A nerve-testing ascent to the knife-edge summit of Angels Landing — 450 metres above the Virgin River in Zion National Park. Permit required.

Stationen dieser Tour (10)

1. 1
   The Grotto Trailhead Angels Landing is not a casual hike. The final section follows a knife-edge ridge with chain-assisted scrambling and 300-metre drops on both sides. A permit from recreation.gov is required — secure it months in advance. Carry water; there is none on the trail.
2. 2
   West Rim Trail Junction The trail follows the Virgin River briefly before turning into Refrigerator Canyon. Cottonwood trees shade the path as the canyon walls begin to narrow and rise.
3. 3
   Refrigerator Canyon The canyon earns its name — shaded by 300-metre walls, temperatures drop noticeably. The trail climbs gently through this narrow slot before the switchbacks begin.
4. 4
   Walter's Wiggles Twenty-one tight switchbacks carved into the cliff face in 1926, named for the park's first superintendent. The engineering is remarkable — each turn cut from solid Navajo Sandstone.
5. 5
   Scout Lookout The broad saddle of Scout Lookout is where many hikers turn back. The view is already extraordinary — the Great White Throne, the Organ, and the Virgin River far below. What lies ahead is the exposed ridge.
6. 6
   Chain Section Start Steel chains bolted into sandstone mark the beginning of the final half-mile. The trail narrows to less than a metre wide in places. Both sides fall away into open air. Move steadily, grip the chains, and yield to descending hikers.
7. 7
   Spine Midpoint At the narrowest point of the ridge, the drop on the eastern side exceeds 300 metres straight to the canyon floor. The sandstone is worn smooth by millions of hands. Focus on the rock directly in front of you.
8. 8
   Angels Landing Summit The summit plateau is surprisingly spacious. Zion Canyon spreads in every direction — the Virgin River winds through red and white sandstone towers carved over millions of years. Methodist minister Frederick Vining Fisher named this place in 1916, declaring only angels could land here.
9. 9
   Summit West Panorama Looking west, the Great White Throne rises as the largest freestanding cliff in Zion — 700 metres of Navajo Sandstone. The shadows shift constantly across its face, revealing ancient cross-bedding from fossilised sand dunes.
10. 10
    Return to The Grotto Descending the chains demands more focus than climbing — gravity pulls you toward the edge. Take your time. The shuttle back to the visitor centre runs every few minutes from The Grotto stop.

Tourinhalte dienen ausschließlich der Unterhaltung und allgemeinen Information. Überprüfen Sie praktische Details unabhängig. Kein Ersatz für offizielle Hinweise.