Zion - The Narrows

National Park Hat

Zion National Park - The Narrows Hat Inspiration

This hat is inspired by The Narrows in Zion National Park, known for its adventure and natural beauty. Taking you through the cool waters of the Virgin River, you're surrounded by towering red sandstone walls with sunlight filtering down. Vegetation clinging to the canyon walls, and small waterfalls appear along the way.

Whether you've explored The Narrows or hope to do so, wearing this hat pays tribute to Zion's famous slot canyon and its unique blend of light, water, and stone.

Design Process

Creating these National Park hats with their panoramic embroidery is a detailed process going beyond simply buying and reselling bulk hats. There are no logos and no branding on any of our hats, just National Parks, from a small company in Seattle, Washington.

The first step is having gone to every park we feature, and we have! Then we try to find the specific viewpoint we want to show off in the park and how creative we need to be with that design to capture the feeling of being there. Sometimes we have to ad-lib a bit of our design to include the feeling of the park as a whole, but we try hard to highlight a place in the park you can actually visit.

Then we get to designing! Embroidery is naturally limited in colors and we use a 15 color (the most you'll find) edgeless embroidery process which takes about 90 minutes and over 60,000 stitches per hat, but allows us to show off those flowers and that running water in your favorite park.

Finally the design get digitized for embroidery, a sample is made for any final tweaks, and we go to production getting these fantastic hats on your heads.

And 100% of our profits are donated right back to our National Parks .

Zion National Park

Zion National Park, located in southwestern Utah, is a sanctuary of unique landscapes and diverse ecosystems. Established in 1919, the park encompasses over 148,000 acres of stunning desert terrain, including the famous Zion Canyon, which stretches 15 miles long and up to half a mile deep. The park's elevation ranges from 3,666 to 8,726 feet, creating a rich variety of habitats for plants and wildlife.

Visitors to Zion can explore towering sandstone cliffs, narrow slot canyons, and vibrant hanging gardens. The park is home to over 1,000 plant species and a myriad of animals, including mule deer, bighorn sheep, and numerous bird species like the California condor and peregrine falcon. The Virgin River winds through the canyon, its waters carving the dramatic landscapes over millions of years.

Zion offers a wealth of recreational activities, from hiking and backpacking to rock climbing and canyoneering. The park's scenic drives, including the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive and Zion-Mount Carmel Highway, provide breathtaking views and easy access to many of its natural wonders.

Most Popular Hikes

The Narrows

The Narrows is the narrowest section of Zion Canyon and one of the park's most popular hikes. This unique trail involves hiking through the Virgin River, as there is no maintained trail on dry ground. The canyon walls, reaching heights of a thousand feet, close in around you, sometimes only twenty to thirty feet apart, creating an otherworldly atmosphere.

The hike can be as long or as short as you like, but the most common day hike is from the Temple of Sinawava to Big Spring and back, totaling around 9.4 miles round trip. Along the way, you'll encounter beautiful rock formations, hanging gardens, and the soothing sounds of flowing water.

Proper preparation is essential for hiking The Narrows. This includes checking weather conditions for flash flood risks, wearing appropriate footwear, and bringing necessary gear like a walking stick and dry bags for your belongings. The experience is both challenging and rewarding, offering a memorable adventure that connects you deeply with the natural world.

Virgin River

The Virgin River is the lifeblood of Zion National Park, carving out the magnificent canyons over millions of years. Originating in the high plateaus of southwestern Utah, the river flows through Zion Canyon, providing vital water for the park's diverse ecosystems.

As you hike through The Narrows, you'll be immersed in the river's cool waters. The Virgin River supports a variety of plant and animal life, including rare species like the Virgin spinedace fish. The river's flow varies with the seasons, and flash floods can occur, so it's important to be aware of current conditions when planning your visit.

The river also offers opportunities for recreation beyond hiking, such as fishing and photography. Its clear waters reflect the vibrant colors of the canyon walls, creating stunning visual contrasts and serene landscapes.

Flora and Fauna

Zion National Park is home to a rich diversity of plant and animal life, thanks to its range of elevations and habitats. As you explore The Narrows and other areas of the park, you'll encounter lush hanging gardens, where water seeps from the porous sandstone, nourishing ferns, mosses, and wildflowers clinging to the canyon walls.

Wildlife in the park includes mule deer, bighorn sheep, foxes, and a variety of reptiles and amphibians. Birdwatchers may spot peregrine falcons, California condors, and a multitude of songbirds. The interplay between the flora and fauna creates a dynamic and vibrant ecosystem that thrives in this desert environment.

Geology of Zion

The geological history of Zion National Park is a story of ancient deserts, seas, and rivers. The towering sandstone cliffs are composed primarily of Navajo Sandstone, formed from ancient sand dunes around 180 million years ago. Over time, uplift and erosion by the Virgin River have sculpted the dramatic landscapes we see today.

The layers of rock visible in the canyon walls tell a tale spanning hundreds of millions of years, offering geologists and visitors alike a window into the Earth's past. The unique combination of uplifted plateaus, deep canyons, and the relentless force of water continues to shape the park's geology.

Frequently Asked Questions