The 1 Hike in Zion National Park You Won’t Regret
Headed to Zion anytime soon? Well, I have an exciting recommendation for you!
One of my all time favorite hikes EVER! Which means a lot, because I have been on a countless number of hikes in my 23 years.
I would like to point out it gets extremely strenuous when you get towards the top, so if you’re up for that challenge, and are ready to see an AMAZING view that’s well worth it, keep reading!
So what the heck is the trail I’m talking about?
ANGEL’S LANDING!
Let me start with some background info so you know what you’re getting into.
FACTS:
- 2.5 miles long (5 miles round trip)
- 1500 foot elevation gain
- Class 3 difficulty
- Steep switchbacks
- At one point there’s drop off’s on both sides of you (if you fear heights, this can be anxiety driven)
- Angel’s landing got its name by the founder (Frederick Fisher) who said it was so high only angel’s could land on it (I take that as a compliment – I’ve always known I was an angel – my brothers would disagree)
- Many people who hike it don’t reach the top – so if you do, consider yourself a specialty!
- Best time to go: Feruary-October
- I got these facts from the wonderful Zion Ponderosa site (zionponderosa.com) which is extremely informative on everything Zion!
So why do I recommend this hike? I recommend it because it’s challenging. I was physically drained at the top, but those are the best hikes right? When it takes all your strength, sweat, blood and tears (lol) to get to the top, those are always the most rewarding.
The start of the hike is fairly easy, calming, and relaxing to begin with. You will soon reach some switchbacks that will get your heart racing, but after that you can catch a quick break before you hit some steeper switchbacks called Walter’s Wiggles. They’re pretty sharp turns, so make sure you take rests as needed and bring lots of water! (order: easy path – ok switchbacks – easy path – difficult switchbacks)
After Walter’s Wiggles, you reach a beautiful lookout of Zion Canyon. This can be the end of the hike for some travelers who don’t feel the need for the strenuous path up ahead, or it can be a place to stop and snack before making the rest of the trek to the top!
After the lookout it’s only about 0.5 miles to the top, but don’t let that fool you. This is the hardest part! It becomes rocky and uneven, and at one point you need to hold onto chains to get yourself up. Once again, if you’re scared of heights, I do not recommend this hike, unless you are trying to overcome that fear then definitely continue with full force!
There is a point where the path gets really narrow and there is a 1,000 foot drop off on both sides of you. Even me, who is an adrenaline junkie and isn’t scared of heights, got pretty bothered by it. But that’s part of the challenge! You’ll be to the top in no time if you just push through.
Below is my friend Carly and I cheesing after reaching the top! (how I look/feel after pretty much any hike)! It’s so rewarding!
IMPORTANT TIPS:
- BRING WATER! Biggest piece of advice I can ever give you! Especially if you go in the summer months because it will most likely be scorching outside. Even if it’s cloudy and 40 degrees I still highly recommend you always bring water (nutrition major here)!
- I recommend bringing a small backpack that can fit your waters and snacks. I started off with carrying just my water bottle, but when it came to the chain part where I needed both hands to pull myself up, I had to toss my water bottle in my friends backpack. I HIGHLY recommend you have 2 free hands for this hike; for the chains, and past the chains when it gets rocky and more steep.
- Bring snacks! You will probably spend at least 4 to 5 hours hiking and expending hundreds of calories. Refueling yourself as well as hydrating yourself during this time is essential for optimum performance! Besides, who doesn’t love a good pb&j or protein bar at the top?
- Wear hiking boots. Like I said earlier, it can get pretty rocky so you’ll want some sturdy boots to keep your feet and ankles in check!
- Bring layers if hiking in colder weather. There are many factors that gauge how warm/cold you get (how many stops you take/don’t take, if the sun is beating on you or not, changes in weather, etc.). Coming too prepared is much better than coming not prepared at all!
And my last tip is to have the best time! This was just one stop along our week long road trip through Colorado, Utah, and Arizona (you can find this itinerary here). I couldn’t of asked for a better group of girls to adventure with.
Shoutout to Maddy who did this hike in a BOOT! (she waited for us at the lookout while we trekked to the top – such a patient queen).
And like always let me know if you do this hike and how you liked it! I love to hear about others adventures and if you took any of my tips/recommendations into consideration.
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7 Day Ultimate Colorado, Utah, and Arizona Road Trip – kirthetraveler
[…] you guys read my post The 1 hike in Zion National Park You Won’t Regret well, spoiler, this is it! Angel’s fricken landing! Unbelievable. It’s definitely in […]