Angels Landing Trail--West Rim Trail

The Angels Landing Trail–West Rim Trail is a roughly 26 km point-to-point hiking trail in Zion National Park, Utah, United States, descending around 1,150 m from Lava Point to The Grotto while gaining about 500 m on climbs and the famous summit spur. Rated strenuous, it pairs a knife-edge chain-assisted ridge with 1,000 ft drop-offs and quiet high-plateau forest few visitors ever see.

About the Angels Landing Trail–West Rim Trail

The Angels Landing Trail–West Rim Trail combines two of Zion National Park's most iconic routes into a single point-to-point traverse across southwestern Utah. The full West Rim Trail runs roughly 26 km (about 16 miles) from Lava Point, the park's highest accessible trailhead at around 2,300 m, down to The Grotto on the floor of Zion Canyon at about 1,300 m. Along the way, a short half-mile spur breaks off at Scout Lookout to climb the spine of Angels Landing, a fin of Navajo sandstone that juts 450 m above the Virgin River.

Most visitors only experience the bottom 8 km of this system as an out-and-back day hike to Angels Landing. Doing the full point-to-point traverse from the top down rewards you with a far quieter experience: ponderosa pine forest, hanging valleys, springs and sweeping rim views before you drop into the crowds near the summit. The combined route gains roughly 500 m on rolling climbs but loses about 1,150 m overall, making it a predominantly downhill journey that still punishes the knees.

The trail's signature challenge is the final 0.8 km ridge to the Angels Landing summit at 1,763 m. Here the path narrows to as little as 71 cm (28 inches) with sheer drops of up to 300 m on both sides, and heavy chains bolted into the rock are the only handhold. It is one of the few hikes in the U.S. National Park System that requires a permit purely because of its exposure and popularity.

Angels Landing earned its name in 1916 when explorer Frederick Fisher remarked that only an angel could land on its summit. The combined route appeals to two very different hikers: peak-baggers chasing the 1,500 ft climb to the fin from The Grotto, and quiet-seeking through-hikers who want the lonely upper plateau. Tackling the West Rim from Lava Point downward lets you have both, and it also means you face the chains with fresh legs early in the day rather than after a grinding ascent. Carry enough food for a sustained effort — managing energy on a 26 km day matters as much as fitness, and our guide to how many calories you need hiking a full day explains how to fuel it properly.

Route Overview & Stages

The classic top-down itinerary is usually walked in a single long day or split with a backcountry camp near Cabin Spring. The table below breaks the route into its main stages, combining the high West Rim descent with the well-known lower switchback sequence.

Distances are approximate; including the Angels Landing return spur the full traverse totals roughly 22–26 km depending on the exact Lava Point trailhead used. Walking it top-down means most of the elevation is lost rather than gained, but Walter's Wiggles and the chain ridge still demand strong legs and a steady head.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Lava Point Overlook (2,300 m): The park's highest viewpoint and trailhead, offering a 270-degree panorama across the Kolob plateau before you even start walking.
• Horse Pasture Plateau: A 11 km ridge of meadow and pine that forms the spine of the upper West Rim, with frequent breaks in the trees revealing the canyons below.
• Cabin Spring & backcountry camps: The traverse's only reliable water source and the cluster of nine permitted campsites where through-hikers split the route into two days.
• Behunin Canyon overlooks: Dizzying views into one of Zion's classic technical slot canyons, seen from the rim as the trail begins its steep descent.
• Scout Lookout (1,610 m): The junction where the Angels Landing spur begins; a sandy platform with the park's busiest pit toilets and a wide view down Zion Canyon.
• Angels Landing summit (1,763 m): The chain-protected fin itself, with 300 m drop-offs and a summit that looks straight down onto the shuttle road and Virgin River.
• Walter's Wiggles: A set of 21 tightly engineered switchbacks built in 1926, named after Zion's first superintendent, that drop quickly off Scout Lookout.
• Refrigerator Canyon: A shaded, cool side canyon where temperatures can feel 10 °C lower than the exposed switchbacks above and below it.

Best Time to Hike the Angels Landing Trail–West Rim Trail

Zion's desert climate gives this trail a long but uneven season. The upper West Rim near Lava Point sits above 2,000 m and can hold snow into late spring, while the canyon floor at The Grotto bakes in summer. As of 2026, the sweet spot for the full top-down traverse is the shoulder seasons.

April to May brings wildflowers on Horse Pasture Plateau, flowing springs and daytime canyon temperatures around 24–28 °C, though the Lava Point Road typically only opens fully once snow clears in late April. September to October is the single best window: Lava Point Road is reliably open, summer monsoon storms have faded, daytime highs settle near 25 °C, and the cottonwoods along the Virgin River turn gold in mid-October. If you can only pick one month, choose October for the most stable weather and the smallest crowds on the chain section.

Avoid July and August unless you start before dawn: canyon-floor highs regularly exceed 38 °C, and afternoon monsoon thunderstorms (most common 14:00–18:00) make the exposed Angels Landing ridge genuinely dangerous due to lightning and wet sandstone. Winter hiking is possible on the lower trail, but ice on the chain section closes Angels Landing to most hikers from December through February, and Lava Point Road stays closed, removing the point-to-point option entirely.

Practical Information

Accommodation

For the full traverse, the simplest base is Springdale, the gateway town at Zion's south entrance, where mid-range hotels run roughly €130–220 per night in peak season and budget motels start near €90. Inside the park, Zion Lodge offers rooms from about €230 but books out months ahead. Campers can use Watchman Campground near the visitor centre for around €30 per night, or South Campground for similar rates. If you split the West Rim into two days, the nine backcountry campsites near Cabin Spring require a wilderness permit costing about €14–28 depending on group size, and you must carry all water or treat it at the spring. The remote Lava Point Campground (six sites, free, first-come) makes a useful pre-hike base at the top trailhead.

Getting There & Back

The nearest major airport is Harry Reid International in Las Vegas, Nevada, about 270 km and a 2.5-hour drive southwest. St. George Regional Airport sits only 75 km away (about one hour). From Springdale, the free Zion Canyon shuttle reaches The Grotto (stop #6), the lower end of the traverse, in roughly 25 minutes from the visitor centre. The upper trailhead at Lava Point is around a 75-minute drive via Highway 9 and the Kolob Terrace Road and has no shuttle, so most hikers arrange a private car shuttle, hire a local outfitter drop-off, or use a self-arranged two-car system. Plan transport carefully: missing the last evening shuttle from The Grotto means a long road walk back to the visitor centre.

Permits & Fees

Two permits matter here. Entry to Zion National Park costs about €32 per private vehicle, valid for seven days. The Angels Landing spur itself requires a separate permit by lottery: applying through Recreation.gov costs roughly €5.50, and if you win, the per-person fee is about €2.80. There is a seasonal lottery (apply in the quarter before your trip) and a day-before lottery for last-minute spots. The full West Rim through-hike with an overnight camp also needs a wilderness permit. You can confirm current rules at the official National Park Service Angels Landing page and apply for the lottery through Recreation.gov.

Gear & Packing List

This is a long descent with one short but serious scramble, so pack for both endurance and exposure. A lightweight, close-fitting pack keeps your centre of gravity stable on the chain ridge — a 35–50 litre bag is plenty for the day version. Strong options include the 2400 Windrider for a minimalist day load, the larger 3400 Windrider if you carry overnight camping gear to Cabin Spring, or the supportive Aircontact Lite 45+10 for hikers who want a framed pack on the backcountry traverse. If you are weighing up which load-hauler to trust on exposed terrain, our roundup of the best ultralight backpacks of 2026 tests seven packs head to head.

Beyond the pack, bring grippy approach shoes or trail runners with sticky rubber for the polished sandstone, lightweight gloves to save your hands on the chains, at least 3 litres of water (there is no treated water between Cabin Spring and The Grotto), sun protection for the exposed plateau, and a headlamp if you start before dawn to beat the heat. Trekking poles help on the long downhill but must be stowed before the chain section, where you need both hands free.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the mix of exposure, granite and sandstone, and big American wilderness appeals, several other U.S. classics scratch the same itch. For more chain-and-cable summit drama, the Half Dome Trail and Mount Whitney Trail in California deliver bigger climbs and even higher summits, while the Enchantments Traverse in Washington trades desert for alpine lakes and granite. For thru-hikers wanting weeks rather than days, the Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (4,988 km) string together this kind of terrain across entire mountain ranges. Looking abroad for a dramatic point-to-point of similar length, our guide on how to hike the Theth to Valbona Trail in Albania covers a one-day Balkan crossing with comparable exposure and far cheaper logistics.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the Angels Landing Trail–West Rim Trail?
October is the single best month, offering stable weather, open access to the Lava Point trailhead, daytime highs near 25 °C and golden cottonwoods along the Virgin River. April and May are also excellent once snow clears the upper plateau. Avoid July and August, when canyon heat exceeds 38 °C and afternoon thunderstorms make the exposed ridge dangerous.

How difficult is this trail?
It is rated strenuous. The top-down West Rim traverse is mostly downhill but covers around 26 km and loses about 1,150 m, which is hard on knees. The Angels Landing spur is the crux: a chain-assisted scramble along a ridge as narrow as 71 cm with 300 m drop-offs. A good head for heights and steady footing matter more than raw fitness here.

How far do you hike per day?
Fit hikers complete the full point-to-point traverse in a single 7–9 hour day covering roughly 26 km. Splitting it with a backcountry camp near Cabin Spring gives a relaxed first day of about 13 km on the plateau and a shorter second day of around 9 km, including the Angels Landing spur, down to The Grotto shuttle stop.

Where can you stay along the route?
Most hikers base in Springdale at the south entrance, with hotels from about €90–220 per night, or camp at Watchman Campground for around €30. On the traverse itself, nine permitted backcountry sites near Cabin Spring let you overnight on the rim, requiring a wilderness permit of roughly €14–28. The free first-come Lava Point Campground works well as a pre-hike base.

Do you need a permit?
Yes. The Angels Landing spur requires a lottery permit through Recreation.gov: about €5.50 to apply plus roughly €2.80 per person if awarded. The full West Rim through-hike with an overnight also needs a wilderness permit. Park entry is separate, costing around €32 per vehicle for seven days. Always confirm current lottery dates before planning your trip.