Angels Landing

Angels Landing

Angels Landing
Highest point
Elevation 5,790 ft (1,760 m)
Coordinates 37°16′10″N 112°56′53″W / 37.26944°N 112.94806°W / 37.26944; -112.94806Coordinates: 37°16′10″N 112°56′53″W / 37.26944°N 112.94806°W / 37.26944; -112.94806 
Geography
Geology
Mountain type Monolith

Angels Landing, known earlier as the Temple of Aeolus,[1] is a 1,488-foot (454 m) tall rock formation[2] in Zion National Park in southern Utah. A trail, cut into solid rock in 1926, leads to the top of Angels Landing and provides a spectacular view of Zion Canyon.

Trail

The trail to Angels Landing is 2.4 miles (3.9 km) long.[3] It begins at the Grotto drop off point on the park's shuttle system, which operates from early spring through late fall.[4] It roughly follows the path of the Virgin River for some time, slowly gaining elevation in sandy terrain. As the trail gets steeper and leaves behind the river, it becomes paved. After a series of steep switchbacks, the trail goes through the area between Angels Landing and the Zion Canyon that is a gradual ascent. Walter's Wiggles, a series of 21 steep switchbacks,[3] are the last hurdle before Scout Lookout. The wiggles are named after Walter Ruesch, who was the first superintendent for Zion National Park and constructed the switchbacks in 1926.[5]

Scout Lookout is generally the turnaround point for those who are unwilling to make the final summit push to the top of Angels Landing. The last half-mile of the trail is strenuous and lined with numerous sharp drop offs and narrow paths. Chains to grip are provided for portions of the last half-mile to the top at 5,790 feet (1,760 m).[3]

According to the National Park Service, "The route to Angels Landing involves travel along a steep, narrow ridge with support chains anchored intermittently along the route. Footing can be slippery even when the rock is dry. Unevenly surfaced steps are cut into the rock with major cliff dropoffs adjacent. Keep off when it is wet, icy or thunderstorms are in the area. Plan to be off before dark. Younger children should skip this trail; older children must be closely supervised."[3] The National Park Service website officially recognizes five fatalities where suspicious activity was not involved along Angels Landing.[6]

Panorama of Zion National Park taken from Angels Landing (Zoom View)

See also

References

  1. ↑ Temple of Aeolus Archived March 28, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. (a stereogram taken in 1872), from the National Park System
  2. ↑ Zion National Park eHike
  3. 1 2 3 4 Angels Landing Trail Information Archived September 3, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. from the National Park System
  4. ↑ Lloyd, Tommy. "Angels Landing Hike - Not for the Faint of Heart". mountainranges.org. mountainranges. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  5. ↑ "Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park". hikespeak.com. Hikespeak. Retrieved 2017-01-04.
  6. ↑ "Frequently Asked Questions about Zion's Hiking Trails". Retrieved 10 July 2011.
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