A Guide to Hiking Angels Landing in the Winter
Post Topic: Tips for Hiking the Exhilarating Angels Landing in the Winter
Zion National Park, in Southern Utah, is some of the most spectacular landscape in the North America. This national park features red rock canyons and cliffs.
Winter in Zion Canyon is usually fairly mild but may be chilly at times. Lows average in the low 30s with highs in the mid 50s.
Are you planning a trip to Zion National Park? You may find this article helpful:
What to do in Zion National Park without the Shuttle
Are you planning a larger trip to Utah? You may also like these articles:
Utah’s Mighty 5 Ranked Best to Worst
8 Incredible Things to do in Capitol Reef National Park
How to Spend 36 Hours in Arches National Park
Everything You Need to Know About Bryce Canyon’s Fairyland Loop
How to Get to Zion National Park & Where to Stay
One of my favorite things about Zion is its accessibility to the Las Vegas airport (LAS), which is only a short flight from DFW. This is what makes Zion perfect for a winter weekend getaway!
From the Las Vegas airport, you’ll have to rent a car and drive about 3 hours to Springdale, Utah. Springdale is located right outside of the park’s entrance and is the perfect spot to find accommodations or restaurant services. Traveling in the winter off-season, you’ll have more options available to you as far as accommodations go.
Hiking Angels Landing in Winter
When in Zion, you must hike the breathtaking and iconic Angel’s Landing Trail, known for its steep drop-offs and very narrow sections. And when you hike it in winter, you will most likely have to contend with ice as well. This blog post will walk you through everything that you need to know before the hike!
What to Bring
First off, make sure you bring the appropriate gear. You will need:
- Merrell Hiking Boots – Good footwear is a must, especially on the treacherous terrain of Angels Landing. I’ve been wearing Merrell hiking boots for years now and love them!
- Crampons – HIGHLY recommend these if you’re planning to visit in the winter. If you’re going to be hiking on any icy section of the trail, these are a must. We purchased some on Amazon for a very reasonable price. Click HERE for link.
- Lots of Layers – some of the trail was very sunny and we shed down to t-shirts but on the top of the ridge, I was wearing two jackets to stay warm!
- Osprey Pack – I don’t travel anywhere without this pack and I definitely don’t hike without it.
- Refillable Water Bottle – A must for day-hiking!
- Nikon d3500 – The views are incredible. Don’t forget your camera! I use the Nikon d3500 and love how it’s compact and easy to pack and takes great pictures.
A Bit of a Warning about Angels Landing
This trail can be very treacherous. Multiple deaths have occurred from the Angel’s Landing Trail. It is not recommended for those with a fear of heights or those who are not in good physical condition.
Angels Landing Trail
The Trail Head
The trail starts near the Grotto Trail parking lot/shuttle stop. (The shuttle does not run between November thru March, so visitors are able to drive and park at the trail head. But during busy season, March thru November, hikers are required to park at the visitors center and take the shuttle to the trail head.)
Make sure that you get an early start. In the winter, the sun sets in Zion Canyon before 5 PM. Plan at least 4 hours for this hike, 5 hours if you plan to take any rest stops. We started hiking shortly after noon, and that was pushing it. It was dusk by the time we returned to the car.
Lots of Switchbacks
The trail begins with a low grade ascent until you get to the first of 21 steep switchbacks. These switchbacks are where you will gain most of the 1500 ft. elevation change. Every step of these switchbacks will include grandiose views of Zion Canyon. But no worries, if the views don’t take your breath away, the switchbacks sure will! Even though this part of the hike is physically challenging, it was so worth it.
After what feels like never ending switch-backs, you’ll enter “Refrigerator Canyon”, known for its chilling temperatures, even in summer. The upside to this canyon is that there is very little elevation change, a chance for your legs to recover.
Then, more switchbacks. These switchbacks, called Walter’s Wiggles, were named for Walter Ruesch who was the first superintendent for the national park and who started the construction of Angel’s Landing trail in 1926.
Scout Lookout
This is when we had to whip out those crampons. What lifesavers! After a few more switchbacks, we made it to Scout Lookout. Definitely one of the best views of Zion Canyon. This is a great place to take a break, hydrate, and replenish your energy.
Angels Landing
From Scout Lookout, the trail ascends very steeply up to Angel’s Landing. Anchored support chains are available to hang on to during the steep and technical sections of the hike. If icy, I would not recommend continuing past Scout Lookout without your crampons. It was at this point that I decided to stay back and wait while my husband and sister-in-law continued on to the summit of Angel’s Landing. Due to the icy conditions, my already-tired legs, and insuppressible fear of heights, I decided to stay back and take pictures. It is important to know your limits and put safety first.
I asked my husband how he would describe the climb from Scout Lookout to Angel’s Landing and he said it was “tedious, nerve-wracking, but rewarding”. Most of the trail was covered in a layer of ice and was only inches away from steep drop-offs. The view at the top gives you a more direct view and can be considered a better vantage point of Zion Canyon.
Even though the last section of the trail from Scout Lookout to Angel’s Landing is only .5 miles one way, it took them over an hour to return to the lookout area. At that point, we started our way back down to the parking lot from Scout Lookout. Fortunately, the descent was quick and easy after passing the ice. We made it to the car about 4.5 hours later, tired and ready for dinner.
Where to Eat After Your Hike
If you’re needing a bite to eat after your hike, I would recommend trying either Zion Canyon Brewing Company or Oscar’s Café in Springdale, Utah. Both were delicious!
On our way out of town the next morning, we stopped at Deep Creek Coffee Company for some local brews and refreshments for the road trip back to Vegas. This place was too cute! I ordered a smoothie and it was delicious. You must check this one out.
More National Park Adventures
Hiking the Highline Trail – Glacier National Park
Backpacking the Teton Crest Trail
Epic Colorado National Park Road Trip
Save on Pinterest
