The scenery is spectacular and very few people venture out this way. Thankfully, the majority of the rock hasn’t been worn down and has retained really good grip, despite the huge numbers of people taking on this trail. Once you are on the spine, it is a very strenuous, sometimes technically challenging climb to the top. Would you recommend doing this hike still with the chains portion closed due to COVID? From the lookout you’ll head briefly downhill and have to cross a large drop with no chains (a place that can bottleneck with queues at busy times). The majority of the hike is relatively easy - there’s incline, but it’s not horribly steep and there are flat sections to rest. There are a couple of places to stop along the way, which we recommend taking advantage of. Although the trail is open year round (weather permitting), summers can be unbearably hot along the exposed trail and winters are unpredictable. With any of these conditions, the Angels Landing hike is incredibly dangerous. Again, this hike is dangerous and not a place to bring young kids. Summer is the hottest and most popular season for the park, so be prepared to share the trail and sweat in the heat; an early morning start is preferable. Even those who completed it returned with their nerves in tatters and regretted it. Glad we can help! Hello Teresa. If you feel confident in your ability to climb the steep sections of trail with ease this will go a long way to feeling more comfortable and also to have the energy to be highly aware of foot placement etc. Starting early also helps you avoid the midday heat and afternoon storms, which becomes a huge bonus during the summer months. We are not fans of hikes that feel genuinely dangerous. Any recommendations for doing trails in Zion during November last week, 2020? Morning is the best time to avoid the crowds on Angels Landing. I loved the freedom to just take my time without worrying that I was holding up a queue of people. If you park in the Grotto parking lot, expect to cross the road to the Angels Landing trailhead. Tim and I made it to the top of Angels Landing in just under an hour. If you are traveling with kids, it is safe for them to hike to Scout Lookout. You’ll then get a short flat section in Refrigerator Canyon (which is another beautiful spot) and offers full shade if you’re hiking in the heat (which is another reason why we recommend going late, because it’s cooler). Read next: The best hikes in Zion National Park and Why we loved Zion in winter. We were surprised to find out that we were quicker on the way down than the way up and didn’t feel nervous once. Well, we took on the Angels Landing hike (taking a lot of photos and video in precarious places) to show you what it’s like from the perspective of a couple who turned back at the Half Dome Cables and the ropes on Mount Storm King. The canyon is so picturesque my friends and family thought the pictures were fake. By land, we are located at 293 Ditto Landing Rd. Cheers, Julie. Distance: 5.4 miles Keep in mind that temperatures on summer afternoons get up into the 90s, sometimes topping 100 degrees. It also offers an uninterrupted view of the first section of the chains. One slip could be fatal so we would never declare this hike to be entirely safe. There are a lot of great hotels and restaurants in this town and it’s very quick and easy to get into Zion. The FREE Springdale service, operated by St. George Shuttle, resumed July 15, 2020 and continues daily 7am to 9pm through October 2020. The views of Zion Canyon's 270 million-year-old rock layers will time travel you back to the Triassic period when this section of the Colorado Plateau was a … Yes, you can, but it will be a very long walk (5 miles one-way from the Visitor Center). When Is the Best Time to Hike Angels Landing Trail . I can see how the trail can get clogged with traffic, as many sections are only wide enough for one-way traffic. It’s a great resource. Distance (roundtrip): 5.4 mi / 8.7 km Elevation Change: 1,488 ft / 453 m Estimated Hiking Time: 4 hours Description: Long drop-offs. Take your pick from 50 of the world's best travel adventures. Now the real fun begins. Zion is challenging this summer, with numerous trail closures, and not having the shuttle in operation (although that could change…I am in Rocky Mountain right now and the shuttle is running here). You don’t need to be particularly fit to take on this hike because you can take your time, but it does help. This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, that we will earn a small commission if you click through and decide to make a purchase. At the time, doubt went through my mind and I even said to Joe ‘I can’t believe how far I have to go still, I won’t make it’. click here to read our Guide to Zion National Park. Having said that, it is fairly wide and very grippy and - if it really worries you - then you can go on all fours. You can actually look down on the full spine from Observation Point and it doesn’t even look doable! Do not underestimate this hike! This is not a hike for people who are really afraid of heights as you will see pretty big drops along the trail. Between March and November, Zion runs a shuttle bus system everyday, which means you cannot park at any of the trails inside the canyon. These tickets sell out fast so as soon as you know your dates of travel, make sure you mark your calendar as to when to reserve your tickets. Be patient and considerate of others on this trail. We’ve both used these for over three years and they just keep going. Luckily these sections are generally away from the edge and this actually made me feel safer than the easier chained sections which were next to a drop. Whether it is because everyone went early, people were worried about missing the last shuttle or simply it would interfere with dinner, we came to realise that the late afternoon was the best time to tackle the Angels Landing hike. Shuttle Stop to Start from: #6 The Grotto Pets: No Trailhead Location: Across the road from the shuttle stop and then across the footbridge. Beautiful and sorrel, caught it at very good lighting. Here’s our take on what to expect from the Angel’s Landing hike. Difficulty: Strenuous This part of the trail is a blast, if you like this kind of thing. Cheers, Julie. Find out what we carry in our day packs and what we wear on the trails. 2. The Angels Landing trail is officially open all year long, but spring and fall have the most pleasant temperatures for this hike. I was nervous before taking on the hike and watched just about every youtube video ever made (a big mistake, they make it look way scarier than it actually is!) Most emails are boring, ours aren’t! Read next: The best of Moab, Canyonlands, Arches, Dead Horse and the Fiery Furnace, Distance: 5.5 miles (8.9km)Elevation: 1500 ft (456m)Difficulty: Moderate without crowds, hard with crowds Type of trail: out and back. Getting here early was a good move! That’s so cool that you hiked Angels Landing three times! It’s important, especially if you are nervous, to try and mitigate as many risks as possible by only hiking in good conditions. Hopefully next year things will be back to normal. To get around this, a lot of hikers choose to arrive at sunrise. Yes, you can hike to Scouts Lookout, which is an area just before the narrow trail to Angels Landing begins. West Rim Trail, the first section of the hike to Angels Landing. This is not to be underestimated. So, long story short, I’d save Angels Landing for a future visit. The 8 Best Moab Hikes for Adventure Lovers! There were sections which required some attention, but nothing compared to what we’d read online! A shuttle ticket costs $1 per person. After buying a one way ticket to Istanbul we spent a year making our way through Asia before arriving in Australia, where we have been living ever since. We have hiked a lot of places around the world, and this hike is one of our favorites. This is when most visitors arrive and you’ll find the trail to be pretty jam packed. This is also a hike you should avoid if there is rain, it is windy or any conditions other than dry and still. How was your experience? Have fun! 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Crossing a small bridge, head right onto the trail. The view is fantastic, with panoramas of the rest of the canyon, Angels Landing itself, plus the added bonus of terrifyingly sheer drops hundreds of feet to the floor below. The majority of Branson Landing stores and restaurants are CLOSED on Christmas Day. When it comes to staying in Zion, the majority of accommodation is concentrated in the nearby village of Springdale. If you do not think you are fit enough or have enough experience rock scrambling, go no farther than Scouts Lookout. The hardest of the uphill section is done now and you’re only 5-10 minutes from the very top. We are going in July and aren’t sure if we should put this hike on our list or do it another time when the entire trail is open. However, if you follow our hack you will have time and space to take on the hike. Always check conditions at the Visitor Center prior to heading out. We stayed at Cable Mountain Lodge and absolutely loved it. 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