Angel’s Landing

Walter’s Wiggles

Active Outdoors, Desert Southwest, National Parks, Utah, Zion

Named after Zion National Park’s superintendent, Walter Ruesch, these switchbacks were constructed in 1926. These series of 21 switchbacks lead to the diabolical Angel’s Landing trail but you better be in decent shape to conquer both.

Walter’s Wiggles are part of the West Rim Trail at Zion National Park, Utah

Cloudy, Foggy, Ethereal, Ephemeral Zion National Park

Desert Southwest, National Parks, Photography, Seasons, Utah, Waterfalls, Weather, Zion

A much-needed rainstorm passed through Zion on the first day of the government shutdown and I had the park pretty much to myself.

The Anxiety-Producing Angel’s Landing Hike

Desert Southwest, National Parks, Utah, Zion

This hike at Zion National Park is for adrenaline junkies. Unfortunately, I only had enough adrenaline to get near the very top but I completed the part with big drop offs left and right.

Photo(s) Of The Week- Look Closely

Desert Southwest, National Parks, Utah, Zion

If you look closely, you’ll see a rock climber scaling a sheer 1,500 foot wall of sandstone at Zion National Park, Utah. He’s lugging a bag of gear so he can spend the night up there. This was taken late in the afternoon and he had a long way to the top which is Angel’s Landing, the hard way. The second photo gives you a better idea of the climb’s reach.

Zion National Park’s Observation Point Trail

Desert Southwest, Out In The Field, Zion

While Angel’s Landing and The Narrows’ hikes get all the pub and hype, the Observation Point Trail at Zion is a classic. You not only will receive a great workout, you’ll also capture some dramatic photos. It’s 4 miles up and of course 4 miles down. An elevation gain of over 2,100 feet will get your heart racing on the way up and put agonizing stress on your quads on the way down. At Observation Point, your are literally and figuratively looking down on those who climbed Angel’s Landing. There are a few places where you encounter huge exposure but there is plenty of room to negotiate the terrain safely. No safety chains on this trail! Autumn is the best time of year to conquer Observation Point as the 100 degree temps have left the area and the fall colors dominate the landscape at Zion. Below are images along the trail. You can purchase prints of these images at http://dawn2dawnphotography.com/ Click on the horizontal photos for a larger view.

Zion's Observation Pt Trail_8576 — The view looking back at the beginning of the trail.

Echo Canyon_8585 — Entering Echo Canyon with its 1,500 foot high sandstone walls.

Echo Canyon Falls_2248 — Seasonal waterfalls flow out of Echo Canyon

Echo Canyon_4833 — Fall colors have arrived at Echo Canyon

Echo Canyon_7569 — Hikers enjoying the scene.

ZION BIGHORN SHEEP — You may encounter Desert Bighorn Sheep along the trail such as these young ewes.

Lone Ponderosa — A Ponderosa Pine seemingly grows from the sandstone walls

Cable Mountain appears at the three mile mark.

Observation Point_7548 — At Observation Point, you look down on Angel’s Landing on the right and Zion Canyon to the south.

Echo Canyon_4842 — And back down through Echo Canyon where by this time, your knees and ankles are stiff and sore.

YNP COYOTE CROSSING ROAD — And one more view of Zion Canyon

Angels’s Landing Anyone?

Desert Southwest, Out In The Field, Zion

When visitors to Zion National Park ask me what hike they should try, I tell them if they aren’t afraid of heights and adventure, you must conquer the diabolical Angel’s Landing. I’ve completed it 3 times but see no reason to risk my life again. The peak was named by a Methodist clergyman, Frederick Vining Fisher, who thought that ‘only an angel could land on it’ although I made it.

Angel’s Landing soars 1,488 feet straight up into the Zion sky

Walter’s Wiggles, named after Walter Ruesch, the park superintendent who devised this series of 21 switchbacks.

Angel's_4026 — Your lifeline, the chains!

The chains offer a safety net because to the right is a 1488 foot drop to the canyon floor. That shuttle bus below looks awfully small.

The National Park Service offers plenty of warnings.

It’s a 2 1/2 mile climb from the trail head at The Grotto to reach the summit but it’s the last 1/2 mile where the trail gets its reputation. The NPS has carved steps into the sandstone and added chains to aid your ascent but danger still abounds.