Angel’s Landing – Stunning Views But A Very Dangerous Hike…
This is a photo I took of the view from the top of America’s most beautiful – and dangerous – hike….Angel’s Landing in Utah’s Zion National Park…and below is a photo of the top of Angel’s Landing I found on social media – it gives you an idea of how narrow it is at the top…
You hold on to that embedded chain, fifteen hundred feet above the valley floor…if you take a wrong step, tragedy ensues, as it did yesterday.
As reported by The Daily Beast:
“A man died after falling while hiking the Angels Landing Trail at Zion National Park in Utah. Authorities said the man died from injuries he sustained in the fall. Search and rescue teams were called to the scene around 2 p.m. Friday and shut down the surrounding trails during the operation.”
The Angels Landing Trail, one of the most popular hikes in the Utah national park, has seen at least 18 fatalities, mostly due to falls and medical issues during the demanding 5.4-mile round trip, 1,488 feet climb.
I know this – because my wife Alex and I climbed it! There we are about halfway up the hike, in one of the areas where the path is wider and paved…right before you encounter this:
Meet “Walter’s Wiggles!”
Yes, this is about the halfway point of the 1,500+ foot hike straight up: a series of more than thirty switchbacks!
Once near the top, the path gets very narrow, steep and dangerous – take a look:
Once near the top, there is one final part of overcome: a nearly vertical climb with a very small path, and an embedded chain to hold on to – with no barrier on your right to keep you from falling!
It was slow going as well, because there is only one path, so people are climbing DOWN while you are climbing UP!
That led to a lot of starting and stopping, and with a backpack on, I didn’t feel balanced at all! After one tenth of a mile straight up, we had to stop to wait for others to come down, and we rested with our backs flat against the mountain, a small ledge to rest our feet on – this is the shot I got:
This is why this trail is so dangerous, if you slip and aren’t holding tightly, there is nothing to keep you from falling all the way down to a certain death…
I hope you understand, it was scary! It’s hard to take photos because you have one hand on the chain link at all times, and you really have to focus on your feet! Here is a shot of what the last part of the climb up to the top of Angel’s Landing looks like:
Here’s a great shot that Alex got as she pressed against the mountain wall at the very top of Angel’s Landing!
She IS “Super Woman!”
Nothing was going to deter her, and the views from the top are exhilarating – that’s the Virgin River at the bottom of the peak:
It’s so very sad to have someone lose their life from hiking up this incredible national treasure – but it IS dangerous to be sure…here is more history of the hike, with more videos and pictures as well:
I will say that this was one of the most exciting, terrifying and satisfying hikes I’ve ever done, and the incredible beauty of the park all around you is worth the effort!
We did this hike just one day after we hiked in the Virgin River at the place called “The Narrows”:
Yes, miles of this hike are through the fast-moving Virgin river, and it leads you into canyons that are spectacular!
And here is why it’s called the “Narrows”:
This is me looking straight up at one point – that’s how narrow it gets at the top!
See our entire hike here:
I also shared the sad story of a hiker who died at Yosemite National Park as well:
Balin Miller was an experienced extreme rock climber, but even a regular hike in Yosemite takes you this close to the edge:
That’s Alex standing at the edge of the world…you can see how close you can get by clicking on my story here:
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Thanks so much for reading! If you liked this, please share on social media! And be careful when doing any nature hike…
Categories: Exotic Travel, Memoirs, nature, Sports, Travel, Travel Adventures, Travel Memoir
johnrieber 
Nothing would get me to do that! I am OK with the hiking bit, by I have a fear of falling, and I would be physically ill trying to do that. Well done for you to have done it. And such a tragedy when someone dies doing something that looks so beautiful 🙂
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Thanks for your note. It’s very easy to be distracted amid the crowds and the scenery but there is nothing to stop you if you fall…signs at the bottom make that very clear….
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I think the scariest would be the people climbing up and climbing down against each other in narrow quarters. The fall is so tragic. Thank you for the gorgeous photos, John.
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You guys have nerves of steel! I get vertigo just looking at those pictures! LOL!
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We didn’t totally know what we were getting ourselves into – it’s sad to read about people having tragic accidents there but the terrain and people don’t mix well! Thanks for the note, it was exhilarating to do!
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You guys are definitely brave. I did a hike at Chimney Rock Park that I thought was scary, but it was tame compared to Angels Landing. Great pictures, John, thanks for posting.
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It’s so sad when someone has a tragic accident when hiking. This hike looks incredible. It’s way beyond the type of hiking I can do, so I really enjoyed virtually doing it via this post.
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Thank you for the note! Yes, it is a tragedy, and this is a dangerous hike considering nearly 20 people have fallen, and many more no doubt injured…I shared our hike up to give an idea of what the hikers face and where it does indeed get dangerous for those not paying close attention.
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It definitely looks extremely challenging. The huge number of people doing this hike seems like it would make it even more challenging. I always was a slow hiker and think that I’d feel rushed with all the others going up and down.
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John, you and Alex really got into some spectacular hiking — so many exhilarating moments. The phone‑camera bit gets a little stressful for me. You both nailed the photos. Loved seeing your adventure.
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It’s a bit crazy – the Instagram video I shared of the climb has more than 150k views…and tons of comments. Someone claimed the video wasn’t even close to the top even though it was about 100 feet or so…someone else said it wasn’t dangerous! crazy…and I stopped filming because it was indeed too dangerous to try and hold that chain with only one hand while climbing straight up and having people coming down climbing over you! Hey, a fun life adventure to be sure! Thanks for the note!
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Just looking at the picture of Alex makes me feel giddy. Well done to you both for doing this hike
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She is unstoppable to be sure! Thanks for the note!
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👏
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Whew, I am impressed. I had never heard of this climb, though of course I know the USA has a lot of BIG scenery! I don’t like heights and there is no way I would go up. All life carries a risk and professional mountaineers know the risks. Ordinary folk don’t always know what they are letting themselves in for, but perhaps it is heartening that no ‘Nanny State’ has sought to ban people from going up.
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Yes, the number who have died is small for the number who climb it like we did, but it’s all about focus and safety – too many people can’t stop mugging for the camera or leaning out over the empty space and that is where tragedy results….oh and I read the #1 cause of men falling into the Grand Canyon? Peeing one the edge for a selfie…idiots we are!
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An awful way to die, and tragic for the family of the deceased. I would not attempt that hike past the age of 45, and though I am not scared of heights I would be wary of that narrow path and depending on a chain to hold. Shared on Twitter, John.
Best wishes, Pete.
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The older I get the closer to the ground I want to be……not something for this old heart. chuq
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Someone commented in Insta gram that I was NO WHERE close to the top…I was within 200 feet and explained that you can’t hold a chain with one hand and try to film with the other while going straight up…thanks for the note, we honestly didn’t know what a big deal it was to go up to the top, but it is very dangerous and that is what I was trying to convey..thanks for the note!
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Oh my. That looks very scary!
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Absolutely beautiful scenery – personally with no call to prove that I also can do it (cannot anyways 🙂 !) Agree with Pete Springer that the sudden change in altitude plus the effort required would make this difficult for many . . .
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it’s so beautiful but I know I could never do it – kudos to the two and what a tragedy fro the loss of the one who fell –
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Gorgeous, and wild scenery, and I’m so glad you navigated it safely. What a tragedy, for the one who fell, and also for all the others who witnessed it, still on the trail!
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What a physical test! The elevation change would do a lot of people in, let alone the distance. I’m surprised we don’t hear about these tragedies more often.
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