Date: November 16, 2016
Contact: John Marciano
Contact: Aly Baltrus
SPRINGDALE, UT – Angels Landing Trail will be closed Thursday November 17, 2016 beginning at 12:00 p.m. at the West Rim Trailhead near the Grotto shuttle stop. Through hikers on the West Rim Trail will be allowed to pass by Scouts Lookout, but not go out to Angels Landing. The Kayenta Trail will remain open. The Angels Landing closure is needed while park rangers clean up vandalism along the trail. Rangers will need to scrub off graffiti, remove cairns along the chained sections of the trails, and clean up litter – water bottles, food wrappers, and other trash left by hikers that have blown over the edges of the cliffs and caught on lower ledges.
Hikers already on the trail will have time to exit before the closure. The trail will reopen the following morning. Alternate suggested trail hikes during this closure are to Hidden Canyon or Echo Canyon.
Due to the nature of the trail, its narrow working area and 1000-foot drop offs, this task requires a multi-divisional team from the park including rappelling operations from the cliffs, and providing security for visitors from possible falling debris while cleaning is performed. Angels Landing is an incredibly popular and busy trail for park goers. “It is our hope that hikers understand and work to improve their trail ethics in order to minimize closures like this – pack out your trash, don’t create graffiti and don’t build rock cairns,” remarks Therese Picard, Canyon District Ranger. “It is everyone’s responsibility to care for this beautiful and extraordinary park now and into the future” adds Jeff Bradybaugh, Superintendent, Zion National Park.
