Zion National Park, UT
I took this image standing at the top of Angels Landing. This is one of Zion National Park's most famous day hikes. Round trip the hike is 5 miles with over 1,488 ft elevation gain.
Though a very popular adventure, I advise that it is not for the faint of heart. The death toll for Angels Landing is 7 people, with the most recent casualty being March of this year. There is a warning sign at the trail head advising to be extra cautious and not to attempt the hike in high winds or bad weather. I would love to do this hike again and would recommend it to others, I just want to inform future hikers of the risks.
I set out with a group of friends on an 85 degree day to tackle this adventure. As you notice, the two of us (along with everyone in my group) had a camelbak full of water along with sunscreen and hats to help shield from the penetrating sun rays. The first two miles are paved to prevent erosion. The trail is very well maintained and easy to follow (plus you are among plenty of other visitors all making their way up the same trail).
There is a section that you hike through after the first mile called the Refrigerator Canyon which offers the most shade and often a cool breeze as the path cuts between Angels Landing and Cathedral Mountain.
The image below is of the viewpoint at Refrigerator Canyon. I would strongly suggest to rest here before continuing on. Just grab a cute hiker, and take a seat for a minute while admiring the views of the beautiful park.
Right after Refrigerator Canyon at about 1.8 miles into the hike you approach the very intimidating, tightly wound 21 switch backs known as, Walter's wiggles. These wiggles can be easily spotted in the image below.
image source
You quickly gain 250ft hiking up the wiggles, ascending into the wide sandy area known as Scout lookout. This is a great stopping point for anyone who is afraid of heights as the views are very pretty surrounding Scout Lookout (Plus you will of hiked a total of 4 miles round trip with over 1,000 ft of elevation gain which is an accomplishment in itself).
For those of you willing to continue on, the last half mile of the trail is where it becomes potentially dangerous. As you ascend the last 488 ft, you are scrambling up a very bold trail with sheer cliffs on both sides.
Shoe choice is very important for this last part. Make sure you have broken in whatever shoes you will be wearing prior to attempting this hike to avoid any blisters or other complications. Your shoes should have enough trad to keep from slipping on the dusty rocks. I saw a few people who had hiked past Scout Lookout wearing flip flops and they were vocally regretting it with a few even going barefoot to keep from slipping. Lesson being, just wear some good sturdy hiking shoes.
image source
A fixed chain railing has been installed to assist hikers through the last half mile, but I do not suggest relying on it. With the trail being so narrow and the excess of people hiking up and down this last section, the chains are constantly moving with the push and pull of new hands. I personally do fine with heights, but the scariest part of this experience was accommodating for the number of people moving in the opposite direction as I waited uncomfortably in spots with drop offs right at my feet. All of the other hikers I encountered were respectable of each others' space, as much as they could allow on the thin dangerous section of the trail.
Finally, the end was reached!
The two pictures above are of the sights you are surrounded by at the summit of the hike. There was a good number of people resting and admiring the view from the top, but it is a spacious enough area to find your own comfortable spot.
A pretty display of balanced rock stacks teetered on the edge.
It took my friends and I roughly two hours to summit Angels Landing. I would strongly recommend this hike for all you adventure seekers out there. Bring plenty of water, snacks, sunscreen, and most of all just be smart and cautious of others. It is a great hike and it's sad that casualties have occured from underestimating the severity of the hike as well as bad weather/luck. Either way, come prepared and I hope you too enjoy the amazing views of Zion National Park.
