Bucket List / Adventure Travel Goals
Hike Angels Landing
Still to do
Pull yourself along chains on a knife-edge ridge with a 450-metre drop either side.
The adventure
The first part is just hard work: up the West Rim Trail and through the 21 tight switchbacks of Walter's Wiggles to Scout Lookout. Then the trail narrows to a spine of sandstone, a chain bolted into the rock beside you, and the ground falls away on both sides.
The last half-mile is a scramble along the ridge, holding the chain, stepping around other hikers and trying not to look straight down. At the top, the whole of Zion Canyon opens up: the Virgin River winding below, red and white cliffs towering opposite, and the road you started from looking tiny. It's one of the most famous and nerve-testing hikes in America, and the sense of achievement is huge.
Why it’s epic
- The chain-assisted final half-mile along the ridge.
- Walter's Wiggles, 21 switchbacks cut into the cliff.
- Views over Zion Canyon from about 1,763 metres.
What it is
A hike to the top of a sandstone fin in Zion Canyon, about 450 metres above the valley floor. The final half-mile follows a narrow ridge with chains to hold on to and big drops on both sides.
How to do it
Apply for a permit through the National Park Service lottery, then take the park shuttle to The Grotto trailhead.
Top tip
Start at dawn to beat the heat and the queues on the chains.
Need to know
- A permit is required for the chains section, through a lottery.
- Don't attempt it in rain, ice or high wind.
- Not suitable if you have a real fear of heights.
Plan this trip
- Rough cost
- £750 to £2,000 per person, including flights from the UK
- Time needed
- 4 to 5 hours
- Best time to go
- April to May and September to October
- Fly into
- LAS airport
Park entry and the permit fee are low; nearby hotels are the cost.
Make it happen
Why it’s on my list
Not done yet. If you’ve done it and have tips, tell me about it.
Comments