Why Angels Landing Needs a Permit
Angels Landing is the fin of Navajo sandstone that juts into Zion Canyon, ending in a knife-edge ridge with chains bolted into the rock and drop-offs of more than 1,000 feet on both sides. It became so popular that the National Park Service introduced a permit lottery in 2022 to thin the dangerous bottlenecks on the chains. You cannot hike past Scout Lookout, the spot where the chain section begins, without a permit. Rangers check at the trailhead and on the ridge.
The Two Lotteries
There is no first-come walk-up option anymore. Every permit comes through Recreation.gov, and there are two ways to get one.
- The seasonal lottery runs four times a year for the upcoming season. You pick up to seven preferred dates and group sizes, and you find out within days whether you won. Apply during the window before your trip season opens.
- The day-before lottery is your backup. It opens at midnight and closes at 3 p.m. Mountain Time the day before you want to hike, with results that same evening. This is the lottery to use if you are already in Zion and did not win seasonally.
Plan for both. Apply seasonally for your target dates, and if you strike out, hammer the day-before lottery every evening you are in the park.
Costs and Odds
There is a small nonrefundable application fee per lottery entry, plus a per-person fee if you win. Odds swing wildly by season. Spring and fall weekends are brutally competitive; midweek dates in the heat of summer or the cold of winter give you a much better shot. Flexibility is your biggest advantage. If you can hike on a Tuesday in early November instead of a Saturday in October, your chances climb sharply.
What the Hike Is Actually Like
The trail starts at the Grotto shuttle stop and climbs steadily through the West Rim Trail. You will tackle Walter's Wiggles, a set of 21 tight switchbacks engineered into the cliff, before reaching Scout Lookout. From there the permitted half-mile to the summit is the part everyone talks about.
- The ridge is narrow, exposed, and steep, with chains to grip the whole way.
- Footing is solid sandstone but can be slick when wet or icy, so avoid it in storms or freezing conditions.
- The round trip is about 5 miles with roughly 1,500 feet of gain, taking most hikers 4 to 5 hours.
- It is not technical climbing, but it is genuinely exposed and not for anyone uneasy with heights.
Timing Your Climb
Start early. The first shuttles of the day get you on the chains before the crowds and the afternoon heat, both of which make the bottleneck slower and hotter. Summer afternoons on that south-facing rock are punishing, so carry more water than you think you need. Spring and fall are the ideal seasons, with cooler temperatures and stable weather. If thunderstorms are forecast, skip it; lightning on an exposed sandstone fin is a serious hazard.
Building It Into Your Visit
Because the permit adds uncertainty, build flexibility into your wider plan. Our 3-day Zion National Park itinerary sequences Angels Landing alongside The Narrows and Kolob Canyons so that if your lottery date lands on day two, the rest of the trip still flows. Have a backup hike ready, such as Observation Point via the East Mesa Trail, which gives you an even higher view of the canyon and needs no permit.
