There is a time at the top of Angels Landing where you feel like time stops moving as if you are moving slowly, and not at all how you would like to be. The width of the trail narrows, the drops on either side of the trail become severe, and at this point in time your every step truly will affect your destination. It is the kind of hike that requires not only strength to complete, but also a little bit of concentration as well.
However before you ever reach the famous ridges of Angels Landing you will have already encountered several intense experiences along the entire route. From start to finish this hike requires a distance of approximately 5.4 miles, while gaining about 1,500 feet in height. The hike is not something that can be enjoyed leisurely; you will step out onto an almost constant incline for several hours, in potentially intense heat, and there is simply no way of rushing in order to enjoy any aspect of it.
Timing of your hiking experience plays a significantly larger role than many may expect. Generally the spring through fall months offer you optimal conditions for your hike; however, having good timing should be aimed for as early as possible during these months for the best experience. During midafternoon/early evening the sun directly overhead may create a potentially dangerous situation to continue your hike due to leaving you blinded to any potential dangers which can exist along narrow trails. The winter months present an entirely different danger, due to the potential of falling due to slippery surfaces present from ice along narrow trails. Therefore, generally this trail is avoided throughout winter months.
The trail begins fairly easy and leads to gradual elevation gain with wide paths that provide a good intro to climbing. That calmness of the start disappears quickly. Eventually, you will find that the route narrows, the inclines get steeper, and you begin to feel as though every step you take forward is HARD work. The experience will be continual and repetitive, consequently don’t be surprised if you think you’ve run out of water – there is no place to get more.
One of the most well-known portions of this section of the trail is called Walter’s Wiggles. They are a series of very tight switchbacks that wind up the wall of the canyon. They look really steep from the bottom, but once you start the zig-zag motion, it becomes more about just maintaining a rhythm rather than what you are physically doing with your legs. Take a step, turn, and then take another step, and you will know exactly what you did when you reach the top!
Once you finish climbing the Walter’s Wiggles, you come to a natural area to take a breather and/or rest: Scout Lookout. It is also a good place to take in some outstanding views of the canyon and/or decide whether or not you would like to continue on. From this point onward, the trip will be very different from what you experienced thus far.
What makes Angels Landing so well-known is the last half a mile, which is truly spectacular. It consists of a narrow strip of land that is literally a spine of rock that goes straight up to the top of Angels Landing, flanked on each side by vertical drop-offs. There are chains that are bolted into the rock (for the aid of hikers who need something sturdy to hold onto when the trail gets dicey) as you continue to hike. While these chains do provide a bit of help, they are not intended to support you entirely; balancing your weight is essential for maintaining control over your movements.
The mental state you will find yourself in while hiking this final section is truly amazing; it is a serene and focused state of mind without many distractions. While you continue to hike this section, your thoughts only pertain to the fact that you must concentrate on each and every step that you take; you will have an uninterrupted meditation session with just you and the rock, as well as the open space surrounding the rock.
After reaching the top, all of the pieces come together and you will see breathtaking views of Zion Canyon, which include layered sandstone cliffs and deep valleys in every direction that you turn. This does not feel like an ordinary look-out point; instead, it feels like an accomplishment and you will appreciate that you had to accomplish something in order to get there.
Angels Landing’s unique selling point is the journey, not just the view (even though both are spectacular!). You will leave with the memory of that climb due to the combination of challenge, exhilaration, and reward.
Zion National Park intensifies this whole process by creating such an exceptional balance between deserts, massive rock formations, and little patches of vegetation; all benefit from being together in a way that makes them seem almost out of place by their presence. No matter if you’re walking through a canyon next to a river or standing atop a very narrow rock ledge above, there is something about Zion that seems somewhat surreal.
Angels Landing happens to be one of those locations that creates this particular sense of unreality.
