When does booking open?

The 1st to the 20th of January, April, July and October. 1 to 20 October: hikes 1 December to 28 February, results 25 October. 1 to 20 January: hikes 1 March to 31 May, results 25 January. 1 to 20 April: hikes 1 June to 31 August, results 25 April. 1 to 20 July: hikes 1 September to 30 November, results 25 July. In 2026 the spring lottery ran 13 to 25 February instead, announced on 11 February; for 2027, both the park and Recreation.gov list 1 to 20 January, results 25 January. Day-before lottery: apply 00:01 to 15:00 MT the day before, results at 16:00 MT.

How far ahead is that?

About 1 to 5 months ahead, or 1 day.

Only on Recreation.gov, with an account. No permits are given at the park or on the day. The official pages set no limits on visitors from abroad; non-US residents do pay Zion's $100 nonresident entry fee.

The park issues more than 200,000 permits a year, from a few hundred to over 800 a day, about half in the seasonal lotteries. In its first two years, the park says, about half of applicants won: from 8% in the day-before lottery for the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend to 100% on some midweek days. Weekends and holidays have the lowest odds.

Can I cancel or change?

Seasonal permits can be cancelled, or people removed, until two days before the hike for a refund of the $3 per-person fee. The $6 application fee is never refunded. Day-before permits cannot be changed or refunded. No permit can change date, add people or be transferred.

Zion National Park, Utah, United States

Angels Landing permits: when the lottery opens

Through seasonal lotteries on Recreation.gov that open at 08:00 Mountain time on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July and 1 October and close on the 20th, each for the next season's hikes, plus a lottery the day before each hike. The next one, for hikes from 1 March to 31 May 2027, runs from 1 to 20 January 2027.

Hikers holding the chains on the sandstone ridge up to Angels Landing in Zion National Park. Photo by Jay Chung on Pexels

When does booking open?: The 1st to the 20th of January, April, July and October. 1 to 20 October: hikes 1 December to 28 February, results 25 October. 1 to 20 January: hikes 1 March to 31 May, results 25 January. 1 to 20 April: hikes 1 June to 31 August, results 25 April. 1 to 20 July: hikes 1 September to 30 November, results 25 July. In 2026 the spring lottery ran 13 to 25 February instead, announced on 11 February; for 2027, both the park and Recreation.gov list 1 to 20 January, results 25 January. Day-before lottery: apply 00:01 to 15:00 MT the day before, results at 16:00 MT.
How far ahead is that?: About 1 to 5 months ahead, or 1 day.
Where do I book?: Only on Recreation.gov, with an account. No permits are given at the park or on the day. The official pages set no limits on visitors from abroad; non-US residents do pay Zion's $100 nonresident entry fee.
Does it sell out?: The park issues more than 200,000 permits a year, from a few hundred to over 800 a day, about half in the seasonal lotteries. In its first two years, the park says, about half of applicants won: from 8% in the day-before lottery for the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend to 100% on some midweek days. Weekends and holidays have the lowest odds.
Can I cancel or change?: Seasonal permits can be cancelled, or people removed, until two days before the hike for a refund of the $3 per-person fee. The $6 application fee is never refunded. Day-before permits cannot be changed or refunded. No permit can change date, add people or be transferred.

Checked 15 October 2026

How to book

Apply on Recreation.gov. One application costs $6, which is not refunded, and covers up to six people. If you win, $3 per person is charged to the same card. In the seasonal lottery you rank up to seven days and times, or ranges of them; if you miss your first choice, you may get another.

Applying early does not help: the park says everyone who applies while the window is open has the same odds.

Use the name on your photo ID, because rangers may ask for both. Print or download the permit email before you arrive; it is the permit. Zion entry is separate: $35 per vehicle, and each non-US resident aged 16 or over pays a $100 nonresident fee on top, unless they enter with an annual or America the Beautiful pass.

If it’s sold out

Enter the day-before lottery for each day you are near Zion: apply 00:01 to 15:00 MT, results at 16:00 MT. Cancelled seasonal permits go into this lottery.

Without a permit you can still hike the West Rim Trail as far as Scout Lookout. The permit is needed only for the chained section beyond it.

Booking for a group

One application covers up to six people, including the person applying. A larger group needs more than one application, and each wins or loses on its own. Each person may enter each lottery only once: duplicate applications are all cancelled without refund. Someone named as an alternate may still send their own application.

The names of the permit holder and the alternate cannot be changed after you apply, and one of them must be on the hike with photo ID, so name two people who are sure to come. If someone drops out, remove them at least two days before to get their $3 back.

Recreation.gov counts people, up to six, with no exception for children on the pages read, and warns the trail is not for young children. Whether a baby carried on the hike needs a place is not stated; ask the park before you apply.

Good to know

Choose midweek dates and quieter seasons: weekends and holidays have the lowest odds.
Put the closing date in your calendar: each seasonal lottery closes on the 20th at 23:59 MT.
Seasonal results come on the 25th; wait for them before booking non-refundable rooms around one hike date.
Mobile service is poor in Zion Canyon: save the permit email before you reach the park.

Sources

NPS Zion: Angels Landing permits and hiking (official, updated 8 October 2026): Seasonal lotteries open 8 am MT on 1 January, April, July and October, close the 20th at 11:59 pm MT, results the 25th; day-before lottery 12:01 am to 3 pm MT; $6 per application for up to six, $3 per person; refund and change rules.
Recreation.gov: Angels Landing winter lottery (official): Spring lottery open 1 to 20 January 2027, results 25 January 2027; up to six people and seven ranked choices; holder and alternate names fixed; one application per person; over 200,000 permits a year.
NPS Zion: 2026 Angels Landing lottery dates (official, 11 February 2026): The spring 2026 lottery ran 13 to 25 February, announced two days before; the other 2026 windows kept the usual dates.
NPS Zion: two years of Angels Landing permits (official, 4 April 2024): Overall odds averaged about 50%, from 8% in the day-before lottery on Memorial Day weekend Sunday to 100% on some midweek days.
NPS Zion: Fees (official): $35 per private vehicle; each non-US resident aged 16 or over pays a $100 nonresident fee.

Checked on 15 October 2026. Booking rules change; the official site has the last word.