Zion National Park has taken its place as one of my favorite National Parks in the United States. This was no easy feat for this park, and I will tell you why. If you go to Zion in the summer, or a weekend in late spring, and spend your entire time in the "scenic drive" (aka shuttle served) area, it can be very crowded. I've found that week days and shoulder season can be truly miraculous times to visit this park. I'm happy to say that I was able to do every trail inside the canyon last year. Many of them for the 4th or 5th time. I will do a review of them all in time, but I wanted to start with the big one. Angel's Landing.
Angel's Landing (numbers repeated directly from NPS)
Difficulty: Strenuous
Round trip time: 4+ hours
Distance: 5.4 miles
Elevation gain: 1488' / 453 meters
I have read numerous reviews on this trail. I've seen everything from "anyone in moderate shape can do it" to "this is a very dangerous hike." Being an experienced hiker, I usually know when I pass someone on a trail if I will see them at the top or not. My personal opinion is that you should only do this trail if you have some experience hiking, or if you are with someone who is experienced. If you are afraid of heights and 1,488' drops on both sides of your 3' wide trail, you can still enjoy this experience, but just hike to the Scouts lookout.
The obligatory safety speech:
Hiking is one of the most rewarding activities on the planet. If you are comfortable with the risks involved, but aren't sure if this hike is for you, I would recommend doing one of the easier hikes in the canyon first to see how your body responds. Due to the extreme proximity of Zion to Vegas, if you are on this trail at the wrong time (busy Saturday afternoon), the trail may be too busy and ruin your experience with nature. I recommend avoiding these times. I see people frequently "hiking" in flip flops or bare foot carrying no water or supplies. Please be prepared with proper attire and gear.
What to bring:
This is what is with me every time I go on a trail, even if it's just a short day hike.
1. Water
2. Water (see what I did there?) - If you know how much you usually drink, you can carry just the right amount. I hydrate before beginning, and drink approximately one full liter on this trail. I would double that in summer.
3. Snacks - I don't think I have ever seen anyone not pull out an energy bar at the top of Angel's Landing. It burns a LOT of calories climbing. You will want at least one, if not two bars and/or a bag of some trail mix.
4. Sunscreen
5. Cell phone - you won't have service all of the time, but if something happens it's a nice backup plan.
6. Whistle - I've never had to use mine, but there's something comforting about knowing that you can draw attention to yourself if you experience a fall and cannot move. You can only yell for so long, but as long as you are breathing you can blow a whistle. Three blasts in a row is traditional SOS.
7. Pocket knife - You all saw 127 Hours? That's not the reason... let's cover that in another post.
8. Camera - Don't hike all this way and not bring a camera!
9. Park map - The free one at the visitor center is fine for this hike. It will help you approximate your position on the trail, but also identify what you can see from the top!
When to go:
Early or late in the day. Zion Canyon is oriented on a North-South axis. The shadows will be most extreme early or late. If you leave early enough in the morning, you will climb most of the exposed portions before direct sunlight hits you. Late in the day, you could manage to stay in the shade quite a bit. Sunset is a beautiful time, but you will want to get past the chains before it gets completely dark on the descent.
Departure Point:
The Grotto. Note the big warning signs and the audio on the shuttle. If you arrive at the Lodge stop, and there is no shuttle, sometimes you can walk to the Grotto faster than taking the shuttle. This is only 1/2 mile of level walking added to your trip. If you are starting early in the day, this makes a nice warm up for your legs before you hit the incline.
The Trail:
You've been waiting for this! From the shuttle stop, cross to the West side of the road, and follow the West Rim Trail. The beginning of the trail is pleasant enough. It's a nice steady climb for a very long while. If you are a runner, and IF THE TRAIL ISN'T CROWDED, some of these portions make for a nice jog. Personally, I find jogging up the incline is easier on my legs than a steady plod. Walter's Wiggles. These switchbacks were constructed in the 1930's, and make the ascent a little faster. They're a great leg workout, and fun to view from above. Just around the corner is Scout's Lookout. This is a great stopping point to catch your breath before attempting the chains, OR a great place to enjoy the view and turn around if you're not up for the last half mile. 
The final section is the most exhilarating! Keep in mind that there are some portions where the trail is barely 3 feet across with a drop of over 1400 feet on both sides. Do not attempt this if you are not comfortable with this. That being said, the NPS has put a great deal of effort into making sure there are strategically placed chains and rails in the scariest parts. Please be polite to your fellow hikers and allow them to pass. The worst moments on the chains are when someone becomes scared, and freezes onto a section of chain. If this happens to you, ease yourself back and enjoy the view from Scout's Lookout. For those of you who continue, you WILL be rewarded!
The view from the top is the reason you did all of that! Don't miss out on enjoying the reward for your journey. All too often, people turn around within 5 minutes of arriving. For the photographers out there, this photo is at 10:55 a.m. As you can see, the shadows are still just extreme enough to make an interesting photo.
One final thought before signing off for the day - The NPS has made a great e-Hike of this hike. Check it out!
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