Zion National Park
Angels Landing permit lottery
Which lottery covers your date, when to apply, and what to do without a permit.
When do I apply for my date?
Pick the date you want, and see the day and time it becomes bookable.
Rule from NPS Zion: Angels Landing Permits & Hiking, checked November 2, 2026. Confirm on the official site before you rely on it.
Hiking past Scout Lookout to Angels Landing needs a permit from an NPS lottery on Recreation.gov. There are four seasonal lotteries a year, each covering three months of hike dates, plus a day-before lottery every day. Each application costs $6 and covers up to 6 people.
The four seasonal lotteries
- Hikes March 1 to May 31: apply January 1 to 20, permits issued January 25.
- Hikes June 1 to August 31: apply April 1 to 20, permits issued April 25.
- Hikes September 1 to November 30: apply July 1 to 20, permits issued July 25.
- Hikes December 1 to February 28: apply October 1 to 20, permits issued October 25.
- Each lottery opens at 8 a.m. and closes at 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on those dates.
The day-before lottery
Apply the day before you want to hike, between 12:01 a.m. and 3 p.m. Mountain. Permits are issued at 4 p.m. that day. NPS's example: to hike on a Tuesday, apply on Monday.
Cost
$6 per application, seasonal or day-before. One application covers up to 6 people, including the person applying.
No permit? What to do next
Book through the NPS permit page (links to both Recreation.gov lotteries) first. It's the only place to reserve. If your date is gone:
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No permit? You can still hike most of it
- The permit starts at Scout Lookout. You can hike the West Rim Trail from the Grotto (shuttle stop 6) up to Scout Lookout without one.
- Try the day-before lottery: it opens every day at 12:01 a.m. and closes at 3 p.m. Mountain, with permits issued at 4 p.m.
Book a Zion tour
Guided Zion hikes and canyon tours, bookable now. A tour doesn't include an Angels Landing permit unless it says so.
Stay near Zion
Permit or not, the canyon starts early. Sleep close to the park entrance.
Get the reminder by email
One email the week before the big Mountain West dates (each Angels Landing seasonal lottery, Havasupai's on-sale day, and Rocky Mountain's first timed entry release once it's announced). Nothing else.
Before any reminder, you'll get one email asking you to confirm. It comes from New England Reservations (hello@newenglandreservations.com), our sister site. Unsubscribe anytime. See the privacy policy.
When are the Angels Landing lottery dates?
Four seasonal lotteries a year, each open from the 1st to the 20th: January (for March to May hikes), April (June to August), July (September to November) and October (December to February). Each opens at 8 a.m. and closes at 11:59 p.m. Mountain, with permits issued on the 25th. The day-before lottery runs every day from 12:01 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Can I hike to Scout Lookout without a permit?
Yes. NPS's permit map shows the permit is needed only past Scout Lookout; the West Rim Trail from the Grotto up to Scout Lookout needs none.
How much does an Angels Landing permit cost?
$6 to apply, for up to 6 people per application.
Sources
- NPS Zion: Angels Landing Permits & Hiking, checked November 2, 2026.
Rules change. Always confirm on the official site before you rely on a date.