Utah is home to many iconic hiking trails including the popular hike to Angels Landing in Zion National Park. With a wide range of trail types and difficulty levels, this place has something to offer for everyone.
We chose to visit Zion in the fall when the leaves were changing colors. Stunning bright pink and yellow leaves surround the entire park.
This time of the year was perfect for our trip as there were less people on the trails than usual. Even The Narrows, another hike in the area, was far less busy than in the summer months.
What I Packed for Angels Landing
Below you can find some details about what I wore on this hike and what we packed for this rainy half-day trip. Make sure you always check the weather forecast before hiking.
My Pack:
- REI Co-Op Ruck Pack
- 2 liters of water ( Camelbak Bladder )
- 2 ponchos
- Phone w/ battery backup pack
- Flashlight ( Not used )
- Garmin In-Reach GPS ( Not used )
- Nature Valley bars & fruit snacks!
- Sony A7ii w/ 12-24mm lens
My Outfit:
- Burton Women’s Flannel – White Pepper Sunset Plaid
- Women’s Sorel Boots
- Roxy olive green trucker hat
- Lightweight Old Navy Sweatshirt
- Thick hiking socks
Getting to Angels Landing in Zion
Typically a shuttle runs within Zion National Park due to the high volume of visitors during the busy season (April through September). Tim and I visited in late September and the shuttle had just stopped running so we were able to park along the road near The Grotto picnic area which is where the trailhead begins.
See the map below for the parking area and trail. Though the trail is accessible in the winter as well, it is not advised because of the dangerous icy conditions.
Angels Landing Hike Trailhead
After parking at The Grotto picnic area, you’ll cross the bridge over the river and began the trek on West Rim Trail. The trail starts out relatively flat. From there, the trail slowly begins to gain elevation as you enter the section called Refrigerator Canyon.
Refrigerator Canyon
As you enter into Refrigerator Canyon, you’re greeted with beautiful trees and and likely shade on most days. Once we hit this point it had just begun to rain. As always, we had looked at the weather forecast prior to starting the hike and made sure to pack a couple of ponchos. They worked great, keeping us and the camera gear, dry!
Walter’s Wiggles – 21 Switchbacks
This section of the trail is paved and leads you to the section known as Walter’s Wiggles, a series of 21 switchbacks. Switchback sections have never been my favorite pastime but considering this section is a 250 foot elevation gain, I was very thankful for them.
Scout Lookout
Once you break through the last of the switchbacksm you’ll aright at Scout Lookout. We took a break here and enjoyed a snack with a wonderful view of the canyon. There are also restrooms at this spot should you need them.
Don’t get distracted taking pictures if you don’t have good footing. Looking through a lens really throws off your perspective from this high up, keep that in mind! Always make sure you have solid footing and chose boots with good grip. Take your time when capturing these spaces, there is no rush!
For more tips on how to safely photograph the National Parks, read their article here.
Visit the National Park website for more information on how to recreate responsibly here.
Hogsback
The next section of the trail is called Hogsback. This section leads you up to the top with sheer cliff sides on either side. From this point it is about a 1/2 mile to Angel Landing’s summit.
There are metal chains to hold on to along this portion of the trail for saftey. Keep in mind other visitors will be heading down from the summit along these same chains as you head up. Be respectful of others you share the trail with. Please be cautious on this trail as 9 people have died as of 2019 from falling off the sides – the danger is real and not to be taken lightly.
Know your limits! If you have never hiked this type of environment in the past, it can be challenging.
Angels Landing Summit
Angels Landing is a must hike trail in Zion National Park. We can’t wait to come back and hike this trail again for a little vertical challenge!
Reminder: Always check the National Park website for closures. The week prior to our trip Angels Landing was closed for maintenance. You can see all the alerts for the park here.
Hike to Angels Landing – Zion National Park
Length: 5 miles roundtrip
Difficulty: Difficult ( for height and narrow chained slick rock )
- There is a fee to get into the park ( currently $35 per vehicle ).
- The park offers a shuttle April – September. ( Check the website for current alerts that may affect this ).
- Always check the weather forecast before hiking this trail.
- The hike took us 4 hours total.
- Sections of this trail are not kid-friendly due to the exposed cliffs.
Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I only share products I have used, tested and love!
Other Adventures in the Area
Zion National Park – The Narrows Bottom-Up Hike
Plan in Advance to Visit The Wave in Arizona
Images Credit: Timothy Cheston & Ashley Ann
