Backpacking Permits

Duration:

2 minutes, 29 seconds

A step-by-step guide for using recreation.gov to apply for the Wilderness Overnight Permit in Zion National Park. This reservation is not a permit. Pick up your permit at the Wilderness Permit Office located within the Visitor Center either the day prior or day of your trip.

 

 

The Zion Wilderness is a world-renowned destination that offers opportunities for solitude and adventure. With over 90 miles of trails, dozens of designated backpacking sites, multiple at-large camping areas, and 124,406 acres of designated wilderness, Zion National Park offers a variety of unique backpacking opportunities.

Plan Ahead and Prepare

While preparing for your overnight backpacking trip, consider your interests, time, and the ability level of your group. There is no "one best trail." Come up with backup plans in case your first or second choices are not available. Trails and/or campsites may close at any time due to rockfalls, flashfloods, wildfires, etc. An online reservation does not guarantee that a canyon or resource will be open at the time of the trip. Always have a backup plan in mind!

Use topographic maps and the webpage links below to plan your Zion Wilderness backpacking experience:

• Download the Zion Wilderness Map or full Zion Wilderness Guide to view which campsites are available by online calendar reservation and which campsites are available on a first come, first serve, walk-in basis. Wilderness permits are required for all overnight backpacking trips.

• Brush up on wilderness safety information before starting your trip.

• Check trail and campsite descriptions to best plan your gear needs.

• Read about water sources in Zion, some of which are only available seasonally.

• Plan transportation to your trailhead.

Check Availability of Online Calendar Reservations

Half of the backpacking campsites in Zion Wilderness can be reserved online. Online Calendar Reservations are available during a three-month time frame.

If sites are still available, reservations can be made until 5:00 pm mountain time, the day before your trip.

For a Backpacking Trip in...	Online Reservations are available on:
January	December 5th at 10:00 am MT
February	December 5th at 10:00 am MT
March	December 5th at 10:00 am MT
April	March 5th at 10:00 am MT
May	March 5th at 10:00 am MT
June	March 5th at 10:00 am MT
July	June 5th at 10:00 am MT
August	June 5th at 10:00 am MT
September	June 5th at 10:00 am MT
October	September 5th at 10:00 am MT
November	September 5th at 10:00 am MT
December	September 5th at 10:00 am MT

*Please be aware that, for online reservations, most backpacking sites often become fully booked for the next season within minutes of reservations opening on the 5th of the month at 10:00 am Mountain Time.

Multi-night trips

When available, you may book multi-night trips using the calendar tool. Keep in mind that some sites are not reservable in advance. Changing itineraries to walk-in only sites is sometimes possible at the Wilderness when you pick up your permit, depending on availability.

• Multi-night trips are not allowed in the Zion Narrows. Single-night trips or day hikes are the only option.
• You may not use a Wilderness campsite as a substitute for Frontcountry Camping to day hike in Zion Canyon.

Apply for an Online Calendar Reservation

Make a reservation for each night of your backpacking trip on the Zion National Park Overnight Wilderness Permits page or the Zion National Park Overnight Narrows Permits page on recreation.gov.

Wilderness areas subject to natural forces such as: wildfires, rockfalls, flash floods, and other related factors that may cause closures or changes to trip plans. An online reservation does not guarantee that a trail, canyon, or resource will be open at the time of the trip.

First-Come, First-Serve, Walk-in Permits

Half of the backpacking campsites in the Zion Wilderness are available on a first come, first serve, walk-in basis.

• Download the Zion Wilderness Map or full Zion Wilderness Guide to view which campsites are available by online calendar reservation and which campsites are available on a first come, first serve, walk-in basis.
• Permits must be obtained in person at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center Wilderness Desk during normal Hours of Operation. Permits can be obtained the day before or the day of the trip.

Obtain Your Wilderness Permit

All Wilderness permits must be obtained in-person at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center Wilderness Desk.

• Plan your trip itinerary to allow sufficient time to obtain your permit the day of, or the day before your trip during our Hours of Operation.
• Allow for at least 20 minutes to obtain a permit. Come prepared with all vehicle(s) information: make, model, and license plate(s).
• If you have made an Advanced Reservation, the individual listed as the reservation holder must be the one to obtain the permit in person. Please plan accordingly.

Wilderness Permit Fee

The same fees are charged for first-come, first-served permits that are issued in person. This fee supports the permit and reservation management system.

• Permit Fee: $20 per permit (non-refundable)
• Per Person Fee: $7 per person per night (refundable)

Wilderness Permits are Non-Transferable

Traveling in the Zion Wilderness requires careful planning and preparation. Permit holders assume the responsibility of ensuring that their group is aware of the risks involved, is self-reliant, has developed a back-up plan, and will follow park regulations. Because these are such important aspects of trip planning and resource protection, permits for trips into the Zion Wilderness are non-transferable.

If you cannot participate in your trip, please cancel your reservation to provide opportunities for others. If other members of your group still wish to participate in a planned trip, you may coordinate with a new prospective permit holder for them to immediately reserve the available spaces or sites, as soon as your reservation has been cancelled.

You may cancel your reservation online by logging in to your recreation.gov account. As soon as your reservation is cancelled, those spaces or sites will immediately be available for someone else to obtain through the Advanced Reservations page. New permit holders will need a recreation.gov Account prior to creating an Advanced Reservation.

Plan your trip itinerary to allow sufficient time to obtain your permit the day of, or day before the trip during Zion Wilderness Desk Hours of Operation. The individual listed on the reservation must be the one to obtain the permit, please plan accordingly.