Angel's Landing Photoset • mt98dew • 2024-09-05 • HikeArizona.COM

Angel's Landing, UT

	2024-09-05
	25 by mt98dew

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Angel's Landing

Southwest, UT

Angel's Landing

Southwest, UT

Hiking	6.25 Miles	1,700 AEG

Hiking	6.25 Miles	3 Hrs 27 Mns	1.81 mph
	1,700 ft AEG

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Early morning in Zion!! Reserved a room for a couple of nights at Zion Lodge which allowed for an early attempt at Angel’s Landing. This was prefaced on getting a permit to hike it. (They are now requiring a permit to hike Angel’s. This is based on a lottery. They have an advanced lottery - done, 3 months in advance or a daily lottery where they randomly chose hikers to get a permit).

Left the lodge around 5:30am. Still dark out so I hiked the road up to grotto 6. Awesome views, with starry skies framed by black, towering cliffs. Had to use a headlamp for the first hour. Made it up through most of the “wiggles” before I could turn off the lamp. Nice and cool on the climb, but no views. Surprised by the trail. The first .5 miles of the trail was flat and made up of dirt, but as soon as the trail started to climb it turned to cement. It was that way all the way to Scout’s Lookout. Made for an easy hike. Still a little dim out when I made it to Scout’s Lookout, but it was bright enough for me to see what I had gotten myself into.

If you have a fear of heights, this trail will challenge you! Looking at Angel’s Landing in the distance, I had to ask myself how much I wanted it. I’ve found the best way to deal with heights is not to acknowledge them. Not easy when you have drop offs a few feet off the trail, but I did my best not to let my eyes wander. I’m sure I did a disservice to the panoramic views provided by the trail, but I knew my best chance for success was to minimize my awareness of my surroundings. I didn’t let myself look around until I made it to the top. What a view. What a feeling!

Had the Landing all to myself. Took about 10 minutes to take it all in. As I was hiking down the incoming flow had started. Encountered about 30 people along the spine. Everyone was very considerate in passing.

Surprised. I felt much more comfortable with the return trip. Actually, stopped and enjoyed the views along the way. Enjoyed the hike down the “wiggles” as well. Able to see what I missed on the way up. The flat section between “wiggles 1” and “wiggles 2” was a nice treat. Passed about 150 plus on the way up as I headed down. Hate to imagine that kind of crowd on the spine. Hiked back to the lodge along the Grotto Trail. This hike was one for the ages, especially psychologically. It’s going to be hard to top.

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