Zion National Park United States

Angels Landing

A steep climb from the Grotto up the West Rim Trail to Scout Lookout, then a narrow sandstone ridge with chains to hold, sheer drop-offs on both sides and wide views over Zion Canyon. The final ridge needs a permit.

  • 8.7 km
  • About 4 h
  • strenuous
  • Best All year

Photo: Andrew Heneen · CC BY 4.0

At a glance

The Grotto (shuttle stop 6) up the West Rim Trail to Scout Lookout, then the 0.5-mile Angels Landing Trail along the ridge to the top, and back the same way

Distance
8.7 km · 5.4 mi
Elevation gain
454 m · 1,490 ft
Highest point
1,671 m · 5,482 ft
Time
About 4 h
Difficulty
Strenuous
Route
Out and back

Elevation profile

Elevation from 1328 m to 1605 m over 3.6 km; lowest 1316 m, highest 1671 m.1,3001,5001,7000.0 km1.8 km3.6 km
Measured on the map, one way: 3.6 km, about +370 m of climbing, 1,316–1,671 m. © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); elevation: NASA SRTM via OpenTopoData.

Plan your trip

Best months: All year

Permits & fees
Rules as published for 2026 (checked October 2026): everyone going beyond Scout Lookout onto the Angels Landing ridge needs a permit; the walk to Scout Lookout itself does not. Permits come from two lotteries on Recreation.gov. The seasonal lottery for 2026 hike dates opened on February 13 (spring), April 1 (summer), July 1 (fall) and October 1 (winter, December 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027). The day-before lottery takes applications from 12:01 am to 3 pm Mountain Time the day before your hike, with results after 4 pm. Each application costs $6 (non-refundable) plus $3 per person and covers up to 6 people. Your permit time applies at the Grotto.
Getting there
From March through November, most Zion Canyon hikes can only be reached by the free park shuttle, and the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to private vehicles while the shuttle runs. Board at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center and get off at the Grotto. You still need a park entrance fee or pass.
Good to know
  • The ridge is less than 3 ft (1 m) wide in many places, with drop-offs of up to 1,000 ft on each side. Chains serve as handrails on several sections; watch your footing at all times.
  • Much of the ridge is only wide enough for one person, so expect to wait and give way to other hikers.
  • If you have no permit, Scout Lookout (about 2.25 miles from the Grotto and roughly 1,000 ft higher) is a worthwhile turnaround point with views of its own.
  • There are restrooms at the Grotto and at Scout Lookout.

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Sources

Official figures where published; other numbers are measured on the map and approximate. Conditions and rules change — confirm with the official source before you go.