Day 2 on the Trail in Zion National Park – Angels Landing😇

We did it! Well…I did it. Not sure there was ever any question my son couldn’t do it🤣

“It” means hiking Angels Landing, a 1,488-foot tall rock formation in Zion National Park. It stands 5,790 feet tall and provides the most amazing, surreal views of the canyon. It literally took my breath away!

This was by far the HARDEST 4 hour hike (5 miles out and back) I have ever done. 21 switch backs called Walter’s Wiggles, 1,500 foot elevation gain, and then we got on (what I call) “the chains course” for the longest last 1/2 mile of my life. You now need a permit to hike Angels Landing and we were the lucky lottery winners for today. I highly recommend this hike for adventure seekers but not for anyone fearful of heights or with two left feet! You can hear my out-of-breathe narration below if you want to add to your hiking bucket list.

We found out it’s called Angel’s Landing because a Methodist minister, Frederick Vining Fisher, once said that because it’s so massive that only angels might land on it. It’s indeed tall at 5,770 feet with rock from the Jurassic period. The trail is rated as one of the most dangerous hikes in the USA. There are no guard rails and 14 people have died due to falls. We played it safe in all ways – sunscreen + light weight clothing, plenty of water and snacks, took our time, used the chains, stayed away from the edges, and followed the rules of the park. Also, I didn’t take any photos/videos unless I was on a plateau or at a safe stopping point. Call me cautious but I wanted to write this post!

Angels Landing used to be a very congested trail, thus the reason for the lottery, which designated our date and start time. Make sure you check the park’s website for details – they have a season lottery (which we did) or a day before lottery.