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Narrow valley between towering red cliffs, with a swollen brown river, yellow trees, and low clouds beneath a stormy sky

Park news · Zion

Zion: Official Flash Flood Warning, the Narrows and Slot Canyons Closed

The National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Warning for Kane and Washington counties; the Narrows and all the park's slot canyons remain closed.

By Jocelyn Pion, · Updated

Developing story · 1 update since the first story Jump to where it started

Timeline

  1. Latest update

    Official Flash Flood Warning Issued by the NWS

    The National Weather Service has issued an official Flash Flood Warning for Kane and Washington counties in Utah. According to the National Weather Service, it took effect on October 11, 2026 at 2:59 p.m. and stays in effect until 6:00 p.m. that same day. The agency is repeating its guidance for flooded roads. Turn around instead of driving through them, since most flood deaths happen inside vehicles. Don't drive onto any flooded roadway, not even for a short stretch.

    Official source : Flash Flood Warning issued October 11 at 2:59PM MDT until October 11 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT

  2. Where it started

    Zion: The Narrows and All Slot Canyons Closed Over Flash Flood Risk

    At Zion, the Narrows and all slot canyons are closed due to active or anticipated flash flooding, which changes what you can plan for your visit.

    If you've got a canyon hike planned at Zion, change your plans now. The Virgin River Narrows and all of the park's slot canyons are currently closed. The reason is simple: flash flooding. The park is reporting active or anticipated flash floods, and as long as that risk holds, access stays closed until further notice.

    It's worth understanding why this closure isn't an overreaction. A slot canyon is a very narrow gorge with high, smooth walls, and the water has nowhere to spread out. A storm that breaks several miles upstream, sometimes under a blue sky right over your head, is enough to send a wall of mud and debris down the corridor. In the Narrows, where you're often wading through the river, there's no way out. That's exactly the scenario this closure is meant to prevent.

    Muddy flood rushing through a narrow canyon in heavy rain, with waterfalls pouring over red cliffs and a few yellow trees

    So here's what it means for your trip. Don't enter any slot canyon until the park reopens, and don't try to get around a barrier or a sign. Conditions change fast, sometimes from one hour to the next. Check trail conditions at the visitor center the morning of your visit, because a reopening, when it comes, depends on the weather and the river's flow.

    The good news is that Zion is a lot more than its water-filled canyons. The high-elevation trails, the overlooks along the Scenic Drive, and the walks along the river are all solid options when the canyon floors are off-limits. To plan a day that doesn't hinge on the Narrows, lean on our Zion park guide, where we lay out the alternatives by season.

    And if Zion is just one stop on a bigger Western road trip, keep some flexibility in your plans. Our road trip itinerary that runs through the park gives you room to push the canyons to a drier day.