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View from the top!
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The hard hike up
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Almost there! Angles landing is at the top of this narrow ridge
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Angles Landing is at the top of the central peak.
Overview & Quick Tips
The view from Angels Landing is surely among the most spectacular vistas on earth, but this lofty location is not for the faint hearted. The latter section of the rocky access trail climbs up a steep narrow fin that’s only a few feet wide. With vertical drops on either side, Angels Landing will test your nerves!Detailed information
Safety First! Visitors have fallen to their death on route to Angels Landing. Don’t start along the trail in wet, windy, gusty or stormy weather, or if you’re not comfortable with heights. Make sure you have adequate footwear, ample water, and plenty of time to return before dark. Allow around 5 hours for the five mile return hike from the The Grotto picnic area in Zion National Park, and be prepared for a 1500 feet altitude gain from the canyon floor.
Check the current trial conditions at the Visitor Centre before departing.
I normally prefer landscapes with dramatic clouds, or at least a little texture in the sky, however when I visited Angels Landing the intense blue of the clear sky contrasted beautifully with the red rocks, so don’t be put off this hike if cloud-freak on a clear day!
As for the best time of day for shooting, Morning and Afternoon light is generally favoured for landscape photography, but here low sun will leave much of the valley and Canyon walls cast in shadow. Conversely a midday sun will illuminate more of the scene, but the light can be harsh….so take your pick!
Despite the narrow access, there’s ample room at the top to enable a variety of perspectives, but standing right at the edge of the thousand foot drop is intimidating! I lay on my belly and hung my camera over the rim for a couple of shots. Still, my favourite famed a little foreground, along with a pesky chipmunk! Bring along the widest angle lens you have and a polarising filter.
Although the trail is over all year, in winter the hike can be too dangerous, with a covering of snow and ice. In summer the temperatures can be excessive, so Spring and Fall are best.
Best Times of day to visit
- Best time of day: Various
- Alternative time: Any
Time Required
- 4 to 6 hours
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GPS coordinates:
Get Directions
Start and finish at the Grotto. This can be accessed with the Zion Shuttle Bus, when running between 1 April and 30 October. Private cars can drive to the Grotto between these dates.
The hiking trail to Angels Landing is 2.4 miles (3.9 km) long, becoming difficult in the last half mile. Anchored support chains are pegged to the rock in the dangerous sections of the climb, in summer the links can become extremely hot, so consider packing a pair of gloves…believe me, you’ll want to keep a firm grip on the chains!