The infamous Angels Landing hike in Zion National Park is widely described as one of the most peril hikes in the United States, and if you look at the number of deaths that have occurred there, it’s easy to see why.
How many people died in Angels Landing? In 2024, there were 18 confirmed deaths during the Angels Landing hike, and some sources estimate this number at over 20 deaths. Most of them were steep cliffs.
Don’t get me wrong, Angel’s Landing is an incredible hike and one of my absolute favorites. It’s not as bad as some people claim, but it’s still a hike that should be taken seriously, and not everyone should try it.
The statistics and the list of deaths in this article are the most complete of their kind available on the Internet at the time of writing (2024), although some details may still be incomplete.
Again, Angels Landing is a wonderful hike, and I don’t want to dissuade you from it if you are able to do so. The reason I’m sharing this information is simply to motivate you to be as safe as possible on the trail and to help you make an informed decision about whether it’s right for you.
What Is Angels Landing?
Angels Landing is an epic and scary trail that takes you to the side of a steep sandstone mountain, with chains that you can grab for extra security, and a breathtaking view of Zion National Park that surrounds you from all sides.
Sometimes the path is only a few meters wide and you have to clamp the mountainside and hold on to the metal chains, which may be the only thing that keeps you from falling down.
Before I get to the list of Angel’s Landing fatalities and my safety tips, I have also written a complete guide for each stage of the hike and how to proceed.
It contains a lot of tips, information and photos about hiking. Be sure to read it if you want to visit Angels Landing! You can check this at the following link.
How Many People Died In Angels Landing?
There was a little confusion about how many people died when the angels landed in Zion, so here seems to be the most accurate figure.
First, there were 12 deaths in Angels Landing from 1908 to 2016. This is what emerges from the definitive book, Deaths And Rescues In Zion National Park (2nd edition), written by Zion veteran Dave Nally and Bo Beck, senior search and rescue member in Zion for 20 years.
That is, if you add the last 6 deaths that have occurred on the trail since 2016, you will get a total of 18 confirmed deaths on the Angels Landing hike as of 2024. Of these, 16 deaths were due to the fall, while 2 were apparently related to health.
One thing is for sure: Angels Landing is one of the numerically deadliest hikes in the U.S., and more than a few people have died while hiking.
List of the dead of Angels Landing (2024)
This list of Angel’s Landing fatalities is the most complete list of its kind available on the Internet at the time of writing (2024), although some details may still be incomplete.
How Did They Fall?
These are always the big questions that come to mind when I hear about tragic accidents like these: “How did you fall? What’s happened? How can I prevent this from happening to me or my friends?”
Each matter is different and unfortunate, but it seems that at least some of these deaths were clearly preventable. Children should not do this hike unattended, and of course they can’t have fun on the edge of a 1,500-foot cliff.
These Angels Landing stories are always tragic, but delving into details gives you a clearer perspective on the risk of an average hiker, and it shows that such accidents are less likely if you are careful.
The last time we did this hike in 2021, we saw a couple of young men foolishly walking to the edge of a steep 1,500-foot cliff and crawling halfway to the side to take “cliffhanger” photos. Not only did they swing their feet over the edge, they actually crawled over it. Crazy! I consider myself a little addicted to adrenaline, but I was sure that we would witness her death.
Again, I don’t want to imply that everyone who died on the hike to Angel’s Landing was careless or silly. I’m not sure if this is the matter, but it seems that at least some of them were.
If you are curious to know more about these deaths and other close calls, you should read Dave Nally’s book Deaths and Rescue Operations in Zion National Park, which explains part of the history of these types of incidents.
Is The Landing Of Angels peril Or Safe?
I still think that the Angels Landing hike is very safe and not too peril if you take it seriously.
Just checking a list of deaths doesn’t really tell the whole story. For starters, more than 300,000 people have successfully completed this hike in 2019. I did it myself twice and I would like to do it again.
If we assume that there is 1 death on the trail every year, out of a total of 300,000 hikers, this essentially means that there is an annual mortality rate of 0.0003%. However, if you are a cautious hiker and you are not mistaken, then realistically your probability of injury is probably pretty close to zero.
It may not be the most politically correct way to put it, but I’m sure the National Park Service had similar thoughts, and that’s probably why the trail has remained open and relatively unchanged all these years.
Is Angels Landing the most peril hike in the USA? No, not even close. There are much more difficult, steeper and more technical hikes in the USA that are more likely to kill you, but they are just not so well known.
Angels Landing is not even the most peril hike in US national parks. Popular hikes like Half Dome in Yosemite are more difficult and peril. If you have done the half-dome hike, it is relatively easy in comparison.
For me personally, I have to say that I didn’t find Angels Landing too scary at all, after doing some very sketchy hikes around the world where there are no chains to hold. I expected that the landing of the angels would be much worse than it is.
It may still be among the most peril hikes in the United States in terms of the number of deaths, but that would be partly due to its popularity. Everyone has this hike on their bucket list. I would not recommend it to young children, incapable elderly people or someone who is not sure of his feet and is comfortable with heights.
Also, I would not try to land angels if there is a lot of wind, rain, snow or ice. You want a decent time for this, so that the rocks do not become slippery.
For safety reasons, always make sure that you have at least one hand holding the metal chain.
This is especially important if you pass other hikers going in the opposite direction, as you will be tempted to let go of the chain to get around it.
You don’t want a passing hiker to trip, bump or fall into you if you don’t hold the chain. It could be fatal. Whatever happens, always put safety first.
If you are still not sure about the landing of the angels, you can hike to the viewpoint instead. This is another hike in Zion with breathtaking views of the entire park and does not pose any security risks or problems associated with this hike.
Alternatively, it is also possible to book a guided Angels Landing hike at a travel agency. Prices are high, but a permit and a guide are included, and they can help you navigate the entire hike safely.
