Angels Landing: a solo Halloween on the West Rim
The chains, the climb beyond the ridge, and a night under the stars: my October 2025 solo backpacking trip in Zion.
Halloween 2025 was my first time hiking Angels Landing. I went solo, with a backpacking trip on the West Rim ahead of me. The intensity, exposure, and incredible viewpoint are what keep bringing me back. That first visit combined the nerves of the ridge with something quieter: a night above Zion Canyon.
Halloween, a backpack, and a climb ahead
I started at the trailhead for Angels Landing, climbed to the top, then continued up the West Rim to camp. I came down the following day. Angels Landing was part of a longer trip, and the climb into the high country still lay ahead after I returned from the ridge.
The switchbacks to Scout Lookout
The elevation gain to Scout Lookout is steep. Seeing Walter’s Wiggles for the first time was rough: so many switchbacks stacked into the climb. The trail itself is beautiful, and the views into Zion Canyon make the effort feel worthwhile. Even before the exposed ridge, there is plenty here to stop and look at.
Chains, exposure, and the summit
The chains were reassuring whenever I felt worried, but the exposure was still hair-raising in places. At the top, two thoughts arrived together: what an incredible view, and please get me back to solid hiking ground. I enjoyed the intensity without feeling completely comfortable with it. That combination is part of what makes the hike so memorable to me.
Beyond Angels Landing
My favorite stretch came after Angels Landing, once I climbed toward the plateau and rim. The views up there were absolutely incredible. It is a substantial amount of uphill hiking from the Angels Landing trailhead, so reaching the ridge does not mean the work is finished when the plan is to camp on the West Rim.
A night on the West Rim
Sunset at the campsite and watching the stars move across the night sky are two moments that stay with me most. After the climb and the exposed sections, I had time to watch something slow and quiet. The view from camp was part of the reward for continuing beyond Angels Landing. I slept on the rim, then woke, packed up, and headed down the next day.
What I carried
I brought my Nikon D810 and an Insta360 attached to my backpack, alongside my overnight camping equipment. My setup included a one-person tent, sleeping bag and pad, a Jetboil and fuel, tea, rehydrated meals, utensils, water, a water filter, a 2-liter CamelBak, a first-aid kit, a battery pack, electrolyte tablets and gummies, and a change of clothes. This is my personal packing list; the reservoir size is not a recommendation for how much water the trip requires.
Coming down the canyon walls
The descent felt steep and quick. There was still exposure in places where the trail is carved into the canyon walls, so coming down did not mean I could stop paying attention. My main advice from this trip is to recognize how much climbing there is to reach the rim from below. The views are beautiful and worth the effort, but the overnight route asks more of you than the Angels Landing climb alone.
My recorded first day
The October 31, 2025 recording covers approximately 8.01 recorded miles with an estimated 4,590 feet of elevation gain. Its elapsed span is 7 hours 28 minutes, including stops and time between recording segments. It follows the first day into the high country; it does not include my return the next day. These are my recorded activity totals, not the standard Angels Landing route statistics.
Planning your own visit
I remember permit checks at Scout Lookout during my visits. A permit is required for the chains section from Scout Lookout to Angels Landing, and overnight camping requires separate wilderness planning and authorization. Check current National Park Service requirements, campsite availability, trail conditions, and water-source information before setting out. The chains do not remove the exposure, and Scout Lookout is an option if you decide not to continue onto the ridge.