Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
[Full disclosure: I typed the story and context, ChatGPT filled in the gaps. I have proofread for accuracy and double-check for hallucinations and inaccuraries).]
Lady Mountain is not your average Zion National Park hike.
This was my second time climbing Lady Mountain, and this time I recorded the entire adventure so you can experience this incredible—and extremely exposed—historic route for yourself.
Completed in 1924, the original Lady Mountain Trail was one of the earliest constructed routes from the floor of Zion Canyon to the rim. The route climbed approximately 2,650 vertical feet in only 1.9 miles and once included nearly 2,000 feet of cable, metal ladders, and roughly 1,400 steps carved directly into the sandstone. The National Park Service eventually discontinued maintenance in the 1960s, and most of the cables, ladders, and other hardware were removed.
What remains today is an unmaintained historic climbing route above the Zion Lodge area—and it should not be mistaken for a conventional hiking trail.
Lady Mountain is not appropriate for beginners or anyone uncomfortable with extreme exposure. The route involves relentless elevation gain, difficult route-finding, exposed scrambling, steep climbs and downclimbs, and numerous places where a fall could have severe consequences. Some parties may choose to carry climbing equipment or a rope for protection, handlines, or assistance on the descent, but carrying equipment is no substitute for the experience required to use it safely.
Do not assume that a GPS track will keep you on course. The route crosses cliff bands, ledges, cracks, gullies, and steep sandstone where GPS accuracy can be unreliable. Navigation and route-finding must be excellent, and turning around can become considerably more difficult after committing to certain portions of the climb.
The physical challenge is also significant. Lady Mountain gains approximately 2,650 feet over a remarkably short distance. It is relentlessly steep and delivers a serious workout for your legs—especially your quads during the descent. If Angels Landing feels difficult, Lady Mountain is substantially harder, less obvious, more exposed, and far less forgiving.
Summer heat can quickly drain your energy and water supply. Start very early, avoid the midday heat, carry more water than you expect to need, research current conditions, and honestly evaluate whether everyone in your group has the necessary fitness, climbing ability, navigation experience, and tolerance for exposure.
This video is intended to document my personal experience—not to serve as a complete route guide or a guarantee that the route is safe or accessible. Conditions, closures, rock stability, and park regulations can change. Check current Zion National Park information before attempting any off-trail objective.
As with my other hiking and canyoneering videos, I show the beginning, middle, and end of the adventure—not only a highlight reel of the best moments set to energetic music. My goal is to let you experience the progression of the route, understand how demanding it really is, and see the details and challenges that often get left out.
Please like, subscribe, and leave a comment if you enjoyed the video. Have you climbed Lady Mountain—or would you ever attempt it?
Thanks for watching!
#LadyMountain #ZionNationalPark #ZionHiking #UtahHiking #TheDiabeticHiker
[Full disclosure: I typed the story and context, ChatGPT filled in the gaps. I have proofread for accuracy and double-check for hallucinations and inaccuraries).]
Lady Mountain is not your average Zion National Park hike.
This was my second time climbing Lady Mountain, and this time I recorded the entire adventure so you can experience this incredible—and extremely exposed—historic route for yourself.
Completed in 1924, the original Lady Mountain Trail was one of the earliest constructed routes from the floor of Zion Canyon to the rim. The route climbed approximately 2,650 vertical feet in only 1.9 miles and once included nearly 2,000 feet of cable, metal ladders, and roughly 1,400 steps carved directly into the sandstone. The National Park Service eventually discontinued maintenance in the 1960s, and most of the cables, ladders, and other hardware were removed.
What remains today is an unmaintained historic climbing route above the Zion Lodge area—and it should not be mistaken for a conventional hiking trail.
Lady Mountain is not appropriate for beginners or anyone uncomfortable with extreme exposure. The route involves relentless elevation gain, difficult route-finding, exposed scrambling, steep climbs and downclimbs, and numerous places where a fall could have severe consequences. Some parties may choose to carry climbing equipment or a rope for protection, handlines, or assistance on the descent, but carrying equipment is no substitute for the experience required to use it safely.
Do not assume that a GPS track will keep you on course. The route crosses cliff bands, ledges, cracks, gullies, and steep sandstone where GPS accuracy can be unreliable. Navigation and route-finding must be excellent, and turning around can become considerably more difficult after committing to certain portions of the climb.
The physical challenge is also significant. Lady Mountain gains approximately 2,650 feet over a remarkably short distance. It is relentlessly steep and delivers a serious workout for your legs—especially your quads during the descent. If Angels Landing feels difficult, Lady Mountain is substantially harder, less obvious, more exposed, and far less forgiving.
Summer heat can quickly drain your energy and water supply. Start very early, avoid the midday heat, carry more water than you expect to need, research current conditions, and honestly evaluate whether everyone in your group has the necessary fitness, climbing ability, navigation experience, and tolerance for exposure.
This video is intended to document my personal experience—not to serve as a complete route guide or a guarantee that the route is safe or accessible. Conditions, closures, rock stability, and park regulations can change. Check current Zion National Park information before attempting any off-trail objective.
As with my other hiking and canyoneering videos, I show the beginning, middle, and end of the adventure—not only a highlight reel of the best moments set to energetic music. My goal is to let you experience the progression of the route, understand how demanding it really is, and see the details and challenges that often get left out.
Please like, subscribe, and leave a comment if you enjoyed the video. Have you climbed Lady Mountain—or would you ever attempt it?
Thanks for watching!
#LadyMountain #ZionNationalPark #ZionHiking #UtahHiking #TheDiabeticHiker
