A 360° view from the top of Angel’s Landing. Click for a large version.
Morning in Zion, looking at the Streaked Wall.
We got up early in Zion and promptly began driving out of the park. It took a few miles for the master navigator (or is that navel mastigator?) to figure out where we wanted to go and how we weren’t getting there.
Hiking up the Angel’s Landing trail. The top is the high point in the photo, about 1600 feet up.
While planning our trip, I was glancing through one of Nancy’s Sunset magazines and saw a picture of the Angel’s Landing trail. I had never heard of it before, but it was such a wicked photo that it was the obvious trail to hike.
The trail becomes dramatic as soon as you get above the trees. Nancy is back there somewhere.
Even in late October, it was very warm. As you ascend into the rock there is little protection from the sun. If you plan on hiking Zion in the summer, bring lots of water.
The trail is cut through rock in a few places.
Angel’s Landing is a very popular trail. We saw at least a hundred people on it.
You get a wonderful view of Zion Canyon before entering the shade of Refrigerator Canyon.
About a third of the way up, the trail disappears into Refrigerator Canyon, so named for the coolness of its shade. The trail quickly begins ascending up Walter’s Wiggles, a famous series of switchbacks cut into the canyon wall.
The view from Scout Lookout.
Walter’s Wiggles leads you to Scout Lookout, a saddle on the ridge. From here you can head north on the West Rim Trail, or continue on to Angel’s Landing. It’s also the first indication of the exposure ahead.
A few hundred feet up from Scout Landing, with hikers on the skyline.
The information at the park tourist center gives little indication of the amount of exposure on the hike. Once you leave Scout Landing, there is a constant 500–1,000’ drop-off on the right side of the trail, and over 1,000’ on the left side. Often, the trail is only a few feet wide.
In some places there are no chains to hang onto…
We passed many tourists crawling and shaking on the ground, and parents trying to coax their traumatized children up the trail.
...and in other places there are.
There were also many people unaffected by the exposure, including young parents toting babies on their backs.
Either way, it’s a long way down.
Although the views are gripping, it’s not as dangerous as it looks. Only five people have died on the trail since 1983.
On top of Angel’s Landing.
It was the craziest trail I’ve ever been on, the sort of hike you absolutely have to do if you are ever in the area.
Hiking the Riverside Walk at the Temple of Sinawava.
After hiking back down, we took a short, flat little hike at the end of the canyon at the Temple of Sinawava.
The Riverside Walk ends at The Narrows.
This trail deadends after a mile—after that, you need water gear to keep hiking up The Narrows of the Virgin River.
The eastern entrance of the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway. Slickrock!
Zion is a park that I’d like to spend more time in. The trails are spectacular, and hiking The Narrows is something worth planning for.
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