Zion Park to close some hiking trails this fall

ZION NATIONAL PARK — Angels Landing, a popular hiking trail in Zion Park will be closed periodically from mid-September to mid-October.

On Sept. 15-16 and from Sept. 20-23, the West Rim Trail will be closed from the Grotto to Scout Lookout. The Angels Landing route will also be closed from Scout Lookout to the summit of Angels Landing.

All climbing routes on the cliff faces of Angels Landing will also be closed for those time periods.

Superintendent Jock Whitworth has also announced that from Sept. 27 to Oct. 14, the Angels Landing route from Scout Lookout to the summit and climbing routes on the Angels Landing cliff faces will be closed Monday through Thursday. The Angels Landing route and climbing routes will still be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

The West Rim Trail from the Grotto trailhead will be open at all times, Sept. 27-Oct. 15, for those hikers wishing to visit Scout Lookout or the West Rim of Zion Canyon.

A Zion National Park trail crew will be working on route improvements, including re-chiseling existing steps, drilling and installing new posts and chains in some areas to better delineate the route, and adding dry stone masonry to improve footing.

The closure is necessary due to helicopter activity in the area, movement of materials and equipment, and for visitor and work crew safety while work is in progress on the narrow route.

Alternate hikes with similar views are available on the Observation Point and East Rim trails.

For more information, go to: www.nps.gov/zion.