Hikes to Angels Landing and the Narrows riverbed

• great view from Angels Landing after a hair-raising climb
• River walking in the Narrows

Unfortunately, we didn't get to sleep early yesterday. Generators, knocking in herring, other noise and the great heat prevent sleep until midnight. Nevertheless we get up at 6 o'clock. After all, we want to use the cool morning air and not make the steep climb to Angels Landing even more difficult.

From the Visitors Center we take the obligatory shuttle service into the initially wide valley of the Zion Canyon. We got off at the Grotto stop and set off. The view from below up to Angels Landing is already impressive, how could it be from above. The popular hiking trail begins with easy, well-developed inclines and then meanders through the rock in serpentines. Wet for the first time, we come to the dreaded final ascent. In the last 10 years 6 people have died here. It quickly becomes clear to us why. The path, which has now degenerated into a climbing path, now drops several hundred meters on both sides and is not for people with a fear of heights. Some reckless people are still in sandals or other unsuitable footwear. The installed chains give us a secure hold so that we can overcome this obstacle better than expected. After only one hour and ten minutes, 4.35 kilometers ascent with 450 m difference in altitude, we arrive at the summit. We enjoy the view over the magnificent valley. After some souvenir photos and snacks, we go downstairs. The descent proves to be just as big a problem as the ascent, primarily because of the now heavy oncoming traffic. As we descend, we see an owl sitting in a tree not far from the path. After less than 2 1/4 hours we are back at the starting point.

There we board the next shuttle and drive to the end of Parkstrasse. There we hike the 1.5 kilometer stretch along the river up the valley. We encounter numerous squirrels, chipmunks and even two male mule deer. When the path ends, the Narrows of the Virgin River begin. The path is now the creek bed, which leads ever narrower between impressive rock walls. In sections we stand in the water up to just under our hips. So we hike up the river for over 2 hours. In the beginning this resembles a real migration of peoples in this weather, the further up we get, the lonelier it becomes. After more than 6 hours of hiking, we come back to the shuttle stop. We drive to the Visitors Center, where we get into our car and stay at the Zion Park Motel for one night. Soon after, we're going to have a gigantic burger, but we've earned it today!