Angels Landing is one of Zion National Park’s most dangerous hikes, and you should treat it that way. The trail’s narrow ridges, steep drop-offs, and crowded chains section have contributed to 19 confirmed deaths, mostly from falls, though some were medical emergencies. A permit system now helps reduce congestion, but weather, footing, and your own comfort with heights still matter. If you’re planning the hike, you’ll want the key safety details ahead.
How Dangerous Is Angels Landing?
Angels Landing is extremely dangerous, and you should treat it as a serious exposure hike rather than a casual trail. You face a narrow ridge with 1,500-foot cliffs on both sides, so every step demands attention. Use hiking safety habits from the start: keep three points of contact on chains, move deliberately, and don’t rush for anyone. Your risk assessment should include your fitness, balance, fear of heights, and comfort with exposed terrain before you commit. Most serious incidents happen in steep, narrow sections where a slip can become a fall in seconds. Recent permit rules may have reduced crowding, but they haven’t made the route safe. If you feel unsure, turn back without apology; choosing your own limits is freedom, not failure. Stay alert, respect the terrain, and make decisions that protect your body and your future.
How Many People Have Died on Angels Landing?
As of 2026, you should know that 19 people have died on Angels Landing, with 17 deaths linked to falls and 2 to health-related incidents. Most fatalities happen in the trail’s narrow, exposed sections, where one misstep can have deadly consequences. If you hike it, treat the route with extreme caution and respect the risks at every step.
Confirmed Death Toll
By 2026, at least 19 people have died on the Angels Landing trail, including 17 fall-related deaths and 2 from health emergencies. You should read this confirmed death toll as a serious warning, not a reason to fear nature itself. The fatality trends show a long history: 12 deaths were reported from 1908 to 2016, then 7 more since 2016. From 2017 to 2021, deaths averaged about one per year, though no falling deaths were reported from 2022 to 2025, likely after new safety measures and the permit system. You still face exposed ledges, steep drop-offs, and a demanding climb, so prepare carefully, check weather, and choose routes that protect your freedom to move safely.
Why Fatalities Occur
Those confirmed deaths point to a clear pattern: people usually die on Angels Landing because the trail’s exposed sections leave little margin for error. You face steep drop-offs, narrow ledges, and crowded choke points where one misstep can turn fatal. Most deaths came from falls, while a few involved health issues. Hiker behavior matters too: rushing, overconfidence, distraction, and ignoring traction or turn-back limits raise your risk. Environmental factors also play a role; wind, heat, slick rock, and congestion can make safe footing harder. Fatalities have clustered in busy seasons, which shows how crowding compounds danger. Since the permit system began, falling deaths have dropped, but the terrain hasn’t changed. If you go, move deliberately, stay aware, and protect your freedom by choosing caution.
What Makes the Chains Section So Risky?
The chains section is the most dangerous part of Angels Landing because you’re crossing a narrow ridge with steep drop-offs on both sides. You’re exposed to cliffs that plunge about 1,500 feet, so one slip can turn serious fast. You need both hands on the chains, but hiker congestion can force you to pass others in tight spaces, raising the chance of a mistake. Weather impact matters too: wind can unbalance you, and rain can make the rock slick and unforgiving. Move slowly, keep your footing deliberate, and don’t rush for anyone else. Since the permit system started in 2022, fatalities have dropped, showing that fewer people on the ridge can improve safety. If you want the freedom of reaching the summit, you also need the discipline to respect this section’s limits and turn back when conditions feel unsafe.
Which Angels Landing Incidents Got the Most Attention?
You’ll find that the most attention-grabbing Angels Landing incidents often involve fatal falls, like the widely reported May 1987 death of an unnamed woman who fell about 250 feet. You should also note high-profile cases such as Kristoffer Jones’s 2004 fall during a dare, which drew concern because reckless choices can turn deadly fast. More recent deaths, including the 2024 discovery below Scout Lookout and Gilberto Ramos’s 2026 death, kept safety worries in the spotlight and reminded you that the trail’s risks haven’t gone away.
Notable Fatal Falls
Several Angels Landing fatalities have drawn outsized attention because they highlighted how quickly a mistake can become deadly on the trail’s exposed sections. If you hike here, treat hiker safety and fall prevention as nonnegotiable. In May 1987, an unnamed woman fell about 250 feet, and the case became the trail’s most widely reported death. In April 1989, Jeffery Robert Dwyer fell 150 feet in an accidental plunge that showed how narrow ledges leave little margin. In February 2018, a 13-year-old girl slipped and fell hundreds of feet, reminding you that age doesn’t cancel risk. Savannah McTague’s 2019 death during high winds led to more warning signs. On April 17, 2026, Gilberto Ramos fell near Big Bend, the first death since permits began in 2022.
High-Profile Rescue Cases
High-profile Angels Landing rescue cases have often gotten as much attention as the fatalities, because they show how fast a slip can turn into a life-or-death emergency. If you hike here, remember that heroic rescues can happen in seconds, but they don’t erase the risk. In 2010, a police officer’s save of a girl drew a media spotlight on the trail’s exposure. A 2013 slip left a 23-year-old hiker perched on a ledge, and that near miss warned you how little margin exists. In 2018, a 13-year-old’s fall pushed safety concerns even higher. Even the 2015 Keyhole Canyon flood shaped how you see Zion’s hazards, and later scrutiny of safety protocols kept the caution alive.
Media-Worthy Recent Incidents
Recent Angels Landing incidents have kept drawing national attention because they underline how quickly a crowded trail can turn deadly. You saw that in April 2026, when 68-year-old Gilberto Ramos of Laredo, Texas, fell and became the first fatality since the 2022 permit system began. Rangers reported it at 2 p.m. and launched a multi-agency emergency response; the trail reopened the next day after maintenance. You also may remember Justin Bingham’s October 2024 fall and a 13-year-old girl’s death in February 2018. Since the trail opened, at least 18 confirmed fatalities have occurred, mostly during congested sections. These incidents kept the spotlight on hiker safety and showed why the permit system matters: it’s meant to manage crowds, reduce risk, and help you move through the trail more freely and carefully.
How the Permit System Changed the Hike
Since 2022, Angels Landing has required permits to help control crowding on its narrow, exposed trail and to make the hike safer. You now need one to enter, and that change brings clear permit benefits: fewer people on the route, more room to move, and better safety improvements for everyone on the climb. The park uses two lotteries, so you can plan ahead or try for a last-minute spot. The Seasonal Lottery lets you apply up to three months early, while the Day-before Lottery serves hikers who decide late. You pay a $6 application fee for up to six hikers, plus $3 for each selected person. Those limits help reduce the daily average of more than 1,200 hikers, making your experience more manageable. Since the permit system began, the average yearly fatality rate has declined, and no falling deaths were reported from 2022 to 2025.
What Makes Angels Landing Safe or Unsafe?
With the permit system now limiting crowding, Angels Landing can feel more manageable, but the route is still risky. You face a narrow ridge with steep drop-offs on both sides, so every step demands focus and caution, especially in exposed sections. Chains and carved steps help, yet they don’t erase the danger. Nineteen confirmed deaths, mostly from falls, show how serious the terrain is. Your hiker preparation matters: wear solid footwear, stay alert, and respect your limits. Weather awareness is just as important, because conditions can shift fast and turn a difficult climb into a hazardous one. Even experienced hikers can lose traction or judgment when wind, rain, or ice show up. Going early can help you avoid bottlenecks and keep your movement steady. When you move carefully and stay present, you give yourself the best chance to enjoy the route without surrendering to unnecessary risk.
How to Hike Angels Landing More Safely
To hike Angels Landing more safely, you need to stay deliberate from start to finish. Wear proper safety gear, and keep three points of contact on the chains whenever the route gets exposed. Don’t pass other hikers in narrow sections; trail etiquette matters because crowding can turn a hard climb into a dangerous one. Start at dawn if you can, when the trail is quieter and you’re less likely to face congestion in steep, exposed spots. Check the weather before you go, and skip the hike if wind, rain, or ice could make the rock slick. Respect the permit system; limiting traffic has helped reduce fatalities and gives you more room to move with control. Most importantly, trust your judgment. If the exposure feels too intense, your legs feel unstable, or conditions worsen, turning back isn’t failure. It’s freedom through self-protection.
Getting to Angels Landing and What to Know Before You Go
Angels Landing is in Zion National Park, Utah, and getting there takes a little planning. You usually reach the trailhead from Springdale, where seasonal shuttles can handle trail access when personal vehicles can’t. Check parking options early, because access is often restricted during busy periods. You’ll need a permit to continue past Scout Lookout and onto the chains, so secure that before you go.
| What to Know | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| 8.7 km round trip | It’s a long, demanding hike |
| 454 m gain | You’ll climb hard before the ridge |
| Hogsback ridge | Narrow edges and 1,500-foot drops |
Start early to dodge bottlenecks. Wear sturdy shoes, bring water, and don’t hike in rain, wind, or ice. The trail’s carved steps and chains help, but you still need three points of contact. Liberation means moving with awareness, not rushing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Have Died on Angels Landing Hike?
19 people have died on Angels Landing. You should treat that trail seriously: hiking safety matters, and tragic accidents have happened from falls and health issues, so plan carefully, stay alert, and respect conditions.
What Is the Most Common Cause of Death for Hikers?
Slips and falls are the most common cause of death for hikers. You can reduce danger through hiking safety and risk assessment, especially on exposed trails. Watch weather, footing, and your limits before you continue.
How Safe Is Angels Landing Hike?
Angels Landing isn’t very safe; it’s exhilarating, but you’re exposed on narrow ledges. Use hiking precautions, respect trail safety, keep three points of contact, start early, and turn back if weather or nerves worsen.
Has Anyone Fallen off Mcafee Knob?
Yes, people have fallen from McAfee Knob, and some crashes have been fatal. You should treat hiking safety seriously, stay back from the edge, and avoid risky photos so you can enjoy the view freely.
Conclusion
Angels Landing is unforgettable, but it demands your full attention. Since the permit system began, the trail has become less crowded, helping reduce risk on the narrowest stretches. Still, the chains section, steep drop-offs, and slick rock can turn a normal hike into a serious emergency fast. If you go, stay alert, wear proper shoes, and turn back if conditions feel wrong. At Angels Landing, caution isn’t optional—it’s what keeps you safe.