Angels Landing

Route Details

Best Season

Spring and fall best. Summer too hot—start at dawn. Chains icy after rain/snow. Permit required for chains section.

About This Route

Angels Landing is the signature hike of Zion National Park—a vertiginous scramble up chains and rock to a narrow sandstone fin 1,488 feet above the valley floor. The final half-mile to the summit requires hand-over-hand scrambling on chains bolted into the cliff face, with steep drop-offs on both sides. The route climbs relentlessly from the canyon floor, first ascending a paved trail, then ascending Walter's Wiggles—21 short steep switchbacks cut directly into the cliff face—before reaching Scout Lookout. Most hikers stop at Scout Lookout, which offers exceptional views. Beyond Scout Lookout, the chains section is for those comfortable with exposure. People have died on Angels Landing. The falls have been from both the chains section and the summit plateau. Don't attempt in wet or icy conditions. The park service installed a permit system to reduce crowding on the chains section and improve safety. The best times are spring and fall when temperatures are moderate. Summer is brutally hot—start at dawn. October-April has the lowest crowds but the chains can be icy after rain or snow.