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Angels Landing is one of the most popular hikes of Zion National Park. Especially the last part of the trail is what gets most people excited. The narrow ledges you walk on while holding onto a chain is extremely thrilling! We hiked the Angels Landing trail in July 2020 with the wonderful summer desert heat. It is such a memorable hike and one you should definitely do when visiting Zion National Park. We will provide all the information you need to prepare for the Angels Landing hike and to get that adventure bug going! 

General Information

Distance: 5.4 mi / 8.7 km roundtrip
To Scout Lookout (No chains) : 4.4 mi / 7.1 km roundtrip

Duration: 4 hours
3 hours to Scout Lookout

Classification: Strenuous

Elevation gain: 1,488 ft / 453 m
To Scout Lookout: 1,000 ft / 304 m

Shuttle stop: #6 The Grotto

Best time to hike: Spring and Fall, but you can hike the trail anytime of the year!

Permit: No permit needed.

What to expect

When you get off at shuttle stop #6, you will walk over a bridge crossing the Virgin River. That is where the Angels Landing trail starts. There are water stations and restrooms at the shuttle stop. 

The first two miles are very steep and the trail is exposed (minimal to no shade). You will be looking for some relief and it will come!

After the initial two miles you will walk on the shaded and cool part of the trail, the so-called refrigerator canyon. You walk in between the walls of the mountain, which provides lots of cooling.

The trail in refrigerator canyon is scenic at times, where you can look far into Zion National Park or look the long way down and almost experience vertigo!

When you see the 21 switchbacks, also called Walters Wiggles, you know you’re almost there! You zig-zag your way up these steep hills before you reach the Scout Lookout. You are on top of the mountain and able to see an amazing view of Zion National Park. 

From Scout Lookout you will find your way to the final section where you hike while holding on to chains. We weren’t able to do the final part of the hike, as it was closed due to COVID-19. It looked absolutely thrilling though and we would’ve hiked the final part if we could have! You will find restrooms at Scout Lookout and shady spots to have your lunch. 

Once you’ve reached the top, you have to walk back down again! Don’t be fooled, you might feel your knees aching as you walk down the mountain. Take your time and wear shoes that offer grip and traction.

What to bring

* Bring enough fluids. We brought 3 liters of water with us.

* Apply plenty of sunscreen, no matter the season.

* Take lunch and snacks with you (We packed sandwiches, cliff bars and bananas)

* We recommend wearing clothing with UPF protection in the hot summer months. It gets cooler in the winter, but you might want to wear layered clothing as the hike is physically demanding.

* The trail is paved, so extravagant hiking shoes are not necessary in our opinion. The trail does have steep parts, so we do recommend shoes with good traction (especially on your way down!) that are fastened by your heel (no flip flops).

* Miscellaneous items such as your camera, phone, wallet etc.

Angels Landing Deaths

Even though the hike is glamorized online, the hike can be very dangerous. There are no guardrails on the chain section of the trail and people have fallen off and died.

Check out the page of the national park service for the updated count of deaths on the trail.

So you might want to think twice when taking a selfie on the trail. A better option would be the GoPro with the head strap accessory. This way you get to document your hike on the trial while your hands are free.

Who should not hike Angels Landing

People that are not in good physical shape or very young children. Remember that there is always the option to hike the Angels Landing trail, without hiking the last part. We would classify the hike as moderate-strenuous without the last part with chains, because the trail does have steep and exposed parts.

Let yourself be heard!

Have you hiked Angels landing? Let us know your experience in the comment section below!