Sun Sep 25 2022

Angels Landing, Utah

Hiking

Info

With a reputation for being one of the scariest hikes in the US, this series of steep switchbacks and a narrow path along a cliff guided by chains leads to a beautiful scenic overlook of Zion National Park.

Metadata

Time to Complete: 2-3 hours

Distance: 4.3 miles

Elevation Gain: 1827 ft

Trail Type: Out and back

Difficulty: Moderate. Half day hike, just some switchbacks and cliff exposure.

Reservation: Seasonal lottery and next day reservations can be obtained via the Recreation website.

Season: Spring and Fall are best as Utah does get hot in the summer. The hike can be done in the winter but the trail is usually snowed out and crampons are recommended to prevent slipping and falling to your death.

Cost: This is located in Zion National Park so National Park entrance fees apply.

The Rundown

Preparation

Having a permit to hike Angels Landing is required. There are usually rangers at Scout Lookout that will check for your permit. Anyone can go to Scout Lookout but not everyone can brave the cliffs. The permit system changes over the years so be sure to check the lottery dates for the desired season and obtain your permit at Recreation.gov. Day before permits are also available for trips on a whim and conveniently located on the same website. Gone are the days of in-person lotteries.

How To Get There

There are several towns near Zion National Park that make a great overnight stay before heading to the trail but St. George is a popular one to fly into. Cars are not allowed in the canyon so taking the shuttle is required. Be sure to arrive at the village early to get a good parking spot and shuttle to the trailhead (but also to beat the afternoon sun). Take the shuttle to “The Grotto” (stop #6) and cross the river before arriving at the trailhead. stream

Packing Essentials

  • Gloves may be useful for the chains but it’s not super steep so there isn’t a need to pull on them
  • Snacks for the break up top to view the valley
  • About 1L of water as the hike isn’t too long
  • Crampons/spikes if hiking during the winter
  • Sunglasses may be useful as there is minimal shade
  • Have your permit handy (printed or downloaded) and they may also check your ID.

The Hike

The desert sun will wake you up from your post-nap grogginess upon exiting the shuttle. The trail is very easy to follow and is paved the whole way. It starts out flat and turns into several short steep switchbacks, at which point you will reach Scout Lookout. There will be rangers here checking for permits before the hike to Angels Landing begins. summer chains

Angels Landing is open all year long. In the winter, spikes are highly recommended. The switchback portion does get very icy and climbing the chains is also much more difficult. winter chains The views are very different in the winter with the red and white contrast. snowy view Here is an actual view of the valley from the top as I did not have spikes and did not make it up the chains in the winter. valley view

Overall, this hike was a lot more straightforward and a lot less exhausting than expected. The views are amazing at the top but what really sets Angels Landing apart is the steep drop off on both sides and experiencing one of the “scariest” hikes. In reality though, there aren’t any sections where you’re at risk of falling off as the trails are quite wide.