Erin Alberty | The Salt Lake Tribune Angels Landing offers sweeping views of Zion Canyon.

Al Hartmann | Tribune file photo Hikers carefully make their way up a section of the Angels Landing Trail in Zion National Park in March 2009. The trail offers one of the premier hikes in the park, taking visitors along a steep rock spine that climbs to a magnificent view of the Virgin River and Zion Canyon below. But the hike is not for those who fear heights. An anchor chain is embedded in the rock in steep places along the trail for hikers to grab onto for safety.

Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Hiker looks into the valley floor of Zion Canyon from the top of Angel's Landing Trail in Zion National Park.

Erin Alberty | The Salt Lake Tribune Hikers relax on Angels Landing.

Erin Alberty | The Salt Lake Tribune Hikers approach the knife-edge ridge that leads to Angels Landing.

Erin Alberty | The Salt Lake Tribune From Angels Landing, hikers can view sharp canyon walls that were carved over millennia by the Virgin River.

Erin Alberty | The Salt Lake Tribune Hikers climb Walter's Wiggles, a series of switchbacks ascending out of Refrigerator Canyon en route to Angels Landing.

In this May 28, 2016 photo, provided by Zion National Park people line up at Angels Landing in Zion National Park, Utah. The sweeping red-rock vistas at Zion National Park are increasingly filled with a bumper crop of visitors, and now park managers are weighing an unusual step to stem the tide: : Requiring tourists to make RSVPs to get in. (Zion National Park via AP)

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Directions • We're kicking off the hiking season with the Grand Poobah of southern Utah trails: Angels Landing in Zion National Park.

DON'T FALL. Multiple people have died on this popular hike. Wear sturdy hiking shoes, know your limits and be patient amidst the crowds of visitors who want to see this special place. For help deciding whether to hike this famed but feared route, check out our handy tip sheet: 8 Clues That You Should NOT Hike Angels Landing.

Directions • Start at The Grotto bus stop in Zion Canyon. Follow the trail north and cross the bridge. For the first 1.75 miles, you will on the West Rim Trail. The trail is relatively level for the next 1/3 mile as it heads northeast and bends north. The climb begins with the first switchback. The next stretch is sunny and hot. But about 1.1 miles from the trailhead, you will enjoy the shady, cool reprieve of Refrigerator Canyon. The trail rises steadily north to a series of switchbacks at about 1.5 miles. Just ahead is Walter's Wiggles, an amazing sequence of steep, short switchbacks.

At 1.75 miles, the trail straightens and levels a bit as it heads south. There are some buildings and an open, gravelly area. This is where you branch off the main West Rim Trail to go south to Angel's Landing. If you are uncomfortable with heights, definitely stop here. The last half mile takes you over a knife-edge ridge with steep drop-offs on either side. There are steep climbs, occasional scrambling, and it's often crowded, which poses its own dangers as you shinny around your fellow visitors to reach the chain railings nailed to the rock. The narrow ridge broadens at Angels Landing itself, giving ample room to sit in peace and enjoy a magnificent panorama of Zion Canyon.

Getting there • Angels Landing is in Zion National Park. The gate is northeast of Springdale on State Road 9. Admission is $12 per person or $25 per car. Take the free Zion Canyon Shuttle from the Visitors Center to The Grotto bus stop. From November to March you can drive private vehicles in Zion Canyon, but the shuttle also is available and drops you off where you need to be. The trail begins on the north side of the road.