Angel's Landing

Yes, since 2022 Zion National Park requires a permit to hike the chained section of the Angel's Landing trail. Permits are distributed through a seasonal lottery system and a day-before lottery, and the system was implemented to manage crowding and improve safety on the narrow ridge route.

The Angel's Landing trail is approximately 5.4 miles round trip from the Grotto trailhead and involves roughly 1,500 feet of elevation gain. The final half mile follows a narrow sandstone ridge with steep drop-offs on both sides, where chains are bolted into the rock for handholds.

Angel's Landing is considered one of the most dangerous day hikes in the United States National Park system due to its narrow ridge with sheer drop-offs of up to 1,000 feet on both sides. Multiple fatalities have occurred on the trail over the years, which is why the park implemented a permit system to better manage traffic on the chained section.

The Angel's Landing trail was completed in 1926, carved into the sandstone by workers who installed the chains along the ridge. It was developed during the era when Zion was being established as a national park to provide visitor access to the summit's panoramic views of Zion Canyon.