Zion National Park is piloting a permit program for hikers traveling the half-mile section of the Angels Landing trail that contains chains. According to Recreation.gov, a permit is required for anyone hiking from Scout Lookout to the summit at any time of day or year.
The permit system utilizes two lottery processes: a Seasonal Lottery and a Day-before Lottery. For the fall season, which spans from September 1 through November 30, permit holders may start their hike from the Grotto, also known as Shuttle Stop #6, during specific time slots: before 9 a.m., between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m., or after 12 p.m.
Applicants can list up to seven preferred days and times for the Seasonal Lottery, which uses a ranked-choice system. The Day-before Lottery is available from 12:01 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. the day before a desired hike, with results typically notified by 4:00 p.m. Applications allow for up to six people per group, and a $6 non-refundable application fee is required. If a permit is issued, an additional $3 per person fee is automatically charged to cover ranger services and permit checking.
The park conducts monitoring throughout the pilot program to evaluate effectiveness and may make adjustments to the number of permits issued. While the park issues approximately 200,000 permits annually, the daily allocation varies from a few hundred to over 800 permits based on factors like daylight, parking capacity, shuttle hours, and trail conditions.
Permit holders are advised to bring a printed or digital screenshot of their permit due to poor cellular and data connectivity within the park. Additionally, trail maintenance was scheduled for October 5-8, 2026, during which no permits were to be issued.
