Your Guide to Hiking Angels Landing in Zion National Park

About six or seven years ago, I watched a GoPro video on Facebook of a hiker tackling an insane trail. He walked up a steep incline along the edge of a cliff with nothing but a chain to hold onto. The sun was just rising, casting a gentle light over the world around him. To make it even more daunting, ice and snow covered the rocks he walked across.. But when he reached the top, the view was a symphony of oranges, blues, and greens. I knew I had to go and immediately added it to my Bucket List of Hikes.

I had no idea that a few years down the road, I’d be living only a three-hour car ride away from this incredible hike. Now, having done it, Angels Landing holds a special place in my heart, but not for the reasons I originally thought. We’ll get to that later.

P.S. I am currently on the hunt for my other photos from Angels Landing. We did this hike back in 2022 and I have since then gotten a new phone and believe lost some from this trip in the transfer. As soon as I recover them I’ll add them in!

Quick Glance : 

• Distance- 5.2 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain- 1500 ft
• Type- Out & Back
• Time- 3-5 Hours
• Level- Moderate- Difficult

What you’ll need: 

• Proper Footwear (shoes with good traction)
• Sun screen
• Weather appropriate attire (plan for little shading)
• Water
• Multiple snacks
• Permit

Things to know before you start your hike: 

First things first, Angels Landing is one of the most iconic hikes in Zion National Park. According to NPS.Gov, it was given its name back in 1916 when Methodist minister Frederick allegedly said “Only angels could land there.” The summit trail was created ten years later, giving us all a chance to be angels! 

For this hike, I would not recommend bringing young children past Scout Lookout. The climb along the narrow ridge gets quite technical, requiring both hands and full attention to navigate safely. Personally, I wouldn’t have felt comfortable with my stepson attempting it before the age of 13, even though I was confident in his hiking abilities. As always, use your best judgment and be aware of your children’s abilities.

Permits

As of April 2022, a permit is required for this hike. I’m a big fan of the permit policy. Angels Landing is an extremely popular hike, and although I didn’t go until after the permits were in place, I’ve seen photos and heard friends’ recount their experiences. The trail would get ridiculously crowded, creating a safety hazard since it is so narrow. Often, there would be a long line before you could even start the summit trail. In my opinion, it would take away from the experience to be swept up in a sea of people as if you’re at a local rave rather than a breathtaking National Park.

To apply for a permit you’ll need to visit The National Park Services website and apply. The lottery-based system charges $3 per person, so hikers are not guaranteed a permit. If you’re pre-planning your trip you can apply for a seasonal permit, you rank several days and times that you’d like to visit and will need to check beforehand when the lottery opens and closes so you can submit your info in the correct time window. You will get an email notifying you if you got your permit or not.

We submitted for the lottery the day before and found out that evening that we were approved for the permit. There will be time windows that you can choose from (before 9 a.m. after 9 a.m. and after 11 a.m.) so we applied to all three to up our chances. We ended up getting before 9 a.m. and I am SO happy we did, since we were the first group going up we didn’t have to worry about others making their way down, and the top was not all that crowded!

The lottery system is strictly enforced. We saw multiple people get $200 tickets for hiking without permits. When we first arrived no rangers were monitoring for permits, only a sign clearly stating you needed one to continue on the trail. The rangers showed up just before 8 a.m. and checked every single person on our way back down. Anyone who ignored the sign was ticketed.

Unfortunately, we witnessed a few people respond aggressively to the rangers. Always remember that rules, especially for the outdoors, are there for a reason. Just because there isn’t someone physically there to remind you to follow them, they still exist, and no one is an exception. In conclusion, follow the rules and avoid a $200 ticket that ruins your day. Okay, moving on…

Water and Restrooms

As always, plan to bring plenty of water. If you need a refill, you can do so at The Grotto shuttle stop before you start your hike. There will not be any drinkable water available once on the trail.

Restrooms are located at the Grotto Shuttle Stop and another at Scout Lookout, which is 1.3 miles into your hike after a 1,115 ft climb. Plan ahead.

Getting there

On the day of your hike, you’ll need to use the free shuttle service in Zion National Park and take it to stop 6, The Grotto. Across from the picnic area, follow the signs for West Rim Trail to begin your hike!

The Hike

The hike includes four distinct sections: West Rim Trail, Walter’s Wiggles, Scout Lookout, and the Summit to Angels Landing. .

Your first 2 miles will be on the West Rim Trail, a well-maintained and relatively wide trail, leading you up a steady incline. This section brings you to a beautiful overlook, an excellent spot for a photo, before leading into Refrigerator Canyon. This is the only shaded spot on the hike, so enjoy the cooler temperature. If you’re lucky, you may see a Mexican Spotted Owl, a federally protected bird residing in Zion and is most commonly found in the canyon.

Next, head to the aggressive switchbacks known as ‘Walter’s Wiggles.’ Note that the first series of switchbacks is not Walter’s Wiggles When you reach the actual Walter’s Wiggles, the increased difficulty will be distinct. There are 21 switchbacks in total, taking you from an elevation of 5,100 ft to 5,350 ft in a very short distance. I found this to be the most cardiovascularly challenging part of the hike.

From here, the trail leads you to the ridge of Scout Lookout, where you’ll get a gorgeous view of the summit. Scout Lookout is quite spacious, providing room to walk around and regroup before following the narrow 0.5-mile trail up to the summit. You’ll be able to see the notorious chain portion from here. This is where I saw a few folks opt not to complete the hike.

Everyone needs to judge their own limits and listen to their intuition to make the best decision for themselves. I am not afraid of heights, which likely influenced my willingness to complete the hike. Personally, I did not find the final climb as daunting as many photos and videos make it out to be.

If you are an experienced hiker I recommend proceeding with caution and always being aware of where you step, but know that it is totally doable. It looks far more intimidating than it actually is, and reaching the top is so worth it! I was fortunate enough that I was able to do this hike with my 60-year-old father. He exercises regularly, took his time, and completed the hike feeling good. Again, always listen to your body, move at your own pace, and if possible, take yourself to the top!

As for the chain section, I held on for the beginning portion, and I would argue it’s necessary. There will be certain points where you don’t need to, but better safe than sorry. You will not be hanging off the edge of the cliff for the entire hike, but the trail is very narrow, and the terrain gets strenuous at some points. At times I used my arms more than my legs to pull myself up. Another thing to be aware of is that the rocks may be slippery depending on the weather, so be cautious of where you step. Shoes with good traction are a must.

You will approach a landing that looks like the summit… but it is not. Once you walk a little further past this point, you’ll see your last ascent to the real summit of Angels Landing. This is a great stop for a water break and some pretty photos before your final climb.

Although I feel this way about every summit I’ve climbed, the view at the top of Angels Landing is SO worth taking on the challenge. It will fill you with wonder and awe; you will instantly understand why it’s one of the most famous hikes in the United States. Allow yourself some time up here to soak it all in. Offer to take pictures of other couples or groups and have them take a few of you. Just sit and be; this is the place to do it!

There will be a ton of chipmunks at the top, and they are definitely not afraid of people. They were crawling across people’s packs and chilling right on top of their shoes. Be respectful and do not feed them. Unless absolutely necessary, avoid interacting with them altogether. I heard some terrible comments about people wanting to throw things at the chipmunks or kick them off the peak because they found them annoying. Remember, we are visiting their home; we are only there temporarily. Don’t be unkind and respect nature, including the chipmunks.

Once you’ve soaked in all the awesomeness Angels Landing has to offer, you will start your descent. In my opinion, the way back down is trickier than the way up, and from what I’ve read online, many other hikers agree. Watch your step and be mindful of the potential hiker in front of you. Standard trail etiquette states that uphill hikers have the right away, but for safety purposes, always communicate with others since the trail is so narrow. There will also be some steep steps down, so most definitely use the chain here. It is nice seeing the view on the way back though; you get a different perspective.

Follow the trail back the way you came to reach Scout Lookout, then head back to Refrigerator Canyon. Reminisce on everything you accomplished and enjoy the adrenaline pumping through your veins.

Final Thoughts: 

 As I mentioned earlier, I got to complete this hike with my dad! We live in different states, so whenever my parents come to visit we make an effort to do something memorable. Fortunately, they both also have adventurous spirits so this usually leads to us exploring the outdoors together. Being at the top of Angels Landing with him will always be a core memory for me, even if we were both shouting at each other to be careful the entire way up. 

This hike is famous for a good reason, and I really encourage you to go and experience it for yourself! No amount of pictures, GoPro Videos, or blog posts can capture what it’s like to bask in the glory of Zion National Park from the top of Angels Landing. 

Add Angels Landing to your Zion itinerary to make it a trip you will NEVER forget! This hike is truly an adventure and worth the effort you put in. 

If you’re looking to avoid the crowds but still explore a gorgeous hike outside of Zion National Park checkout my article all about Gooseberry Mesa Trail Here.