Hiking in Zion National Park

Zion National Park offers world-class hiking and canyoneering. Perhaps its most famous hike (if you consider The Narrows a canyoneering adventure) is likely the hike to the summit of Angel's Landing.



Angels Landing: Comparable to the Cables Route on Half Dome, this hike, while much shorter than Half Dome, is not for the faint of heart. The hike is 5miles round trip with an elevation gain of 1,200 feet. The first two miles are gradual, smooth and paved.



The trail steepens breifly as it ascends Walter's Wiggles, a series of switchbacks carved into the mountain side by the impetuous first custodian of Zion National Park, Walter Reusch, who in 1924 set out to build a trail that would defy early Zion explorer Frederick Fisher's assessment that the summit of this ridge was such that "only an angel could land on it."



Once finished with the Wiggles, hikers arrive at Scout's Lookout, a beautiful perhaps 50 foot wide flat saddle with open air views out into Zion Canyon to the North. For many who attempt the Angel's Landing hike, this is their turnaround point. Already fabulous in its own right, the hike to Scout's Lookout is one every capable visitor to Zion should make.



From here, the exposure and possible danger increase dramatically as the trail leads hikers up along a steep narrow ridge line for approximately a half mile with 1,000+ foot drop-offs on both sides. Along the trail there are chains to assist hikers in their balance. The chains however would not keep one from falling off should a hiker lose their balance, composure, or grip of the chain. Several people have died on this trail in the past 10 years alone.



The trail reaches its terminus on the summit of Angel's Landing with stunning views down Zion Canyon to the South, the Organ, The Great White Throne, and Cerberus Gendarme.



Allow 5 hours on average and start early to avoid the crowds! Exercise extreme caution, use your own judgement about your abilities, and honestly self-assess your comfort with exposure before beginning the final section. There are plenty of hikes in the world. Not every trail is for everyone. Bring extra water and be advised that in early Spring and Winter the trail can be icy, and in our opinion, not attempted in such conditions under any circumstances. Carefully check the weather and keep an eye on the clouds. Do not hike this trail if a thunderstorm is forecast, possible, or appears to be forming or approaching.

Approach: Park at or shuttle to The Grotto parking area. Here, cross the Virgin River via the narrow bridge and turn right at the fork in the trail. This is the trail to the top of Angel's Landing.

Favorite Hikes & Bikes: Bay Area

Batteries to Bluffs Trail (0.7 miles): Begin at the Golden Gate Bridge and hike South until you reach the Batteries and Bluffs trail(about a quarter of a mile).You will be hiking above North Baker Beach (aka Marshall's Beach) which is a somewhat popular nude beach. The descent to the beach along the Batteries to Bluffs trail used to be a bit more fun as it was steep and rugged. Wooden planks and stairs were installed in 2007 as part of a large renovation project that also included the removal of trees for the nefarious purpose of 'historic view preservation', but I digress. You can descend all the way to the beach (optional) or continue along until you the trail meets back up with the road.



Land's End Trail (~3 miles): From Baker Beach, take steps at the Southern end of the beach up into the majestic Sea Cliff neighborhood. From here walk through the neighborhood keeping as close to the coast as possible. An amazing and eclectic assortment of homes here provide a feast for the eyes until you are back on the trail. At the end of the neighborhood you will run into the sign for the Land's End Trail. Take this trail all the way to Sutros Baths and Ocean Beach for amazing views out over the Pacific Ocean, the Marin Headlands, and the Golden Gate Bridge. The trail is mostly flat with a few steeper sections that are outfitted with wooden stairs. There is also an optional turnoff down to Mile Rock Beach.



I highly recommend this! The stairs lead down to the beach itself and also a human made rock maze on a rock promontory. Rejoin the main trail and follow it until you reach the site of the old Sutros Baths.



The Sutros Baths were built by former mayor Adolph Sutro in 1896 as a privately owned swimming pool complex that included seven pools, six of which were salt water and one freshwater. A fire in 1966 burned the original structure down and the ruins were left as a point of interest. Explore the Baths and walk through the tunnel at the Northern end for a short, cool adventure.

Above the Sutros Baths sits the Cliff House restaurant that forms the North end of Ocean Beach. First built in 1858 with lumber salvaged from shipwrecks that happened on the rocks below it, the structure has seen a number of changes. It is now a charming and somewhat expensive place to eat that is mostly a tourist destination.

On the hill above the Cliff House was the site of the home of Adolph Sutro. The foundation of the home is still in place and this area provides an excellent place from which to view Ocean Beach, the Outer Richmond, and Golden Gate Park.



A block or two off of Ocean Beach is a Safeway grocery store. From here a number of buses lead to destinations throughout the city. Tired hikers can use these buses to return back to the start of the hike. Those with the time and stamina however are encouraged to hike through Golden Gate Park, have tea in the Japanese Tea Gardens, and finish up with a meal in Haight Ashbury for the full circuit!



Downtown SF - Golden Gate Bridge - Sausalito: A perennial favorite. Ride your bike over the Golden Gate Bridge from anywhere in Downtown San Francisco to Sausalito. Enjoy a Mimosa or brunch and either pedal home or take the Sausalito Ferry back to San Francisco. 5.5 miles one way, or 11 miles round trip (from the GGB).

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