I would do something like this:
.controller("PageCtrl", function($scope, $state) { $scope.$on("$stateChangeStart""$stateChangeSuccess", function updatePage() { $scope.page = $state.params.slug; }); }); I'd be curious if you find a better way - there may be some way to just watch the value of the state slug, but this is clean and clearly articulates what it is that you're watching for.