Angels Landing: Zion’s Most Thrilling (and Terrifying) Hike

There’s a section of Angels Landing where the trail narrows to a ridge with a sheer 1,500-foot drop on both sides. The only thing between you and the canyon floor is a chain bolted into Navajo sandstone and whatever grip strength you’ve got. Most people find this section somewhere between exhilarating and genuinely terrifying. Very few find it boring.

What the Hike Actually Is

Distance: 5.4 miles round-trip Elevation gain: 1,488 feet Difficulty: Strenuous — with serious exposure on the final 0.5 mile Trailhead: The Grotto (accessed via Zion Canyon shuttle — no personal vehicles on the scenic drive)

The trail begins easily along the Virgin River, then makes a series of switchbacks up the canyon wall. At Scout Lookout (2.7 miles), you reach the base of the final ridge. From here, the formal trail ends and the chains section begins.

The chains run for roughly 0.5 miles along a narrow sandstone spine. The rock is rough and grippy when dry, but becomes dangerously slick in rain or ice. You’ll be climbing over, around, and between boulders while using the chains for balance. People coming down share the same route — it gets crowded at peak times, which creates its own hazard.

The Permit Reality

As of 2022, Angels Landing requires a day-use permit that you must win before you can hike past Scout Lookout. Two lottery windows:

Seasonal lottery: Opens in January for the spring season, May for summer, August for fall. Apply at recreation.gov.
Day-before lottery: A limited number of permits open at 3pm the day before. More competitive than it sounds.

Apply for both. The permit covers your whole group (up to 6 people). No permit = rangers will turn you back at Scout Lookout. Yes, they check.

What Makes It Worth the Hassle

The summit view is genuinely one of the best in the Southwest. Zion Canyon spreads below you in both directions, with the Virgin River looking like a silver thread at the bottom. The Great White Throne rises across the canyon. On clear days you can see mesas stretching into the distance in every direction.

The hike there is also spectacular — Walter’s Wiggles, a series of 21 tight switchbacks cut directly into the cliff face, is one of the most impressive pieces of trail engineering you’ll walk through.

Should You Do It?

If you don’t like heights, be honest with yourself. Plenty of people get to Scout Lookout and decide that’s enough — and Scout Lookout itself has a solid view. The chains section is not a place to discover that exposure isn’t your thing.

If you’re comfortable with heights and moderate physical fitness, it’s a bucket-list experience. Get the permit, start early (7am or before), and you’ll have the chains mostly to yourself before the crowds arrive.

Best season: March–May, September–November. Summer brings extreme heat in the canyon (100°F+) and afternoon thunderstorms that make the chains dangerous. Winter trail may ice over.

Getting There

Zion National Park is 2.5 hours from Las Vegas, 4.5 hours from Salt Lake City. Park entry is $35/vehicle. Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is shuttle-only — park at the visitor center and ride to The Grotto. Arrive early; shuttles fill up.

Coordinates: 37.2690°N, 112.9469°W | Zion National Park, UT