Angels Landing Proposed Day Use Permit and Lava Point Campground Fee

Plan your visit to Zion

This webpage has information about a public comment period Zion National Park hosted in 2021. If you want to get a permit to hike to Angels Landing or make a campground reservation, check our Permits & Reservations webpage.

 

Proposed Lava Point Campground and Angels Landing Day-use Permit Fees

The National Park Service (NPS) at Zion National Park (ZION) is seeking to engage the public on proposed changes to amenity fees for the Lava Point Campground as well as a day-use permit lottery system to be piloted on Angels Landing in 2022. Comments are being accepted from August 13, 2021 to September 12, 2021 on the NPS Planning, Environment, & Public Comment (PEPC) website.

See News Release here.

Frequently Asked Questions about the proposed Angels Landing Day-use Permit Lottery

This is a pilot program under development, please check this site for most current information.

How do I comment?

From August 13 to September 12, 2021, the public may comment on the proposed amenity fees at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ZionFeeProposal. You may also contact the ZION Visitor Use Manager by email at e-mail us.

Can I hike to Scout Lookout without a permit?

Yes. A permit would only be required for the one-half mile (0.5-mile) chained section of Angels Landing. Visitors would still be able to hike the West Rim Trail from the trailhead at the Grotto to the spectacular viewpoints at Scout Lookout without a permit. Additionally, visitors can continue along the West Rim Trail beyond Scout Lookout for more remarkable views of ZION.

What would the day-use permit cost?

To implement and staff this permit system, two new fees would be required. The first is a six-dollar ($6) application fee for recreation.gov to build and operate the lottery system. Each entry could support a group of up to six (6) hikers. The second is a three-dollar ($3) per person fee for NPS to implement and manage the program on-the-ground.

Why a lottery and not a first come, first served system?

A first come, first served system can mean that to obtain the most popular times and dates, a user must be on the website the exact date and time of sale and have a fast internet connection. A lottery open for approximately one month provides more flexibility and gives users a chance to enter at their convenience as well as select a range of date and time choices for their hike. For more information on how a lottery works go here.

When does it start?

Permit authentication would be required starting March 1, 2022.

When can I apply?

Permits would be made available in two lottery formats: 1) advance and 2) day-before. Same day reservations would not be available.

• The advance-lottery would be held quarterly with the first lottery opening January 1, 2022 and concluding on January 31, 2022. Visitors may select up to seven (7) preferred dates or date ranges for their visit.

• The day-before lottery provides opportunity for visitors with a shorter trip planning window to apply to hike Angels Landing. The lottery can be applied to at any point throughout the day before their desired hike but would close that afternoon. Notification of the results to applicants for a hike the subsequent day would occur the same night of entry. Specified times on the lottery entry closing to applicants and results notifications have yet to be determined.

Tentative Dates:

Date (2022)	Information
January 1-31	Open application period for hike dates between March 1st and May 31st (advance lottery)
February	Lottery runs, applicants notified of results
April 1-30	Open application period for hike dates between June 1st and August 31st (advance lottery)
May	Lottery runs, applicants notified of results
July 1-31	Open application period for hike dates between September 1st and November 30th (advance lottery)
August	Lottery runs, applicants notified of results
October 1-31	Open application period for hike dates between December 1st and February 28th (advance lottery)
November	Lottery runs, applicants notified of results

How many people can I apply for? Do I need to be with my group?

• Each six-dollar ($6) lottery application can be for a group of up to six (6) people. Permit winners must be present with group. Proof of identification would be required prior to access the permitted portion of the trail.

Would refunds be issued? What if it is hot, or icy, or raining?

• Your safety is your responsibility. You are responsible for deciding if weather conditions are safe to proceed given your personal level of physical fitness. Threatening weather, poor physical condition, dehydration, exhaustion, injury, etc. are all valid reasons to turn back. 

• A permit does not guarantee conditions would be appropriate for the date and time of your hike. Refunds would not be issued.

Will there be a time of day when I don’t need a permit?

• A permit will be needed at all times of the day. Permits will be valid during outlined time ranges for when a permit holder may begin their ascent to Angels Landing from Scout Lookout. For example, one time block may be from midnight to 8 a.m., one may be between 8am and 11 am, and another may be for after 11 am to midnight. Specifics of those time blocks have yet to be determined.

 

Angels Landing Map