Are you looking for advanced hikes? Here are two Advanced Hikes – Waterhole Canyon in Arizona and Angels Landing in Utah.
Waterhole Canyon Hike – Get There
Leaving from Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Waterhole Canyon Hike parking is about 308 miles North. Parking is on the east side of the road. There is an entrance between the fencing.
Waterhole Canyon Hike
Many people will visit Antelope Canyon which is nearby. It can get very busy and large crowds. We like to visit Waterhole Canyon which is also a slot canyon with a lot fewer people. You can choose your route. You can go up and back or down and back. Be very mindful of the weather. You do not want to be in the canyon during a flash flood. There have been a few cars crashed in the canyon, therefore you might have to craw over a car to keep hiking. We recommend wearing leather gloves.
Angels Landing Hike – Get There
From the Waterhole Canyon trailhead to Angels Landing trailhead is about 124 miles to the West. On your way there feel free to visit the Town Page and Lake Powell. You get to cross over Glen Canyon Dam too. There is a visitor center at the Dam and restrooms.
Angels Landing Hike
Angels Landing is located in Zion’s National Park. It is about 5 miles each away. It is an uphill with a reported 1,488 foot again and back hike. The trail starts simple and about 2 miles of it is paved. Then it gets exciting. Depending on your skill level and your mental ability with heights you could continue. Bring your gloves for the metal chains on the steep areas. If the trail is busy then you will find yourself waiting for the less experienced (aka scared) hikers that are taking their time to move their feet. I will admit that I did not complete the hike; I stopped at the picnic area right before the last part that had sheer drops on both sides. I could handle one side of a sheer drop off as long as I had a mountain for me to hold on to on the other side.
For more information Zion’s National Park http://www.zionnational-park.com/zion-angels-landing-trail.htm
North Rim of Grand Canyon Camping
After Angels Landing hike, we went camping on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. We had great clear weather for both hikes. When we woke up in the morning and looked outside our tent, we saw snow on our flip flops. We were not expecting snow. However, we were prepared for snow or cold weather if we were to run into it. Being prepared is part of our 7 Tips for Choosing a Day Hike. We decided it was time to head back down into the Phoenix valley and warm up.
Two Advanced Hikes – Waterhole Canyon and Angels Landing
Have you hiker either Waterhole Canyon or Angels Landing?
Did you like one better? We visit Utah and Arizona frequently
Waterhole Canyon was less scary for me. 🙂
I’m dying to visit the Grand Canyon outside of being a grumpy teen!
You will enjoy the Grand Canyon.
Very pretty pictures in your post-great job!
Thank you
Such awesome places! I would LOVE to check out that Waterhole Canyon. Why in the world did they leave the car in there? Can’t they lift it out and clear the canyon?
I did Angels Landing a couple of summers ago! I LOVED it so much…Zion is absolutely stunning! Can’t wait to go back! 🙂 So much fun to read your post and see the photos! 🙂
Awesome that you hiked Angels landing. Did you go all the way to the top?
Utah is a place I have not yet visited! Looks absolutely beautiful.
There are many hikes in Utah.
This looks like an amazingly beautiful place to hike! I wish we had something like this closer to me, but Kansas is sadly very flat and very boring.
I hear Kansas is flat. 🙂
What an awesome adventure! I love it!
🙂
I’m not a big fan of camping, but my husband and kids are. What a great place to camp. The Grand Canyon is just amazing.
Yes, the Grand Canyon has many wonderful spots to view.
These hikes look amazing. Definitely want to check them out the next time I visit the area. And I can’t get over that car…while a mystery is intriguing I may do some researching to learn its story.
There are others in the canyon too. I trust you would find interesting stories behind them.
Looks like you had a great time!
We did. Thank you
Waking up to the snow is definitely adventurous. I’m just not sure I can carry enough clothes to keep me warm in that weather. I’m always cold. Great pictures though.
Ya, we decided to leave when it snowed.
I’m dying to do Angel’s Landing – but also scared silly. I was there and was prepared to do it a few years ago, but the trails were too icy. I don’t know if I’ll get my nerve up again!!!
If the trail was icy on Angel’s Landing – I too would not have hiked it.
Absolutely gorgeous! Sign me up for both!!
Yay!
Antelope Canyon has always been on our bucket list & I wasn’t aware of these hikes until I read your post! Thank you for this informative post along with such great pictures. I think I’ll be doing these hikes now!
Wonderful, glas to share a few new hikes with you.
Wow, what a beautiful experience you had. I hope to make it there one day!
We were very lucky with weather for the 2 hikes.
I’ve never climbed over crashed cars before! I love the Angels Landing hike in Zions. One of my favorites. Don’t like camping in the snow so much. 🙂
We like to avoid snow camping too.
Looks a good hike. I want to see that lagoon in Grand Canyon and do this!
The Grand Canyon has many great hikes!
Oh wow, I love to hike but full out camping is not what I’d do. I’m more of a glamper, ha! I’ve always wanted to hike these areas though
Glamping is fun too!!!
How crazy that you have to climb over the car! The rock formations are just beautiful!
Nature creates amazing structures.