Zion Permits: A Guide to Which Hikes to Apply For

Zion National Park issues permits for some of its hiking routes. Learn how to navigate what can sometimes be a confusing application process!

A visit to Zion National Park can be amazing, but sometimes it can also be confusing. Zion regulates traffic on some of its more popular routes, which helps keep the wilderness wild.

Getting permits for Zion can be perplexing at first, because different types of permits have different application time-frames. Some merely require a reservation; others use a lottery system.

We like this Zion trail map from National Geographic to help with trip planning.

Be aware that this park is popular and these permits are in high demand. And even if you get the permit, weather can change your plans. So have backup ideas, and be adaptable! Also, don't shy away from more moderate routes, like the beautiful Watchman Trail.

Where to Go for Zion Permits

Create an account with the National Park Service, and you'll get access to any lotteries, reservation schedules, and last-minute drawings currently available for Zion. There's a small nonrefundable fee whenever you sign up for any of those things, besides the cost of the permit if your application is successful.

Once you have a reservation confirmed, you'll need to actually pick up the permit in person at a visitor center.

Walk-in requests for permits are allowed the day before or the day of a hike, but it's a good idea to start with the online tools in advance.

Express Membership

Picking up your permit in person gives park rangers a chance to make sure that you're well-prepared for the route.

However, if you become a regular visitor of the park, you can register for Zion Express Membership, which allows you to print your permit from home. First, you'll need to watch several orientation videos at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center Wilderness Desk and sign an agreement.

Our Experience with Zion Permits

When we applied for the Subway advance lottery, we won! I was thrilled!

But heavy snowfall in 2023 (and the ensuing snowmelt) meant that the Subway water levels were extremely high and the water was moving fast. Also, forecasted rain meant that the flash flood risk was higher. Park rangers were recommending not doing this hike, and we listened to them and skipped it.

Our backup plan, Kanarra Falls, was also canceled for similar reasons. We ended up traveling to nearby Bryce Canyon instead.

When we tried to reserve an overnight backcountry permit for May on Zion's West Rim, the online reservations filled up within 30 seconds. However, we kept checking for cancellations, and a few days before our hike were able to reserve the exact site we wanted for the day we wanted!

We also applied twice for a day-before Angels Landing permit and lost both times. And that’s ok! Adapting and still having fun is the way to go in this park.

Here are the hikes that require a permit in Zion, when to apply for them, and some backup ideas if those don't work out.

Angels Landing

You can hike towards Angels Landing with no permit, and you can continue on the West Rim trail past the turn-off for Angels Landing to Scout Lookout with no permit, but you cannot hike the Angels Landing rock formation (the section of the hike with chains) without a permit.

When to apply:

Seasonal Lottery - 2 months ahead
Day-Before Lottery - Begins at midnight the day before the hike.
Learn more and apply at the Angels Landing permit page.

Alternate (no-permit) hike option: Start at the Grotto trailhead and head up the West Rim trail. Continue 0.3 miles past Angels Landing to Scout Lookout, a gorgeous overlook with less of a scare factor.

The Subway

The Subway is a water hike to a slot canyon. There are two ways to hike the Subway, and both routes require a permit.

Top-Down - Begins at the Wildcat Trailhead and ends at the Left Fork trailhead. This route requires canyoneering skills.

• Tip: Pay a shuttle company (like Red Rock Shuttle) to drive you from Left Fork to Wildcat so that you can leave your car at the end of your route.

Bottom-Up - Begins and ends at Left Fork Trailhead. This is a non-technical (but still strenuous) river hike.

When to apply:

Advanced Lottery - 2 months ahead
Reservations - Reservations open one month before your trip, on the 5th of the month at 10 a.m. Mountain Time. (Example: For reservations in June, apply on May 5).
Last-Minute Drawing - From 7 days up to 2 days in advance.
Learn more and apply at the Subway permit page.

Alternate option: Kanarra Falls, another river hike slot canyon (one hour north of Zion) does require a permit, but it's easier to obtain. (Note that Kanarra Falls is still a slot canyon and should not be hiked when the water is extremely high or when there are flash flood warnings.)

The Narrows (Top-Down)

The Narrows is Zion’s most popular river hike into a slot canyon. You can hike from the bottom up without a permit, but to hike from the top down, you’ll need a permit (whether it’s a day hike or multi-day hike).

The top-down (permit) route begins at Chamberlain Ranch.

When to apply:

Reservations - Reservations open one month before your trip, on the 5th of the month at 10 a.m. Mountain Time. (Example: For reservations in June, apply on May 5).
Learn more and apply at the Narrows permit page.

Alternate (no-permit) option: Do a day-hike in the Narrows from the bottom up! The bottom-up route is easy to access from Shuttle Stop 9, the Temple of Sinawava. (Note: the Narrows is a slot canyon managed by the NPS and will close when water levels are too high or when there’s a flash flood warning.)

Any Overnight Backpacking Trip

All multi-day trips into the Zion wilderness require a permit.

You must apply for a campsite. (There’s some dispersed camping on the East Rim and in Wildcat Canyon, but the majority of the popular areas use assigned campgrounds.)

Half of the spots are available for advance reservations, and half are only available in person one day before the permit date.

When to apply:

Reservations - Reservations open one month before your trip, on the 5th of the month at 10 a.m. Mountain Time. (Example: For reservations in June, apply on May 5).
Day Before - Apply in person for permits at the Zion Wilderness desk (at either the main canyon visitor center wilderness desk or the Kolob Canyon wilderness desk).
Learn more and apply at the backpacking permit page.

Alternate options: Some of the backpacking routes through Zion are short enough to be day hikes, depending on your fitness level. However, for this option I’d encourage you to keep checking for reservation openings or to try for the day before.

See my guide to backpacking gear for suggestions on packs like the REI Flash 65 or the Osprey Eja 58 pack. Also, get tips for buying a tent and which are the best freeze-dried meals for backpacking.

Any Technical Canyoneering Route Within the Park, including Echo Canyon, Keyhole Canyon and Telephone Canyon

When to apply:
Advance Lottery - 2 months ahead
Reservations - Reservations open one month before your trip, on the 5th of the month at 10 a.m. Mountain Time. (Example: For reservations in June, apply on May 5).
Last-Minute Drawing - From 7 days up to 2 days in advance.
Learn more and apply at the canyoneering permit page.

Alternate options: Try booking a canyoneering tour with a canyon company outside of Zion. But if you have your heart set on a specific canyon, keep checking for reservation cancellations or try the day before lottery.

It's true that some parts of your experience may be out of your control, like what the weather does or what Zion permits you're able to get. But, happily, a trip doesn't have to go exactly according to plan to still be amazing.

Check out our tips for how to navigate the Zion shuttle system most efficiently, as you'll probably need to use it during peak season.

Enjoy your hikes! And maybe also save some time to visit other area attractions, like the nearby Zion Vineyards or the further afield Water Canyon Winery.