Angels Landing is one of the park's most strenuous day hikes, but it offers spectacular vistas. It follows the West Rim Trail through the famous switchbacks of Walters Wiggles, past dramatic views at Scout Lookout, and on up to a high point 1,500 feet above the canyon floor. The steep, isolated cliff faces along this trail provide critical habitat for several species, including the peregrine falcon. This small raptor climbs, swoops, and dives with stunning power and grace, reaching speeds of over 100 miles per hour.

Walters Wiggles, an amazing series of 21 steep, stone-walled switchbacks, was carved into the cliff in the 1920s during the tenure of Superintendent Walter Ruesch. Scout Lookout, just above Walters Wiggles, offers a resting place, breathtaking views, and a preview of the very steep hike on up to Angels Landing and the canyon's West Rim. (Many people make the Lookout their destination.) Angels Landing provides one of the most dramatic vistas in Zion, across the canyon to Observation Point, Cable Mountain, and other East Rim features. The last 3/4 mile follows a narrow ridge with deadly drop-offs of 1,000 feet on either side. There are chains to hold on to in some sections, but not all. This section is not recommended for young children, those with fear of heights, or individuals with balance issues or other health concerns.

This trail is strenuous and steep, with numerous narrow sections and unprotected drop-offs. Not for anyone who is out of shape or has a fear of heights. Bring plenty of water. Start early in the day for the best conditions and be sure that you are off the trail before dark or during electrical storms.

Roundtrip: 4 hours / 4.8 miles
Elevation Gain: 1488 feet

Adams Canyon is easily the most popular hike in Layton, Utah, and one of the best-loved waterfall hikes on the Wasatch Front, a lush canyon climb that leads to not one but two beautiful waterfalls tucked into the mountains above town. Reached from a single trailhead on the eastern edge of Layton, it delivers a genuine mountain-canyon experience, running water, shade, and a dramatic falls, remarkably close to the suburbs of the Salt Lake Valley's northern reaches.

The trail offers two destinations from the same start. The Lower Falls is a roughly 20-foot cascade only about 20 minutes and a mile or so from the trailhead, an easy, family-friendly goal that makes a great short outing. The Upper Falls, the main event for most hikers, is a striking 40-foot waterfall about two hours in, reached by a steeper, more sustained climb up the canyon alongside the creek. The full hike to the Upper Falls and back takes most people a few hours and is rated easy-to-moderate, though it earns its "moderate" on the steeper pitches.

The canyon is genuinely pretty, with the creek for company much of the way, stands of trees for shade, and the payoff of the falls at the top, which is exactly why it draws such crowds. April through October is the most popular window, with spring bringing the fullest flow and green canyon, and fall adding color.

A firm safety note governs the top of the hike. Hiking above the waterfalls is not permitted, because the terrain up there is slippery and dangerous, and people have gotten into serious trouble venturing past the falls. The Upper Falls is the turnaround point; the wet rock around and above it is genuinely hazardous, so the falls are the destination, not a waypoint to climb beyond.

Because it's so popular and close to town, the trailhead parking (at roughly 600 Eastside Drive in Layton) fills fast, especially on weekends and holidays, so an early start helps both for parking and for a quieter trail. The lower stretch has some sandy switchbacks that can be warm and exposed, while the upper canyon is shadier and cooler near the water.

Come with plenty of water, sturdy shoes with good grip for the steeper and wetter sections, sun protection for the lower switchbacks, and a willingness to turn around at the Upper Falls. For a genuinely rewarding two-waterfall hike minutes from Layton, Adams Canyon is a Wasatch Front classic for good reason.