In complete contrast to the level Narrows trail,
the route to Angels Landing, one of the 6,000 feet peaks of
Zion Canyon National Park, ascends 1,500 feet over a distance of 2.5 miles to the summit, which is ringed on three sides by the river below and has amazing views in both directions along the canyon.
The Trail: The trail is rated strenuous and is not recommended for anyone fearful of heights, a warning which applies to the last section; it starts unspectacularly just north of Zion Lodge halfway along the scenic drive, and initially follows the road through shady, tree-covered land then crosses the Virgin river on a footbridge, and intersects with the West Rim Trail, a long cross country route beginning at the Wildcat Trailhead near Lava Point in the far north of the park. The paved path
climbs steadily up the side of the main canyon with many sharp switchbacks and then turns away along Refrigerator Canyon, a cool sheltered side valley with dark sandstone walls.
A Steep Ascent: An even steeper series of switchbacks ('Walter's Wiggles') leads up the canyon wall to a narrow ridge, where the surfaced trail ends, although the paved West Rim Trail continues westwards. The last half mile of the Angels Landing Trail ascends along the ridge to the summit, and is marked only by rock cairns, occasional steps carved in the rock and chains which have been fixed for safety at some particularly steep places. At some points, the ridge is only a few meters wide, with sheer drop-offs at either side, so great caution is advisable. In terms of statistics this might be the most dangerous trail in any national park; on June 8th 2007, a 53 year old man from Missouri fell 1,000 feet to his death from near the top of the path, the 6th fatality here since 1983.
The Summit: The summit feels like the top of the world, although there are slightly higher cliffs visible in the distance. The views up and down Zion Canyon look on to an almost mythical landscape, with the river far below winding into the misty distance. The route to Angels Landing is rightly regarded as one of the most remarkable trails in the whole national park system.
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