Overview: Avid hikers lavish in the diversity of this amazing trail. From the steep switchbacks taunting you along the first mile, to the serene beauty of Echo Canyon, to the breathtaking overlook at the summit, this trail pays dividends equal to the effort it requires. As you climb to Observation Point, you can imagine the efforts of the Civilian Conservation Corps, the group of workers who constructed this trail in the 1930’s. Using dynamite, wheelbarrows, and mules, these young men blasted this pathway up the walls of Zion Canyon, connecting Zion’s East Side with the main valley floor. Echo Canyon, a serpentine water-carved slot, marks the half-way point to the top. After passing the East Mesa trail junction, the trail winds along a red stained pathway, where the soft Temple Cap rock has eroded to meet the harder Navajo Sandstone layer. The juniper/pinyon forest summit peers into Zion Canyon from 6507 feet (1983 meters).
Trailhead: Exit shuttle at Weeping Rock
Mileage: 8 miles (12.9 km)
Elevation Gain: 2150 feet (655 meters0
Approximate Hike Time: 6 hours, round-trip
Difficulty: Strenuous
Best Times of Day:
- Summer: An early morning departure is highly recommended to avoid a long climb under a blazing sun.
- Fall through Spring: Any time
Best Times of Year: The comfortable temperatures, reliable weather, and dazzling foliage of autumn make it the best time to hike Angel’s Landing. The upper reaches of the hike can become icy and/or snow-packed December through March; inquire about conditions at the Visitor’s Center before making a winter ascent.
Crowds: Crowds steadily dwindle the farther you ascend. Only a handful of parties each day push to the summit.
Don’t Miss: When the trail crosses Echo Canyon, adventurous hikers often walk (or wade) up into the slot to see how far they can go. Echo Canyon is a classic beginner slot canyons often descended by graduates of our One-Day Basic canyoneering course. If Echo Canyon intrigues you, inquire about taking a course.
Special Notes:
- You might see hikers bearing heavy backpacks descending the Observation Point trail. Most of these folks started at the East Entrance, 14 miles away, and followed the East Rim Trail 2500 feet down to Weeping Rock.
