Temple of Sinawava

Temple of Sinawava is a natural amphitheater carved by the Virgin River at the end of Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. Sandstone walls rise above the river, with the Pulpit standing out among them. Stop even if you aren't taking a long hike: Riverside Walk starts here, and you get the canyon's scale from the river. The paved trail ends at the river's edge; that's where the Narrows begins.

When Zion Canyon shuttles run, the free Zion Canyon Line stops here at Stop 9, and private vehicles can't use the Scenic Drive. The ride from Zion Canyon Visitor Center takes about 40 to 45 minutes. Shuttle dates and times change by season, so check the current schedule before you go. Public restrooms and a bottle-filling station are at the trailhead; food service isn't listed at the Temple. The first 0.4 mile of Riverside Walk is wheelchair accessible with assistance. That doesn't describe the full walk or the river route.

Riverside Walk is an easy, paved out-and-back of 2 miles round trip, usually about an hour. It follows the Virgin River under the canyon walls, so you get a proper look without committing to the water hike. Turn around whenever you've had enough.

At the end of Riverside Walk, the bottom-up Narrows continues in the Virgin River. That means walking over uneven, slippery rocks; it is a different outing from the paved trail. Flash flooding and hypothermia are real hazards, and river conditions change daily, so check current river and weather conditions before entering. A bottom-up hike from the Temple needs no permit. The 16-mile top-down through-hike from Chamberlain's Ranch does require a wilderness permit and separate transport to its upper trailhead.

Upstream, the river cuts through Navajo Sandstone. At the Temple it reaches softer Kayenta shale underneath. The water wears away that lower layer, undercutting the sandstone above until it collapses and the canyon widens into this amphitheater.

Use one of the designated river-access points on Riverside Walk and let the water lead your eye toward the walls. A strip of river in the foreground gives the sandstone towers scale better than a frame filled with cliff alone. The view changes as you follow the paved path.