Angels Landing — Zion National Park, Utah

The most iconic hike in America's favorite canyon.

A knife-edge sandstone ridge rising 1,500 feet above the Virgin River. A half-mile chain section where the trail narrows to three feet. And at the top, 360-degree views that make every nerve-racking step make sense.

The numbers

Stat	Value
Distance	5.4 mi (8.7 km) round-trip
Elevation gain	1,488 ft (453 m)
Summit elevation	5,790 ft (1,760 m)
Difficulty	Strenuous
Typical time	3–5 hours

The elevation hits in two concentrated bursts: Walter's Wiggles (21 tight, steep switchbacks cut into the cliff face) and the final chains section. The rest of the approach through Refrigerator Canyon is relatively gentle.

Best season

Fall (September–November) is the sweet spot — cooler temps, fewer people after October, and stunning canyon color. Spring (March–May) brings lush green walls and the most dramatic light, but also the largest crowds. Summer hikers must start at sunrise to beat both the 100°F heat and the chain-section queue. Winter is doable with microspikes, but chains become icy metal — expert hikers only.

Getting there & parking

No driving into Zion Canyon. The free shuttle runs from Zion Canyon Visitor Center to 9 stops inside the canyon. Board at the Visitor Center, ride to Stop #6: The Grotto — that's your trailhead. The shuttle also picks up in the town of Springdale; park there if the Visitor Center lot fills up (which it does, early).

Camping

Two campgrounds sit at the canyon entrance:

Watchman Campground — electric and non-electric sites, reservable up to 6 months in advance via recreation.gov. Closest to the Visitor Center and shuttle.
South Campground — walk-in tent sites, first-come first-served, no reservations. Opens mid-March.

Both campgrounds are a 10-minute shuttle ride from the Grotto trailhead.

Permit — required past Scout Lookout

The NPS runs a lottery system. No permit, no chains.

Seasonal Lottery: Apply months ahead on recreation.gov. Cost: $6 app fee (up to 6 people) + $3/person if selected. 2026 windows: applications for June–August hikes open April 1, for September–November hikes open July 1.
Day-Before Lottery: Apply 12:01 a.m.–3:00 p.m. MT the day before your hike. Permits issued at 4:00 p.m. Competitive, but worth trying.

No permit? Scout Lookout (2.25 mi from the Grotto, 1,000 ft gain) is permit-free and gives you a direct overhead view of the chains section and the full canyon. Still a serious hike.

Signature shots

Summit ridge — shoot facing south or north along the knife-edge for vertiginous depth with canyon walls layered behind. Golden hour light rakes across the sandstone in amber and copper.

Walter's Wiggles — from Scout Lookout, look back at the 21 switchbacks cut into the cliff below. A long lens compresses the zigzag pattern beautifully.

Refrigerator Canyon — the shaded narrows at mile 1 give cool, diffused light ideal for detail shots of canyon walls and the Virgin River far below.

Scout Lookout — the classic "hikers against the chains" shot with Angels Landing's fin silhouetted against sky.

Source: National Park Service — Angels Landing Permits & Hiking

Angels Landing — Zion NP: 5.4 mi · 1,488 ft · Strenuous