Angels Landing: The Trail That Tests Your Fear of Heights
Angels Landing is a knife-edge ridge with a 1,500-foot drop on either side, and the National Park Service bolted chains to the rock so you can climb it. The trail in Zion National Park rises 1,488 feet in 2.5 miles, finishing with a half-mile scramble along a spine so narrow that hikers must grip chains while passing each other over void. At least twelve people have died here since 2004, falling from the exposed sections or scrambling off-trail. The Park Service now requires permits during peak season - an acknowledgment that the trail's popularity exceeds what its danger warrants. People keep climbing anyway. The view from the summit is transcendent. The cost of seeing it is confronting exactly how much you fear dying.
The Trail
The Angels Landing trail begins at the Grotto trailhead and follows the West Rim Trail through Refrigerator Canyon - a narrow slot between towering walls, cool even in summer. The trail then attacks Walter's Wiggles, 21 tight switchbacks carved into the cliff face in 1926. At Scout Lookout, the trail forks: left to the West Rim continues safely; right begins the Angels Landing chain section. The next half-mile covers the ridge to the summit, with chains bolted to the rock where the exposure is most severe. There is no other protection.
The Exposure
The chain section is not technically difficult - fit hikers can complete it without specialized skills. The difficulty is psychological. The ridge is narrow enough that hikers can see both drops simultaneously. Sections require gripping chains while sidestepping along ledges inches wide. Other hikers must be passed, requiring negotiation on terrain with no margin for error. The exposure is relentless for the entire half-mile. Some hikers freeze partway up, unable to continue or retreat. Others discover fears they didn't know they had. The summit rewards those who make it; the terror punishes everyone.
The Deaths
At least twelve people have died on Angels Landing since 2004 - the actual total may be higher. Falls occur during the chain section and on adjacent unofficial routes. Some victims slip; others are blown by sudden gusts; a few appear to have jumped intentionally. The death rate is actually lower than many hikers expect, given the exposure, but each fatality renews debate about whether the trail should be closed or modified. The Park Service has responded with permit requirements rather than closure, limiting crowds while preserving access for those willing to accept the risk.
The Permits
Since 2022, Angels Landing requires a permit during high-season - April through October plus weekends year-round. Permits are distributed by lottery through Recreation.gov; demand far exceeds supply. The system limits crowds on the chain section, improving safety by reducing the need to pass other hikers on exposed terrain. It also creates frustration: visiting Zion without an Angels Landing permit means missing the park's signature experience. Off-season permits are easier to obtain, but winter conditions add ice hazards. The permit requirement acknowledges what was obvious: too many people were attempting a trail that punishes overcrowding with death.
Visiting Angels Landing
Angels Landing is located in Zion National Park, Utah. Permits are required seasonally; apply through Recreation.gov lottery in advance. The trailhead is at the Grotto shuttle stop (private vehicles prohibited in Zion Canyon during peak season). The hike is 5.4 miles round-trip with 1,488 feet elevation gain. Allow 4-5 hours. Start early to avoid midday heat and crowds. Bring water; there is none on the trail. The chain section requires both hands - secure cameras and phones. Do not attempt in rain, ice, or high winds. If the exposure feels overwhelming at Scout Lookout, turn back - there is no shame in recognizing limits. Springdale has lodging and restaurants. The view from the summit is worth the fear, for those willing to pay that price.
From the Air
Located at 37.27°N, 112.95°W in Zion National Park, Utah. From altitude, Angels Landing is visible as a narrow sandstone fin projecting into Zion Canyon - the main canyon visible as a deep red gash in the white and red rock. The trail is invisible from altitude; the ridge itself shows as a knife-edge between the canyon's main fork and a tributary. The Virgin River threads through the canyon floor far below. Springdale is visible at the canyon mouth. The park's distinctive landscape - steep-walled canyons in multi-colored sandstone - extends in every direction. The exposure that makes Angels Landing famous is apparent even from aircraft: that ridge is narrow.