Angel's Landing, Zion National Park, UT

Angel's Landing is a 1,208-foot sandstone monolith located in Zion Canyon, which is by far the most visited area of Zion National Park. The trail begins across the road from the Grotto Shuttle Stop and requires no special permits.

It is a day hike, taking most people an average of 4 hours to complete the round-trip. The start of the trail is actually located over 1,500 feet below the top of the "landing," and ascends this height over a distance of only 2.5 miles, so hikers should be prepared for a steep climb. Much of the trail is in full sun, so plenty of water is a must.

After beginning with a fairly steep section of sometime-paved-sometimes-sandy trail, hikers will enter "Refrigerator Canyon," a naturally-cool, always-shaded area that immediately precedes the infamous "Walter's Wiggles." The "Wiggles" are a series of 21 tight switchbacks averaging just 10 feet in length and climbing over 500 feet. Warning: you will also be descending via the "wiggles," which can be hard on fatigued knees. At the top of these switchbacks, you will be rewarded by the stunning views off "Scout Lookout," which is also where almost all trail improvements end. Hikers who chose to continue from this point, are assisted only by a system of chains which line the last .5 miles of this hike.

While the hike is certainly steep, it's probably more apt to describe it as "dramatic" rather than "exhausting." The part lined with chains is characterized by narrow rock-bridges sometimes less than a meter wide, with 800 foot falls on one side, and 1,200 foot drops on the other. This trail is not one to attempt for anyone with a genuine phobia for heights. If you do press on, the view with which you will be rewarded is simply incomparable. There seems to exist a de facto camaraderie amongst those who obtain the peak. Overall, this is arguably one of the best hikes in the park system. For more info, see the video at:

http://www.nationaloutdoors.net/video/angels-landing-zion-national-park-...

In addition to the information here, you can also rent or purchase a "digital tour guide" from GeoQuest Technologies, LLC. Our ZionQuest application for iPhone and iPod Touch is available from the iTunes App Store for $4.99, and our standalone GPS Ranger system can be rented from the Fatali Gallery at the entrance to Zion National Park for $25.00. These systems offer a tremendous depth of natural history, park information and useful tips to Park visitors. The ZionQuest application in particular offers a two professional take-home photo galleries from photographers Lynn Chamberlain and Michael Fatali. ZionQuest owners are also treated to two interactive maps, a lodging and amenities guide, a trip planner and individual trail guides in addition to the video tour. Please visit our website at

http://www.geoquesttech.com

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