Angels Landing Trail Hiking Guide
Angels Landing is the fin of rock in the middle of Zion Canyon that people climb with one hand on a chain. Everyone going past Scout Lookout needs a permit won in a lottery, and the last half mile runs along a ridge with long drops on both sides. This page covers how the permit works, what the climb is really like, and the conditions that should turn you around.
Permit: Two things are required. First, a Zion entrance pass ($35 per private vehicle, $30 per motorcycle, $20 per person on foot or bike for ages 16 and up, or an annual or America the Beautiful pass; non-US residents 16 and older add $100 each unless on an annual or America the Beautiful pass). Second, an Angels Landing permit from Recreation.gov: each lottery application costs $6 (non-refundable, covers up to 6 people) and winners pay $3 per person. No permit is needed to hike as far as Scout Lookout.
How Far and How Steep
AllTrails maps the round trip from the Grotto at 4.8 miles with 1,699 feet of gain; the park's permit page gives 5.4 miles and 1,488 feet and says most hikers take about four hours. The first 2 miles or so are the West Rim Trail: a paved, relentlessly steep climb, a cool break through Refrigerator Canyon, then the 21 tight switchbacks of Walter's Wiggles up to Scout Lookout. From there the Angels Landing route itself is roughly half a mile of sandstone steps, slickrock and chains.
The Chains Section
Past Scout Lookout the trail follows a narrow ridge with drop-offs the park puts at as much as 1,000 feet on each side, and in many places it is only wide enough for one person with traffic going both ways. A single chain gives you something to hold. The park says most of the deadly accidents since 1930 happened on this stretch. Stay within reach of the chain, let faster people by where it's safe, and take turns at pinch points. In winter the metal is cold enough that gloves help.
Getting a Permit
There are two lotteries on Recreation.gov. The day-before lottery opens at 12:01 a.m. and closes at 3 p.m. Mountain Time the day before you want to hike, with results after 4 p.m. The seasonal lottery takes applications well in advance for each three-month block of hike dates and lets you rank up to seven days or windows; check the park's permit page for the next application window. Either way it's $6 per application for up to six people, plus $3 per person if you win. There are no same-day permits. Rangers may check your permit and ID at the Grotto, at Scout Lookout or on the chains, and phone service is poor, so download or print the confirmation email first.
When to Turn Back
The park's guidance is plain: don't start up the chains if storm clouds are around, if the rock is wet or icy, if it is dark or will be before you finish, or if you have any fear of heights. Wet sandstone is where most chain accidents happen, and afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer. If someone in your group isn't comfortable, Scout Lookout is a good place to split up and meet later.
Shuttle, Water and Timing
For most of the year you reach the Grotto (Shuttle Stop 6) by the free park shuttle from the visitor center; private cars are barred from the Scenic Drive all shuttle season. The time printed on your permit is when you need to be at the Grotto, so allow for the ride and lines. Fill bottles at the Grotto, since there is no drinkable water on the trail, and the park suggests about a gallon per person per day. Summer afternoons in the canyon often top 100 degrees, which makes spring and fall the comfortable seasons for this climb.
Hiking tips for Angels Landing Trail
- Download or print your Recreation.gov confirmation before you leave the lodge or campground; there's usually no signal at the permit check.
- Wear broken-in boots with real tread; blisters and rolled ankles are the injuries the park sees most here.
- Bring a bag for human waste and toilet paper: the last restrooms are at Scout Lookout, and anything left on the trail can earn a citation.
- Clip water bottles and hats down before the chains; dropped gear lands on climbers and nesting birds below.
- Watch the last-shuttle time for the day and don't plan to catch the final bus; a full or missed one means a long walk out in the dark.
Nearby trails to explore
- Scout Lookout via West Rim Trail
- Emerald Pools Trail (Zion)
- The Narrows Bottom-Up Hike (Zion)
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Permits cover up to six people, so it pays to plan Angels Landing with a group. Use TrailMates to find Zion hikers entering the lottery for the same dates. Download the TrailMates app to connect.