A Hike So High Only Angels Could Land There....

Welcome to Zion National Park in the burnt orange terrain of Utah. I was blessed with the opportunity to travel here last October with a few good friends. We traveled to many states around the southwest, but in this particular blog post I want to share with you the terrifying but exhilarating hike to Angels Landing. Before starting the hike to Angels Landing, we were riding a tour bus when we first realized just how high the hike would be. The bus slowed down and the driver told everyone to look up towards one of the cliffs. You could just see small black silhouettes of people scaling the spine of the mountain. I thought to myself, “This is exactly what I came here for” and I could not wait to begin.

My friends and I packed all of our gear, some granola bars, and quite a few peanut butter sandwiches. By this point, we had probably eaten twenty peanut butter sandwiches each. We attempted to be frugal with our shopping list and some how peanut butter seemed like a great idea for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Anyways… enough about over indulging in peanut butter. As soon as the sun came up we eagerly headed to catch the transit bus. Zion National Park works in an odd way. To get around the park, you have to take their transit bus, which will stop at different spots throughout the park. It can get crowded in the mornings and in the evenings, so be prepared. To get to Angels Landing, you will need to get off at the stop titled “The Grotto”. You will then walk across the street to find the trailhead. A long the way, you will pass several signs warning of the dangers included with the hike to Angel's Landing. The first two miles of this trail are paved. Do not get me wrong, it is still very strenuous at this point. Hiking the first part of the trail is very steep with a series of switchbacks. After the first 2 miles, you will reach a flattened area where you can rest. In the distance, you can see the steepness of what’s to come. There are numerous people all trying to scale up the spine of the mountain holding on to chains embedded into the rocks. Some of the people are close to the edges putting "oh so" much trust into the manmade chains. It does not help that as people are going up the mountain, people are also comings down the mountain. It’s a one way road from here folks!

This is the point where some people decide to discontinue their hike. I even had some doubts about my own coordination, but this is what I came to Zion to do and I was going to finish this. After a quick water break, we began our ascent up the mountain’s rocky spine. It was very difficult with people going in all directions and all hanging onto the same chains. There were many points I found myself walking on a “sidewalk” only two feet wide with cliffs on both sides. Any wrong step and you will find yourself in quite a pickle. Angel’s landing is about 1,500 ft. and any reckless hiker could potentially fall. There have been five deaths from hiking Angel’s Landing, which is partly why there are chains on the trail now. Use the chains and be safe. You are not indestructible and you can fall to your death on this hike. It is important to be as safe as possible so that this beautiful trail can stay open to future hikers. Angel’s landing earned its motto for a reason friends. A hike “so high only angels could land there”.

Although this hike seems truly terrifying, let me tell you that it is so worth it. You will not find a better view in the park. You also will not feel the same satisfaction with any other hike in the park. You conquered your fears and scaled up the literal spine of one of the world’s extraordinary wonders. Angels Landing is for sure on the list for any hiker in Utah. Life is to be experienced, journey wisely. Kelly Fitzgerald

Angel’s Landing Specs- Trail Length: 4.4 miles round trip Elevation: 1500 ft. above Zion National Park Level: Strenuous Dangers: Steep drop offs and narrow trails Dogs: Not Allowed, and I personally would not advise to take your dog if you somehow did sneak them in.

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