Angels Landing
4.9(1.0K)google
4.9(328)yelp
HikingClimbingCanyonAdventurousThrillingScenic Lookout
Overview
World-renowned as one of America's most thrilling and vertigo-inducing ridge hikes, Angels Landing in Zion National Park is a monumental red sandstone monolith rising nearly 1,500 feet above the canyon floor. The legendary trail challenges hikers with Walter's Wiggles, a steep series of twenty-one tight switchbacks, before culminating in a razor-thin, exposed rock spine bordered by drop-offs on both sides. Adventurers must cling tightly to heavy-duty iron chains bolted into the rock to cross the final half-mile ridge, securing an unforgettable panoramic view of the entire emerald Zion Canyon.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration3-5 hours
Best TimeThe world's most famous sheer cliffside spine trek is best experienced strictly during clear weather from May to October. Note: The final 0.5-mile chains section straddles a narrow 3-foot rock apex dropping 1,000 feet straight down on both sides; you must win a mandatory online permit lottery pass via Recreation.gov in advance; park rangers strictly scan QR codes at Scout Lookout. Hike via the 6:00 AM shuttle.
Getting ThereLocated mid-canyon inside Zion National Park. Private cars are banned on the inner blacktop; follow standard transit parameters by parking at the southern visitor portal lot and boarding the free internal Zion Canyon Shuttle straight to Shuttle Stop No. 6 (The Grotto). The trailhead surfaces immediately across the historic footbridge from the bus canopy shelter lanes.
Travel Tips
- Strict Mandatory Timed Lottery Permits Enforced On Ledge: Access past Scout Lookout onto the knife-edge spine route requires an advanced lottery permit via Recreation.gov. Rangers stand guard at the spine gate to scan digital stubs; trekking without verification carries a $5,000 federal fine.
- Sheer 1,000-Foot Drops & Hand-Over-Hand Chain Section Hazard: The final half-mile moves across an exposed vertical fin over a 1,000-foot drop with only bolted iron chains to grip. It is heavily discouraged for small children under 12 or individuals facing high-vertigo panic attacks.
- Severe Mountain Bottlenecks & Early Bird Shuttle Strategy: The single-chain trail means climbers going up and down must squeeze past each other on sheer ledges, causing terrifying mid-cliff gridlock between 10 AM and 2 PM. Avoid panic bottlenecks by taking the very first 6 AM park shuttle out of Zion Canyon.
Reviews
Positive
- Peering down Zion Canyon from the 1,500-foot razor-thin peak brings mind-bending 360-degree vistas that beat any photo; a grand, authentic wonder.
- The final perilous half-mile spine features heavy-duty, rock-anchored safety chains; holding tight ensures a secure, high-adrenaline adventure fun.
- Rigid on-site permit checks by rangers control summit tourist density perfectly, securing an surprisingly quiet, serene mountain appreciation aura.
- The 21 switchbacks of Walter's Wiggles are masterfully paved; the track is immaculately clean with clear multilingual signage, packing high value.
Heads up
- The trail shrinks to a shoulder-wide ledge flanked by 1,000-foot drops; for vertigo sufferers or low-stamina elders, it presents life-threatening dangers.
- Impromptu visits face rigid rejection; failing to secure a non-refundable lottery permit months ahead online bars you from climbing, zero flexibility.
- The rock trail acts like an oven in summer, radiating extreme heat waves with zero shade shelters, zero water, and zero toilets along the spine.
- Terrified climbers sometimes freeze on the chains, triggering severe two-way trail gridlock without enough on-site staff to guide the crowd flow.