OUT-THERE WALKS
Walking is always worthwhile, but there are places in the world where the rewords of going the extra mile on foot ore incalculable for views, wildlife and sheer exhilaration
Lionesses of the Mfuwe pride with their cubs, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
COMPILED BY RORY GOULDING WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM: KERRY CHRISTIANI, MARK JOHANSON, EMILY MATCHAR, PAUL BLOOMFIELD, CAROLYN MCCARTHY PHOTOGRAPH: PHILIP LEE HARVEY/LONELY PLANET
ANGELS LANDING, UTAH, USA
5 miles
Zion National Park is filled with loftily named scenery, none more fitting than Angels Landing: a fin of blushing rock rising sharply above a curve in the Virgin River. It’s not the highest nor the longest trek in the park, but it is the most awesome. The path zigzags up a cliff-face in a section known as Walter’s Wiggles. Many hikers turn back when they see the Hog’s Back, with its breathtakingly steep incline, uneven steps and sheer drop-offs. The cable-secured trail is hacked into solid rock, with a dizzying void on either side. The 1,765-metre summit looks out at Zion’s other landmarks, including Cathedral Mountain and the Great White Throne. To reach this point is devilishly difficult, but the view you get as a reward is nothing short of heavenly, nps.gov/zion