2022 Summer Road-trip

This is the first leg of the Angels Landing and West Rim Trail Hike. It's about 2-2.5 miles to your decision point to either conquer Angels Landing or continue on the West Rim Trail. The trail starts from the Grotto Trailhead shuttle stop.

This is a 360 degree panoramic recording from a GoPro Hero of the final leg of the Angels Landing hike. This is the best video of the entire Summer 2021 Roadtrip. This video made buying a GoPro Hero and figuring out a great way to mount it from my backpack worth every penny and hour spent testing it. If you only watch one of my videos - make it this one. It's about 45 minutes along, so you can scroll ahead if that's too long, but be sure to move the camera's viewpoint to see what it looks like from this hike. I spent the hike with my head down staring at dirt, rocks, and chains for fear of my vertigo getting the better of me. Making this video has allowed me to see it and relive it over and over. 

The Drive to Springdale (From the East)

The Narrows

And this is where I went swimming. The guy behind me and myself started wading through for the challenge of it. Half way through and we were committed. Next thing we know it's over our heads and we're doggy paddling through 40 degree or colder water. Most memorable moment.

Kolob Canyons, 2021

Details and Tips!

Tips for Visiting Zion National Park that I learned:

1) If you can, drive in from the East gate and give yourself extra time to pull over and stop and take everything in. There's is also a hike that you can take on the drive in that was recommended by many other visitors. If you come in from the East gate, after you pass through the first tunnel, keep an eye out for a larger than normal pull off area just before the second (and much longer tunnel). Park and walk west towards the tunnel until you get to where the trail starts. This is another I'll be sure to do next time we come through the area. 

2) The Narrows is one of two most popular hikes (Angel's Landing is the other) in the entire park. Here are few tips for enjoying the hike:
a. Bring or rent a sturdy wood walking stick (not just a hiking pole) and water hiking boots. You can rent the boots and the stick for $25 from the little tourist store next to the pub just outside the West gate entrance to the park. You can also rent long waiters like fisherman wear, but even in October it wasn't cold enough for them to be needed. The stick and boots were definitely worth it. You can also rent them the night before your hike so you can start as early as possible the next day. They just have to be returned no later than 7pm to avoid a late fee.
b. Purchase 1$ shuttle tickets through the Park itself for the hour window you plan to head to the trail head. Cheaper than any other option and you don't have to walk extra miles to the trail head itself. Totally worth it.
c. It's about a one mile walk from the shuttle drop off point to where the real hike begins. After that first mile, you'll be walking in water the rest of the day. It's usually about ankle to knee deep and you are walking and tripping and stubbing your feet over all shapes and sizes of rocks. There were at least two spots we found where the water was deep enough to swim (I know because I ended up swimming in 40 degree water for about 10 feet by accident!). There are ways around those deep areas if you prefer to stay on the drier side.
d. We hiked about 3-3.5 miles into the Narrows. It's not a loop, so be aware that every step forward you take is a step you take backwards. The trail that you can hike without a permit can take you close to 9 miles as we heard from other folks, but we didn't feel like making it an 18-20 mile hike that day. If you have a permit, you can supposedly go even further, but you're on your own in the wilderness at that point.

3) If you can, give yourself an extra day or two to enjoy the other hikes around the park as well. The Narrows is a cool hike and well worth doing. I can't say it was my favorite (after awhile you realize once you've seen a good portion of the canyon walls, you're just seeing the canyon walls). If you get the chance - do the hike, but be sure to try and hit a few other good ones before you leave the park. 

Angels Landing

This is a very popular hike and not one for the feint of heart. After finishing this must do on my bucket list, I took note of a few things to be aware if you plan to tackle this one. [EDIT 2023] As of  the 2023, making the trip up from Scout's Landing to Angel's landing requires a permit that is granted as part of a daily lottery through Recreation.gov similar to other popular hikes like North Coyote Buttes (The Wave).

1) Go early! I got in line to catch the shuttle into the park from the Visitors Center about 4:30am and was third in line for the first shuttle at 6am. It's possible to just walk or bicycle to the trailhead from the VC, but it's several miles which makes the shuttle very enticing. However you want to do it, go early. It gets crowded quickly and those crowds have a major impact on timing to complete the hike as you are passing folks going up and down the trail. It also gets much more nerve racking when the crowds are large and your have to pass around them on the narrows passes with the chains, etc. If you have ever seen the images of folks waiting in line to summit Mt. Everest, you will get the idea of what the line starts to feel like.

I did not start soon enough to enjoy the sunrise from the summit, but I may have to make that happen the next time I get out there. 

2) This trail is also the start of the West Rim Trail. The first couple miles of the hike is a lot of switch backs on a wide, well established trail that eventually allows you decide take the West Rim Trail or tackle Angels Landing. This video of the hike will show you what I'm talking about and where this video ends is where you get to choose your own adventure. I did not take on the West Rim Trail and will have to go back for it in the future.

3) The trek up to Angels landing and back is about 5.2 miles total from the start of the trailhead and back. The final leg with the chains and dizzying heights is only about a mile long. It took me about 3.5 hours total hiking time to complete the journey. When the crowds are bigger it will take longer. I got on the shuttle at 6am at the VC and was back on the shuttle headed back to the VC by 10am.

4) The truly adventurous final miles has chains to hold about 90% of the time. You can experience the video in 360 degree panoramic (or VR) fashion here. There are a couple of areas where I was wishing for a chain, but most of the areas without a chain were flat and felt relatively safe compared to other areas. When you reach the summit, there's a great flat area to sit, snack, and a tree to relax in the shade of (or hold on to). There is a final piece of the trail of about 100-200 yards that narrows quite a bit in and there is no chain. With the wind, the camera off my back, and my fear of heights I did not take those final steps. That is the section for only the bravest. I saw a good number of folks walk it like it was nothing. I also sat and chuckled with a number of folks on the safe flat area near the tree agreeing that we had conquered enough and there's not shame in calling it good from there. If you suffer from vertigo anywhere close to how I do, I do NOT recommend that final leg. 

Thirteen people died on this hike between 2004 and 2021 according to the signs. I do not know the details of those incidents, but it was enough warning for me to be happy with the part I conquered. 

5) The trip back down is not as nerve racking for any number of reasons, but it will work your knees, so be ready. 

6) If you want an adventure, do not skip this hike. It forces you to face any fear of heights you may have and it is an awesome feeling to know you have done it when you reach the summit. I know I'll be back and hopefully have the courage for that final couple hundred yards.