Let’s talk about adventure today!
We are sharing details on hiking one of the toughest trails we’ve ever done… what it’s like hiking Angel’s Landing. Angel’s Landing is one of the most popular hikes in Zion National Park. In addition to sharing our experience, we’ve put together a survival guide of sorts to prepare you for this infamous hike.
If hiking Angel’s Landing is on your must-do list, now or in the future, you’re in the right place for all the deets!
We also share more about our experience hiking The Narrows.
What is Angel’s Landing?
Angel’s Landing is a strenuous, 5.4 mile round trip hike located in the Zion Canyon area of Zion National Park in southern Utah. This trail has over 1,400 feet in elevation change. The last half mile (the most dangerous) of the trail has chains to hold onto as you make your way to the summit. Because it is such a strenuous hike, make sure you are up for the physical and mental challenge before you start this trail. This trail may not be suitable for those with a fear of heights.
Most start the hike from the Grotto shuttle stop, on the West Rim Trail.
The trail is partially paved as you wind your way up and encounter the first stretch of switchbacks with incredible views of the canyon. You may enjoy a mild break in elevation gain before you hit Walter’s Wiggles, a set of 21 steep switchbacks. Shortly after Walter’s Wiggles, you’ll reach Scout Lookout. This is a great spot to rest and enjoy the views before you begin the final 1/2 mile, narrow chain section to the summit. Reaching the summit requires a bit of rock scrambling with drop offs on either side of the trail.
Note: you do not need a permit to hike to Scout Lookout. Permits are required starting at the chain section of the trail (more details below).
Our Experience Hiking Angel’s Landing
Going up
On our first full day in Zion we were up around 4:00am to start our Angel’s Landing adventure. We had our morning coffee, and packed all our supplies and gear before departing for the Visitor Center. During our stay in mid-September, cars were not permitted in the canyon. We were required to park at the Visitor Center and take the shuttle to reach the various trail heads in the canyon. This does require some extra planning and time.
I was excited to be one of the first groups in line for the shuttle, at 5:30a mind you. I don’t think he was awake yet…
Our goal was to catch the first shuttle of the day, which arrived at 6:00a during our visit. Not long after we got in line more people started arriving, and there was a huge line to take the shuttle.
We took the packed shuttle to the Grotto shuttle stop, which is where most people start the hike. There are bathrooms at this shuttle stop, which we used before we set out on the trail in the complete dark around 6:30a. Luckily we planned ahead and had our head lamps to light our way.
Eerily we could make out tiny lights far above us already!
We hiked up, and up, and up, and up, and… it just kept going up.
By the time we made it to Walter’s Wiggles (a series of 21 steep switchbacks) we stopped to take periodic breaks and drink water. The sun was beginning to rise so we could finally see our surroundings.
We made it to Scout Lookout around 7:20a, and saw the ominous danger sign before the chain section began.
The Infamous Chain Section
After a quick break, it was time to start the chain section. I’ll be honest with you. I thought I was mentally prepared for this strenuous, narrow section with shear drop offs and rock scrambling. I wasn’t. Just as we began, I got scared and began to doubt my ability to reach the summit.
A woman came down, passing us. Assuming she was already making her way down from the summit, I asked her if it was worth it. She was nearly in tears when she explained she got scared and turned around, so she didn’t know if it was worth it.
This is NOT what I needed to hear. Reluctantly, I told my husband I would wait at Scoot Lookout and he could go to the summit without me. I didn’t want to put either of us in a dangerous situation. Already not thrilled about getting up so early, he said, “We made it this far, you’re going. We’ll take it slow.”
Ugh. Okay. We went slow, and luckily there were others moving at our pace so we could all help one another as we traversed the narrow, rocky trail. I reminded myself to just take one step at a time, and tried not to focus on the drop offs to the canyon below. The adrenaline was pumping!
The Summit
We arrived to the summit around 8:00a. I felt incredible when we reached the top, and was glad my husband gave me some tough love to push through.
The sun was coming up over the cliffs and the views were simply stunning.
We enjoyed our PB&J sandwiches (made at 4:30a) with plenty of water, tried to keep our snacks safe from chipmunks, and took a ton of photos. It felt like we were on top of the world.
Going Back Down
It was time to go back down. I don’t know about you, but most times going down is worse than going up!
We slowly made our way back to Scout Lookout around 9:20a, and I was thankful the rock scrambling part was over. Not quite ready to say goodbye to Angel’s Landing, we found a large rock along the rim trail and rested for quite a bit.
Once we were ready to make the final descent back to the trailhead, we realized how tired and sore we were. The adrenaline was wearing off. My feet were screaming from all the rock scrambling.
Luckily the incredible views helped distract us on our way down. Since we started our hike in the dark we missed many of those views.
By the time we made the steep descent, my knees and feet had more than enough for the day. We arrived back at the shuttle stop at 11:30a. Angel’s Landing took us five full hours (factoring in rests, enjoying the summit, and taking a break around Scout Lookout).
Overjoyed to complete this hike, we treated ourselves to riding around on the shuttle to see more canyon view. We were guilt-free when we ordered burgers for dinner that night!
The day ended with a beautiful sunset.
Angel’s Landing Survival Guide
Now that you have insight into what it’s like hiking Angel’s Landing, let’s get into the logistics to help you plan and survive this hike!
Apply for a Permit to Hike Angel’s Landing
As of this blog post (March 2023) you must have a permit to hike Angel’s Landing.
Be sure to bring either a printed copy of your permit confirmation email, or a downloaded copy on your phone. Park rangers can request to see your permit at any time.
You cannot just show up in Zion National Park and randomly hike the chain section to the summit. If this hike is on your must-do list, be sure to follow the NPS instructions to enter the lottery to get a permit to hike this trail. You can hike to Scout’s Landing without a permit.
Why do you need a permit to hike Angel’s Landing? This is a popular and yet potentially dangerous hike. Having hiked this trail to the summit, it makes sense from a safety perspective to use the permit system. The permit system limits the amount of hikers on the most dangerous and narrow part of the trail. The last thing you want is a human traffic jam for those going up trying to get around those coming down, and vice versa.
Physical & Mental Preparation
In our years of exploring and hiking, we’ve seen a lot of “ill-prepared” hikers. You may be able to make it around frozen Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park in flip flops and one bottle of water (IYKYK)… But.
Angel’s Landing is not the hike to be unprepared. Far be it for me to tell people what they should and shouldn’t do. However, due to the strenuous nature of this trail, you may put yourself and others in danger if you are not properly prepared.
Keep in mind the total trail length is 5.4 miles round trip. Meaning, the 1,400+ feet of elevation gain will happen over approximately 2.7 miles. Think about the physical preparation necessary based on where you are today.
We suggest conducting additional research into what it’s like hiking Angel’s Landing, especially if you are a less experienced hiker. Read more accounts, watch videos of trail cams, and talk to others about their experience. Read all the details on the Angel’s Landing NPS site and talk to rangers once you arrive in the park for updated trail conditions.
When you hike this trail also impacts the weather and temperatures you will experience, as well as the amount of people on the trail. Hiking Angel’s Landing first thing in the morning when it’s cool before the sun rises will be a very different mental and physical experience vs. hiking it in the afternoon during the summertime.
Our final suggestion is have a plan. As you start this hike, have periodic “check-ins” to see how you feel. If you make it to Scout Landing and you feel wiped out from the significant elevation gain, maybe attempting the final chain section to the summit isn’t a good idea. Or, maybe you are fearful due to the heights and drop offs you’ve already experienced before the chain section. It’s okay to change your mind.
You won’t know what it’s like or how you’ll feel until you get out there, so having a plan to “check-in” with how you are doing could prevent a very dangerous situation.
At the end of the day, know your limits.
Recommended Supplies & Gear
First, be sure to have your permit confirmation email printed or downloaded. You don’t want to be caught without it if a ranger asks to see your permit!
As you prepare for this hike, there are special considerations for what to wear and what to bring. We’re sharing our recommendations based on the items we keep going back to hike after hike. We highly recommend for Angel’s Landing:
What to Wear
- A pair of well-fitting hiking boots. You want shoes that have good tread if it’s wet or icy. Or, even when it’s dry as you hike and scramble over the slick rock. Especially on the chain section! You will jam your feet every which way to get traction as you make your way to the summit. We wear Merrell’s Moab boots for him and her, and are each on our second pair.
- Wicking clothing you can easily layer. When we started our hike before sunrise the temperature was in the 40’s. As we made our way down to the canyon in the late morning the temperature rose to the 70s. I can tell you I definitely shed a few layers with all the elevation gain and the rock scrambling!
- Sun protection. Depending on the time of day and season you hike Angel’s Landing, plan to wear a hat, long-sleeve shirt, wear sunscreen, etc. This trail is mostly fully exposed in the sun.
What to Bring
- A backpack for all your water, snacks, etc. We love this one! It’s our go-to and we’ve had it for years now. It carries our two 32 oz water bottles, has plenty of room for storing extra clothes or rain gear, snacks, sunscreen, first aid kit, and a few different size compartments.
- If you want something smaller than a backpack, I recommend this day pack. It’s perfect size to store my phone, snacks, tissues, sunscreen, hair tie’s, etc. Plus I can clip a water bottle to it. I love that I can wear it as a crossbody or go full-on fanny pack!
- Winter weather gear. If you plan to hike Angel’s Landing in the winter, bring gloves as the chains will be very cold and possibly wet or icy. Depending on the conditions, you may need microspikes for traction. These microspikes saved our lives in Rocky Mountain National Park as we hiked over several feet of snow and ice at times.
- Water and salty snacks! These Nalgene bottles are perfect. I can freeze them, they are indestructible (so far), and do not retain odor. We usually mix in a little Gatorade for electrolytes. For snacks our go-to’s are beef jerky, energy bars, cheese-its or pretzels, or PB&J sandwiches if we are out for most of the day.
- Possibly hiking poles. If you prefer the extra support and stability hiking poles offer, you may want to bring them. However, make sure they are collapsible so you can store them away if needed. They will most likely only get in your way for the chain section.
Be sure to follow leave-no-trace principles and pack out all waste, including toilet paper, banana peels, etc.
Ready, Set, Go!
Okay, you’re all set! You have an idea of what it’s like hiking Angel’s Landing. You’ve read through our survival guide to get an idea of how to mentally and physically prepare, as well as what to bring.
What’s next?
Get an idea of when you want to hike Angel’s Landing, and apply for your permit! And, it may not be a bad idea to find the steepest hill in your area and climb it repeatedly several times a week. With a backpack on.
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Thanks for this post! We haven’t been to Zion yet, but it’s high on our list. I haven’t heard of Angel’s Landing, but it looks/sounds incredible (and scary!). Those pictures were amazing and are definitely motivating to get on the trail!