UT, Zion

Angels Landing Trail (Sep, 2008)
Riverside Walk (Sep, 2009) – coming soon
Zion – Mount Carmel Highway (Sep, 2009) – coming soon
Zion Canyon and Watchman Campground Maps

Angels Landing Trail – Sep, 2008

The Angels Landing Trail is one of the most famous and thrilling hikes in the national park system.

Distance: 5 miles
Average Hiking Time: 5 hours
Difficulty: Strenuous uphill hike, but hiking is on a well maintained trail.
Trail Usage: Heavy
Trailhead: Grotto picnic area in Zion Canyon
Peak: 5785′
Hazards: Sheer cliffs at high elevations while hiking on a narrow fin. Not suggested for children or those with a fear of heights. Avoid standing near the edge at all times! Do not hike the trail when it is wet, storming, or when high winds are present.

I was thrilled by Angels trail description such as “The trail provides the best views of the whole park” or “Last 0.5mi follows steep, narrow ridge; chains have been added” or “Not suggested for children or those with a fear of heights” Hm… chains… fear of heights… after Grand Canyon height doesn’t sound like something scary.

First half mile is gradually goes up, then,

Zion - Angels Landing trail - From the Grotto Picnic area, cross the Zion Canyon Road. Head toward the footbridge that passes over the North Fork of the Virgin River. On the other side of the bridge, take the north (right) fork to the West Rim Trail.

Zion - Angels Landing trail

Zion - Angels Landing trail-steady 2 mile uphill trek as the trail ascends a series of switchbacks up the steep West Rim Trail

numerous switchbacks bring you to the height of the half of the mountain where the trail makes a sharp turn into the narrow gap between two mountains (if you click on the upper image, notice smal figures on the left side of the picture, the gap is somewhere on the right side of the image, upper then people… of course) and next half mile runs along the shallow stream with a gradual ascent.

Zion-Angels Landing trail: Series of switchbacks up the steep West Rim Trail

After that, the numbers of short steep switchbacks built into the vertical mountain wall

Zion-Angels Landing trail-Squiggle the Wiggles-21 sharp zig-zags to a scenic plateau

takes you to the platform from which the astonishing views of the park are opened for the hikers’ pleasure!
Majority of the hikers found their satisfaction here, whereas ten presents of the tireless hikers kept climbing to the very top of the mountain. This last half mile lies on the rocky, narrow mountain ridge rapidly ascending into the skies.
At some places the ridge becomes very narrow and it is possible to see Zion from both sides of the mountain. It is extremely hard to be calm there because an illusion of lack of ground disturbs from the balance condition and triggers the height vertigo!