Photo by: Getty Images

Getty Images

Angels Landing Is One of the Most Dangerous Hikes in the US

By: Annie Hartman

This renowned hiking destination is not for the faint of heart.

August 01, 2019

Note: Angels Landing and its surrounding trails are currently closed due to storm damage. You can check the National Park Service website for current trail conditions.

Calling all adventurers! Angels Landing is one of the world's most renowned hiking destinations — though it's certainly not for the faint of heart. With dizzying heights, and hairpin turns, the thousands of hikers it draws every year might not know exactly what they're getting themselves into.

Photo by: Getty Images

Getty Images

Daredevils at Angels Landing

Zion National Park in Utah has plenty of trails, but Angels Landing may be the most breathtaking. Picture this. You begin the hike on the wide and well-maintained West Rim Trail. It follows the river and then crosses the bottom of the canyon, surrounded by 270-million-year-old layers of rock. Relaxing, right? Just wait for it. The trail then starts to climb via a series of switchbacks leading up the side of the mountain. Then more switchbacks: 21 tighter turns, called "Walter's Wiggles," where elevation levels rapidly increase. Your heartbeat is probably rapidly increasing at this point, too.

On top of Walter's Wiggles, you can stop for a stunning view (perhaps with a marriage proposal) and a restroom stop while you contemplate the final stretch of the hike. If you're afraid of heights, it's best to turn back now. The last stretch is the real test of bravery.

Living on the Edge

The last half mile of the hike is what really ranks it as one of the nation's most dangerous. Angels Landing itself is a fin-like formation jutting 1,500 feet out of the canyon, and this is where you make the final 500-foot climb. Guardrails and chains bolted into the cliff help you keep from tumbling over the extremely steep ledge. You're literally living on the edge, and you don't want to trust the "angels" down there to catch you. Once you reach the top, however, it'll all be worth it: 360-degree views of the canyon make a great backdrop for kicking back and having a meal before you come back down the way you came.

Angels Landing might be dangerous, but thankfully, not too many people have had fatal falls. According to the park website, seven people have died in the 100 years the park has existed. Still, this is a very strenuous hike. If you're out of shape, bringing young children along, feel ill or prone to fainting, or are just plain afraid of heights, opt for an easier trail.

Angel's Landing is a great hike for most of the year, besides the cold winter months when the trails could become dangerously slippery. Summer is the most popular time of year — and therefore the most crowded — but it can also get extremely hot, so opt for an early morning hike while the temperatures are still mild.

Sure, it's dangerous, but there's a reason this is one of Zion's most popular hikes. If you're up for the challenge, Angels Landing will definitely deliver rewards.

This article first appeared on Curiosity.com.

Next Up

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The mists of The Great Smoky Mountains seem to shroud the very secrets of the region's historical tragedies and biological triumphs.

National Parks to Visit in Alaska

Explore a world of wild beauty and pure adventure.

North America's Top Natural Wonders

North America is made up of natural wonders including unusual geological formations, towering mountains and icy glaciers.

Explore the Rugged, Remote Chaco Canyon in New Mexico

Photographer and conservationist Ian Shive photographs one of the most remote and rugged parts of the United States to take us on a journey to Chaco Canyon in New Mexico's Chaco Culture National Historical Park.

Caves to Condors: Uncovering Pinnacles National Park

Photographer and conservationist Ian Shive explores one of the lesser known National Parks, Pinnacles National Park, finding rare wildlife and extraordinary landscapes along the way.

The Grand Tsingy in Madagascar Is a Deadly Forest of Limestone Needles

The African country of Madagascar boasts plenty of wildlife, but it also features the world's largest stone forest. Some of the limestone peaks reach as high as 2,600 feet, and the nature reserve is home to several unique endangered plants and animals including lemurs.

Bring It On, Mount Whitney

Climbing the world’s highest peaks tests every aspect of your being, and as a nature photographer, it can test your skill.

Secrets of Joshua Tree National Park, California: The Eagle Cliff Mine

While America’s National Parks are renowned for their popular, natural icons, such as Old Faithful in Yellowstone or El Capitan in Yosemite, the parks also protect a tremendous amount of lesser known, or even unknown, historic and natural features that are no less mesmerizing.

Yellowstone National Park, the Beauty and History that Lie Within

Yellowstone was created by President Theodore Roosevelt, when the American West wasn’t under the expansive urban sprawl that is enduring today. Yet the foresight of protecting the place for “future generations” became a hallmark of America. As we celebrate the last 150 years, I wonder what it means to preserve Yellowstone (or any national park) for the next 150 years and beyond. What does the word “generations” mean? Generations of wildlife? People?

Prehistoric Footprints Tell An Incredible Story

Thousands of years ago, our prehistoric predecessors inhabited a planet that looked very different. And even all this time later, we are still learning how they lived and behaved. A discovery in New Mexico teaches us about a young child's journey.

Related To: