After the whole camping debacle the night before, the next day had a bright start! As a proper beginning to my journey, I knew I had to start getting my hiking on. Zion has many famous spots and hikes to explore, but one of the most well-known hikes has always intrigued me and I decided to live Zion up like a tourist for the first day. Angels Landing was the first hike on my Zion bucket list.
Angels Landing Hike
Distance: 5 miles
Difficulty: Relative (Mostly uphill, some climbing on narrow paths to peak)
How long it took me: About 4.5 hours
I decided to jump with both feet in and begin my hiking in Zion National Park with the famous Angels Landing. Many photos for Utah have been taken at this stunning spot and it is well worth the visit if you don't mind an uphill hike with incredible views the whole way. One thing to note: the park is usually extremely busy and it can be difficult to find parking, which I was not aware of before my visit. I ended up having to park at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center near the entrance of the park closest to Springdale, UT and then take the shuttle to the trailhead which is across the street from the Grotto. I didn't mind taking the shuttle minus the convenience of having your car nearby, so make sure you take everything you need with you! While I was on the shuttle, the driver kept telling me how Angels Landing was the most popular, but the West Rim Trail -which is a separate trail off of Angels Landing- had way less people and comparable views. With that in mind, I embarked up the Angels Landing trail.
As a conditioned hiker, this uphill definitely had me catching my breath a few times. Nearly the entire trail is uphill. While it is paved and extremely well maintained, it doesn't make the ascent feel any easier if you are not used to hiking uphill. As the first hike of my trip, this is one I probably could have used my hiking poles on! If you are not used to hiking uphill, give yourself plenty of time for this hike because you will be taking a lot of breaks. However, all views worth seeing take work! And the good news is that the views are incredible the entire way up, so you'll probably be stopping frequently to take pictures regardless! You ascend from a valley surrounded by mountains and rockfaces then get great elevated views of the valley and mountains the higher you climb. Every twist and turn you take brings you up a little bit higher on the valley and the vista never disappoints.
As I weaved my way up, I constantly ooh-ed and ahh-ed at the spectacular scenery and rarely found myself in crowds of people despite it being a popular hike. I'm not sure if it was the time of day I hiked or because it was during the week, but despite how busy it was in the park, I ended up not being in a constant stream of people, which I really enjoyed.
As I reached the first flat point of the trail, I had the option of ascending to the "real" climb of Angels Landing, or continuing off course to the West Rim trail. Out of my own curiosity
and because I always love getting hiking recommendations, I decided to explore some of the West Rim Trail to satisfy my curiosity. The views were stunning! I continued about a half mile up the West Rim Trail and found the most heavenly views on a rock on the edge of the drop-off that was definitely not for the faint of heart! As I hung off the edge and got my captures, a nice couple from Minnesota took a few photos for me while I chatted with them about Zion, hikes, and my future ventures to Canada. After spending nearly 30 minutes enjoying the spot I found, I decided that I couldn't have truly done Zion properly until I accomplished the full Angels Landing hike. However, I fully recommend checking out the entire West Rim trail to anyone who has a few days to explore the park as the views showed off a different part of the park from the elevation of Angels Landing.
The second half of Angels Landing is definitely not meant for those with a fear of heights! I personally don't mind heights, so my opinions about this hike are a bit biased from the point of view of someone who is not bothered by heights and climbing. Good news for those who shudder at the idea of scaling a rockface, there's a nice stopping point with comparable views for those who do not wish to continue to the climb. Before you have the option of continuing to the climb, there is a flat overlook point where you can capture the essence of the Angels Landing views. For all of you daredevils planning on continuing forward, you will definitely feel adventurous and like a badass ascending up the peaks! When I went, it was quite crowded, so know that you have to be courteous and allow people to pass you on the hike. The climb along the ledge is narrow, but not so narrow that you feel like you are rock climbing next to the drop-off of your demise. In my opinion, it is completely safe so long as you proceed wisely and cautiously. There are even thick metal chains bolted to the rock that allow you extra support if you need it. I wholeheartedly think it is worth going the entire way, the views are truly dramatic and special.
Overall, I definitely recommend this hike to all! It is famous for a reason. The hike up can be strenuous for some, but with the most rewarding views the whole way. You can hike as little or as much of it as you want. I do recommend doing the whole thing including the climb so long as you feel comfortable doing it. And know you always have the option of turning around (remember that for any hike)!
