Plan Your Angels Landing Hike
Zion National Park's iconic chained ridge trail: permits, safety tips, and trail info, sorted out.
Zion National Park's iconic chained ridge trail: permits, safety tips, and trail info, sorted out.
Plan access and guided options for Angels Landing. Use the official park or climb site for permits, fees, and safety rules. Use a trusted partner for guided hikes, transfers, and day tours with mobile tickets. Confirm altitude, weather, and inclusions before you book.
Best for Zion National Park entry, Angels Landing permits, and trail conditions.
When guided options are available for this mountain, book with a trusted operator and confirm inclusions, altitude, and cancellation terms.
Choose the official site for permits and park rules. Choose a partner tour when you want logistics handled (pickup, guide, timed entry) on a short trip.
Guided product cards will appear here when partner tours are curated for Angels Landing. Until then, use the official link above and the route notes below.
Use the official site for access rules, then check trusted local guides if you want a supported day.
The final half-mile clips onto chains bolted into a narrow sandstone fin, with 1,000-plus foot drops on both sides, ending at one of the best views in Zion Canyon.
Steep switchbacks lead to Scout Lookout, a dramatic viewpoint that's a worthwhile turnaround for hikers who skip the chains.
The summit looks down on the Virgin River winding through Zion Canyon, with sandstone walls rising on every side.
Zion summers regularly exceed 100°F on this exposed, shadeless trail. Carry more water than you think you need and avoid midday starts in summer.
The chained section is narrow and two-way traffic bottlenecks badly midday. Starting near sunrise avoids the worst of the crowds and heat.
The trail can ice over in winter and early spring. Traction devices are often required, and the park sometimes closes the chained section in bad conditions.
Permit lottery windows, shuttle schedules, and trail conditions change by season, so check nps.gov/zion and recreation.gov before your trip.
The starting point, reached by the Zion Canyon Shuttle, at the base of the West Rim Trail.
A series of tight switchbacks blasted into the cliff, gaining elevation fast on the way to Scout Lookout.
A wide sandy viewpoint where the permit-only chained section begins; a good turnaround point for hikers skipping the final push.
A narrow sandstone fin with bolted chains and 1,000-plus foot drop-offs on both sides, the trail's signature and most exposed half-mile.
The 5,790-foot summit, with 360-degree views over Zion Canyon and the Virgin River below.
The road the shuttle follows below, itself one of the park's classic scenic drives.
The river visible from the summit, whose erosion carved Zion Canyon over millions of years.
Do I need a permit to hike Angels Landing?
Yes, for the chained section beyond Scout Lookout, via a recreation.gov lottery (a seasonal advance lottery or a day-before lottery). No permit is needed to hike to Scout Lookout itself.
How do I get the permit?
Apply through recreation.gov, either months ahead in a seasonal lottery for date ranges, or the day before for next-day hiking. Walk-up permits aren't sold at the trailhead.
How hard is the hike?
Strenuous: about 5.4 miles round trip with roughly 1,488 feet of elevation gain, finishing with a narrow, chain-assisted, exposed ridge.
Is it safe?
It's one of the more dangerous named hikes in the US national park system due to the exposure on the final chained section. Go slowly, avoid it in wet or icy conditions, and turn around at Scout Lookout if you're uncomfortable with heights.
Do I need the park shuttle?
Yes, during shuttle season private vehicles are restricted on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. The shuttle from the visitor center to the Grotto is the only way to the trailhead.
When is the best time to hike?
Spring and fall have the most comfortable temperatures. Summer is very hot with no shade, and winter can bring ice requiring traction devices.
Angels Landing is one of the signature hikes in Zion National Park, climbing a narrow sandstone ridge above Zion Canyon in southern Utah. The final half-mile follows a chained spine with sheer drops of 1,000 feet or more on either side, among the most exposed maintained trails in the US national park system.
Since 2022, the National Park Service has required a permit for the chained section, issued through a seasonal and day-before lottery on recreation.gov, to manage crowding and safety on the narrow trail. Hikers who prefer to skip the chains can still reach Scout Lookout, a dramatic viewpoint just below the permit boundary.
