Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park

In addition to the famous Narrows, Angel’s Landing is one of the most popular hikes in Zion National Park. If you’re an avid hiker, your visit wouldn’t be completed without doing this hike. Not only the top provides you with a stunning view of the Zion Canyon, the hike up is also quite a unique experience. On this hike, you will climb up the steep side slope of a cliff using the provided chain installed, similarly to Half Dome hike in Yosemite. This makes the hike a bit more challenging than other regular hikes especially for those who are afraid of height.

overview

trail: 5 miles round trip; 1,500 ft; 3-6 hours, depending on number of people and speed

trailhead: The Grotto trailhead and Zion shuttle Grotto bus stop

Getting there: Angel’s Landing trailhead is in the Zion Canyon, which is the main part of the National Park and located a few miles from the two campgrounds. During peak months, which is from Spring Break to early fall, the Zion shuttle will operate and transport people to different trailheads. You cannot drive to the trailhead when the shuttle operates.

highlights: awesome view and fun trail, this is one of Zion’s most popular and classic hikes

Caution: As steep as this trail, the most dangerous thing about this hike and why 9 people have fallen off this trail is probably because the amount of people doing it. I cannot believe how many children I saw on this hike who were fearlessly running up and down the trail without holding on to the chains. They could have easily fallen over a thousand feet to their deaths and no one would be able to save them. This trail isn’t appropriate for kids who can’t control themselves. The scariest thing for me was seeing a bunch of tourists with inappropriate footwear who may slip anytime and fall on me. Be careful, not of the hike itself, but of other inconsiderate and unprepared hikers.

Notes: This isn’t hard of a hike. It can be done by most casual hiker. It will require a little bit of scrambling but largely well-maintained and busy. If you do this early enough in the day (or late in the day during summer), you can combine this with another decent hike in the park like the narrows.

the hike

About 3/4 of the hike is on a well large maintained trail that guides you through beautiful scenery and red rocks of the canyon. Then the trail comes to a large open area where a lot of hikers will be resting before the final leap up to the top. From this point, it is all along steep slope. There is a chain system where you can use to help with balancing. Great footwear is ideal for this hike.

You can also do the hike partially and stop here.

pictures