This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
All canyons, including the Narrows, in Zion National Park, were closed under a flash flood warning, predicted Friday to last until 9 p.m., the park said.
The Narrows is the tightest section of Zion Canyon, about 20 to 30 feet wide. The popular hiking trail follows the Virgin River, which fluctuates year-round due to precipitation and runoff. Flash floods quickly and frequently rip through the area during summer storms because the slick rock does not absorb water.
Flash floods, with flowing waters as low as 5 mph, can trap and kill hikers. In September, seven people died in a flash flood in Zion's Keyhole Canyon.
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