Angels Landing — THE EDGE

Zion National Park, located in southwest Utah, is known for its amazing red rock structures in Zion Canyon and is home to one of the most dangerous hikes in the United States. If you are an adrenaline seeker and enjoy a nice challenging hike, Angels Landing is something you just have to try.

The Angels Landing hike itself is only a mile total — half a mile there and back. However, the only way to get to its trailhead is to undertake The Grotto Hike, a slightly longer trek. While it may be a longer hike than Angels Landing, The Grotto Hike is only two miles (four miles roundtrip), and the first mile is incredibly relaxed. During this first mile, you walk a series of simple ups and downs along the Virgin River and Zion Canyon. Towards the end of the second mile, you hit the famous ‘Walter Wiggles’, a series of 21 steep switchbacks to finally reach the trailhead for Angels Landing. While technically only spanning less than a quarter of a mile, this section can easily take 45 minutes to an hour.

When you do finally summit the Grotto Trail, you are met with a beautiful view of Angels Landing itself and the Zion Canyon. At this point, many people are satisfied with what they’ve accomplished and don’t feel the need to carry on, yet the hardcore hikers will brave Angels Landing to achieve the famous 360-degree view of Zion Canyon that makes the reward much greater than the risk. At the start, hikers are met with a daunting sign that reads: “Since 2004, 13 people have died falling from the cliffs on this route”.

As of 2023, this number has increased to 17 people. The narrowest part of the trail is just two feet wide. During your entire journey, other hikers are going to and from the summit. There is a lot of careful squeezing around others and taking mini breaks to let people get past you and your group safely. A series of chains installed in certain steep areas along the hike on just one side of the trail are for people to pull themselves along. There are some areas where hikers must use their hands to climb up jagged rocks and because of this, Angels Landing has been rated a class 3 hike based on the Yosemite Decimal System.

The Yosemite Decimal System is a scale for rating walks, hikes and climbs based on their difficulty and requirements. A class 3 is identified as a hike that requires scrambling on rocks, climbing using hands and feet (but without having to search for holds) and rope use for comfort but not absolutely required.

When you do reach the end of the hike, you are met with a wide, slightly rocky area to enjoy the 360-degree view, take pictures and have the perfect spot for a lunch break. However, Angels Landing has become such a popular spot that everyone is required to get a permit in order to climb it. Hikers must enter a lottery for their party at least a day before, and if chosen, you are then granted a permit to ascend.

There are only two things you must absolutely have in order to complete this climb. The first is free hands. Using your hands is a must, and as gorgeous as the view is, walking around with phone in-hand trying to take pictures could be a fatal distraction. Second, you must have trust in yourself. If you don’t trust yourself on the climb, you're not going to complete the climb — simple as that. Trusting that you are capable of completing the challenge will make you confident and careful enough to successfully hike Angels Landing.

Angels Landing is an absolute must-hike for anyone visiting Zion National Park. Keep up with us @theedgemag to hear about more amazing and exhilarating hiking spots!