Angels Landing is Zion's most iconic and most heart-pounding hike: a narrow sandstone fin that rises 1,500 feet above the canyon floor, with the final half-mile clinging to a knife-edge ridge secured by bolted chains. Since 2022, the National Park Service has required a permit issued by lottery to hike past Scout Lookout. Here is exactly how the permit system works and what to expect once you clip onto those chains.
Why There Is a Permit Now
The chained section became so crowded that hikers were stacking up nose-to-tail on exposed ledges, creating real safety problems. The permit caps the number of people on the spine at any time. You need a permit only for the final stretch from Scout Lookout to the summit; the trail up to Scout Lookout, including the famous Walter's Wiggles switchbacks, is open to everyone without one.
The Two Lotteries
There are two ways to enter the lottery through Recreation.gov, and it costs $6 to apply plus $3 per person if you win:
- Seasonal lottery: Apply months ahead during set windows for each season (for example, the spring season window runs in January). You list up to seven preferred dates and time blocks. This is your best shot at locking in a specific day.
- Day-before lottery: A second chance that opens at midnight and closes at 3 p.m. Mountain Time the day before your hike, with results by 4 p.m. Flexible travelers can keep entering this one daily.
Odds are best for midweek dates, shoulder seasons, and early-morning or late-afternoon time blocks. Weekends in spring and fall are the hardest to win.
Planning Around the Permit
Because permits are not guaranteed, build a flexible plan. If you strike out on the lottery, Scout Lookout itself delivers a jaw-dropping view, and The Narrows or the Emerald Pools fill the day beautifully. Our Las Vegas to Zion itinerary is built to flex around whether or not your Angels Landing permit comes through.
The Hike Itself
From the Grotto shuttle stop, the West Rim Trail climbs steadily for about 2 miles to Scout Lookout, gaining most of its 1,500 feet through long paved switchbacks and the tight series of 21 switchbacks known as Walter's Wiggles. At Scout Lookout a ranger checks permits before the chains begin. The final half-mile is the famous part: a narrow fin with sheer drops on both sides where you pull yourself along anchored chains. Round trip is roughly 5 miles and 4 to 5 hours.
Safety on the Chains
The chained section is not technical climbing, but the exposure is extreme and there have been fatal falls. Use these rules:
- Go early to beat heat and to have the chains less crowded
- Wear shoes with real grip and keep both hands free for the chains
- Yield at wide spots and never pass on the narrowest pinches
- Skip it entirely if the rock is wet, icy, or windy, or if you are uneasy with heights
Best Time to Go
Aim for April through early June or mid-September through October, when temperatures are mild and the rock is dry. Summer afternoons get dangerously hot on the exposed ridge, and winter brings ice that can close the chains. Whatever the season, an early start gives you cooler rock, thinner crowds, and the best light over Zion Canyon.
