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Permits Needed To Hike Angels Landing At Zion National Park in '23

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By Compiled From N... - December 18th, 2022

Permits will again be needed to hike Angels Landing at Zion National Park in 2023 to reduce crowding, such as that seen in this 2020 photo/NPS file

Permits will be needed to hike to Angels Landing in Zion National Park next year, and the park has carved out four "seasonal lotteries" to distribute the permits.

"Issuing permits is something we did after substantial public input, and it has been effective,” Zion Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh said. “In 2023, park rangers will continue recording data and enhancing the pilot program to maximize the number of people making the hike while minimizing crowding and congestion on this half-mile, perennially popular trail.”

Since the pilot program started on April 1, 2022, Zion issued nearly 200,000 permits to hikers. Hikers report the program is succeeding at reducing crowding and congestion on the last half mile of trail from Scout Lookout to Angels Landing. You can learn more about the program on the park’s website.

Fast facts about the Angels Landing Pilot Permit Program in 2022

  • Zion issued nearly 200,000 permits to hikers in 2022.
  • The Angels Landing Pilot Permit Program accommodated about 80% of the use NPS recorded in studies conducted in 2019 and 2021.
  • Zion rangers collected data that shows the Angels Landing Pilot Permit Program helped spread hikers’ start times throughout the day.
  • Rangers observed, and hikers reported, less crowding and congestion on the trail than in past years.
Hikers can also apply the day before hikes to get a permit to visit Angels Landing. Learn more about the Day-before Lottery at go.nps.gov/AngelsLanding

About the Angels Landing Pilot Permit Program

This is a pilot program, and the National Park Service is monitoring and adjusting it. The pilot permit program reflects comments from nearly 1,000 members of the public, park neighbors and other stakeholders. It also reflects lessons the NPS learned by metering the number of hikers on the trail to Angel Landing in 2019 and 2021 and from distributing tickets to use the park shuttle system in response to COVID-19 in 2020.  

Angels Landing is one of many places visitors enjoy hiking in Zion National Park. The park recorded about 2.8 million total visits in 2011 and more than 5 million in 2021. As the number of people who visit Zion continues to rise, the NPS is preparing a plan designed to provide high-quality visitor experiences and sustainably manage park resources. The Angels Landing Pilot Permit Program will inform that planning process.

Learn more about Zion’s Visitor Use Research and read a response to public comments about issuing permits at Angels Landing on the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment website (PEPC). 

Zion issues permits using recreation.gov. Visit the website to learn how the permit lottery works.
2023 Angels Landing Seasonal Lotteries
Hike DatesLottery opens 8 a.m. MTLottery closes 11:59 p.m. MTPermits Issued
March 1-May 31January 1January 20January 25
June 1-August 31April 1April 20April 25
September 1-November 30July 1July 20July 25
December 1-February 29, 2024October 1October 20October 25

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