Angels Landing

The rock

A 1,488-foot rock once known as the Temple of Aeolus

Angels Landing was known previously as the Temple of Aeolus. The rock formation stands 1,488 feet tall in Zion National Park. A trail cut into solid rock in 1926 leads to the top.

1,488 feetHeight of the rock formation

The wiggles

21 switchbacks, named for the first superintendent of Zion

The trail is 2.5 miles long, with about 1,500 feet of climbing, and begins at the Grotto stop on the park's shuttle. Walter's Wiggles, 21 steep switchbacks, are the last hurdle before Scout Lookout. They are named for Walter Ruesch, the park's first superintendent, who built them in 1926.

The chains

Past Scout Lookout, the last half-mile has chains and drop-offs

Scout Lookout is generally the turnaround point for those unwilling to make the final push. The last half-mile is strenuous, with sharp drop-offs and narrow paths, and chains to grip on parts of it. The top is at 5,790 feet. This section was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

The permit

Since 2022 a permit has been required beyond Scout Lookout

Since 2022, hikers who go beyond Scout Lookout have been required to have a permit. The program was begun because of overcrowding in earlier years. It is meant to protect the park and to increase the safety of the hike.

The deaths

As of 2025, 18 deaths had been confirmed at or near the rock

As of 2025, 18 deaths had been confirmed at or near Angels Landing, more than on any other hiking trail in Zion National Park and the state of Utah. In April 2026 a hiker fell to his death from a chained part of the trail on the north side. The death before that was in May 2024.

18Deaths confirmed at or near the trail as of 2025