Zion’s Angels Landing trail switching to permit lottery system on April 1, 2022

SPRINGDALE — The Angels Landing trail in Zion National Park will become a permit-only hike beginning on April 1, 2022.

On and after April 1, 2022, hikers will need a permit to hike the popular Angels Landing trail in Zion National Park. The National Park Service (NPS) will issue permits using online lotteries at Recreation.gov. The first lottery opens on January 3, 2022.

According to the ZNP website, you do not need a permit to go to Scout Lookout, only to go past Scout Lookout to the section with the chains to the summit.

“Angels Landing is one of the most iconic destinations in Zion National Park and issuing permits will make going there fair for everyone.” Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh said. “The system we’ve put in place will reduce crowding on the trail, address safety concerns and make it easy for visitors to plan ahead.”

Visitors can get a permit by entering seasonal lotteries or a different lottery the day before their planned hikes. It will cost $6 to enter any of the lotteries and successful permit holders will pay a $3 per person fee. ZNP says the money will be used to operate the lottery system and pay for extra park rangers to check permits on the trail. Information about how to enter the lottery can be found at go.nps.gov/AngelsLanding

As of now, there are two types of lottery permits for Angels Landing: The Seasonal Lottery and the Day-before Lottery.

The Seasonal Lottery offers a chance to get a permit during a set window of time, for example April 1 to May 31. The lottery application window for that time period is January 3 to January 20, and permits will be issued on January 25. Lottery entrants will be notified by email if they did or did not get a permit.

The Day-before Lottery gives potential hikers a chance to apply for a permit from 12:01 am to 3:00 pm MT the day before the hike. Like the Seasonal Lottery, entrants will be notified by email if they do or don’t get a permit.

Dates and lottery application windows can be found on the park’s permit website.

As Angels Landing and Zion National Park have grown more popular, overcrowding on the steep, narrow trail has become a dangerous issue. The trail alone is dangerous enough. 13 people have reportedly died on the trail since 2000, including two this year. And although crowding may not have been the cause of their deaths, large crowds can certainly make the hike feel more dangerous. The trail has also been the source of huge lines and hours long wait times.

Zion National Park said the new lottery and permit system for Angels Landing was a “pilot program,” and would be adjusted as needed.