The Narrows

The 258-acre Chamberlain Ranch, two miles east of Zion National Park, provides the main access to the Zion Narrows, one of the most famous "slot" canyons on the Colorado Plateau. The National Park Service touts the Narrows trail as one of the best, if not the best, hike in the National Park System. Yet few visitors realize that the trail leading into The Narrows sits on private land. 

In 2008, developers purchased the 258-acre property and obtained approval for a 20-lot subdivision. However, the project stalled due to the recession, and the property faced foreclosure with a renewed threat that parcels could be sold off for luxury cabin sites. The Trust for Public Land worked hard to secure funding to purchase a conservation easement on the land and in June 2013, public access to this ever-popular hiking trail was permanently protected.