Angels Landing Trail is located near the north end of Zion National Park, starting across from The Grotto picnic area. The out and back hike is rated strenuous and has an elevation gain of 453 m (1,488 ft).
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The trail to Angels Landing is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long with an approximate 1,500 feet (460 m) elevation gain. The hike is rated as a class 3 difficulty based on the Yosemite Decimal System.
Proceed cautiously on this 15.5-mile loop trail near Springdale, Utah. Generally considered a highly challenging route, it should only be attempted by experienced adventurers.
Angels Landing trail is strenuous and challenging for both the mind and body. We wouldn't recommend it for young kids or for anyone with vertigo, a fear of heights, or two left feet. For the final climb, you traverse a narrow ridge with anxiety-inducing drop-offs on either side.
But the trail to Angels Landing is far from a beginner-friendly hike. In fact, even those with some hiking experience will want to consider their abilities before attempting it. At 5.5 miles roundtrip and climbing nearly 1,500 feet in elevation, the trail is physically demanding.
You must have a good level of physical fitness.Most of this climb comes before the narrow spine of Angels Landing. If you are very fatigued by the time you get to this point, it only makes the hike more dangerous. Once you are on the spine, it is a very strenuous, sometimes technically challenging climb to the top.
Angels Landing is 5 miles and 1500 feet gain. Half Dome is 3 times that - the actual cables are only a small part of the entire hike. Personally my biggest problem is how insanely steep it looks from the top when you have to go back down.
While the hike to Angels Landing is challenging based only on elevation gain, what makes it dangerous is the final ascent to the summit. The last half-mile of the trail is a ridge only a few feet across with steep drop-offs on either side.
As of 2023, at least 17 confirmed deaths have happened on the Angels Landing hike, and some sources put that figure closer to 20 deaths. Most of these were falls from steep cliffs.
Angels Landing is known as one of the most dangerous hikes in the United States. The summit is over a thousand feet off the valley floor and has no guard rails. People have hurt themselves, and even fallen to their deaths, so this is a trail to take seriously.
It's important not to attempt this climb if you aren't in good physical shape. It is not appropriate for young children and is too dangerous to try with a kid in a backpack. Only hike Angels Landing if you are in good physical shape. If you have a fear of heights, do not attempt a trail literally called Angels Landing.
The section of the route follows a steep and narrow ridge from Scout Lookout to Angels Landing itself, a fantastic observation point 1500 feet above Zion Canyon. Anchored support chains are attached along some sections of the sheer cliff to assist your way up and down the carved steps.
One trail that rivals an Angels Landing hike is the Narrows. This trail is perhaps even more unique than Angels Landing. Hikers travel up or downstream through the Virgin River, surrounded by towering canyon walls that narrow as you progress further into the canyon.
Angels Landing is best hiked in the early morning or late afternoon. It is highly recommended to catch the first Zion Canyon Shuttle into the canyon. This trail is a hugely popular hike as hundreds of people hike this trail every day during the summer in Zion. Most hikers will start this hike between 8 am and 3 pm.
Two completely different hikes. Narrows is level...as long as you consider walking in the river level (which it is not). Angels Landing is much more strenuous, uphill, and people with height or edge concerns are strongly discouraged.
The National Parks Service describes Half Dome as the most strenuous day hike in Yosemite, and probably the toughest (recommended) day hike in any National Park. So while you can certainly just show up and give the hike a go, you'll enjoy it more if your fitness level is up to snuff.
You don't need any specialty gear in order to hike the Angels Landing Trail. However, there are a few things I would recommend bringing along: Hiking Shoes. You'll definitely want really good grip while hiking the Angels Landing Trail, so if possible, I recommend hiking shoes with traction over regular sneakers.