narrows, earning a great workout and some incredible views along the way. The pace of this hike can be overwhelming, however; most one-day hikers find little time for picnicking, photography, swimming, napping, or simply gazing in wonder. If you can create more time in your schedule, consider the Overnight Thru-Hike.

3. Overnight Thru-Hike: Spending the night in the Narrows is well worth the effort and planning it requires. Camped on a sandy outpost between gaping 1,500-foot walls, you are surrounded by a rushing river, a sea of smooth cobblestones, and a narrow ribbon of infinite stars above. With two full days to hike, the overnight trip allows you to lounge by the river, take pictures, explore swimming holes, and delve into side canyons you find along the way. Hundreds of past Thru-Hikers strongly recommend this hike to you.