Angels Landing Trail / West Rim Trail

The Angels Landing Trail takes off to the south of Scout Lookout (elevation 5,477′)and runs along thr, edge of a steep-sided sandstone ridge. The trail climbs over 300 feet in its 1/2 mile course and is neither graded nor paved. The National Park Service does not recommend this trail for unattended youngsters, those with heart or breathing problems, or those who fear heights. It is a dangerous hike at night or in inclement weather.

An erosion control stabilization program was completed on the trail by CCC personnel in March 1934, The work was supervised by Fark building foreman, Walter Ruesch, and approved by Harry Langley, resident Landscape Architect Zion National Park. Presently, the Zion National Fark Maintenance Division is responsible for maintaining chiseled footholds on the trail as well as chains and railings which have been attached to the cliff.

Angels Landing Trail-West Rim Trail is located in Zion National Park in Washington County, Utah and was added to the National Historic Register (#86003707) on February 14, 1987.

Starting from the parking area across the highway from the Grotto Picnic Area, the trail crosses the Virgin River by means of an arched metal foot bridge installed in 1984. The trail which leads to the top of the West Rim of Zion Canyon is 5.5 miles long. Construction work began in 1925 and the trail was dedicated on July 11, 1926. Work on the Refrigerator Canyon portion of the trail was resumed in 1935 under the supervision oi Park building foreman, Walter Ruesch, and A.E. Cowell, Park engineer. Walter’s Wiggles, 17 complete switchbacks were carved into some of the Park’s most difficult terrain and buttressed with grouted sandstone blocks, locally quarried. Rock used in the Wiggles and in other “dry” retaining walls was shaped as little as possible to, “provide a stable construction with as rough an appearance as could be obtained.” The trail had been re-marked in 1933 and 1934 by PWA and CCC personnel.

After crossing the Virgin River, the trail runs along a. talus slope for about 1/2 mile by means of numerous dry- laid random rubble sandstone walls. The next 1/4 mile traverses a sheer cliff and rises more than one thousand feet. The trail is half tunneled into the side of the cliff. Then, the trail runs through a narrow notch in the the drainage known as Refrigerator Canyon. From here, Walter’s Wiggles, a series of switchbacks up a 60 degree chimney brings us to Scout’s Lookout.

For the remaining 3 miles of its course, the trail winds along the rim and across numerous side canyons. Then it drops into a deep canyon and begins the ascent of the sheer rim of Horse Pasture Plateau. The West Rim Trail was reconstructed in 1956, 1960 and 1969 to repair masonry, replace bridges and install guard rails at a combined cost of over $100,000. Re-paving and additional improvements were carried out in 1984.

Landscape architects responsible for trail .design include H.B. Stephenson who represented the Branch of Plans and Design on the work done on the Refrigerator Canyon, 1935. He was succeeded by Landscape Architect George Norgard.