🏔 Wilderness
Angels Landing
About This Permit
Angels Landing is arguably the most thrilling day hike in America — a 5.4-mile route ascending 1,488 feet to a knife-edge sandstone fin above Zion Canyon, with chain-assisted scrambles on the final exposed half-mile. A permit is required only for the chained section above Scout Lookout; permits are awarded through two systems: a seasonal lottery (quarterly application windows on recreation.gov) and a day-before lottery (apply 12:01am–3:00pm; results at 4:00pm). Fall is considered the best season; winter offers the best odds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for Angels Landing?
A permit is required only for the chained section from Scout Lookout to the summit. The West Rim Trail up to Scout Lookout does not require a permit. Permits are available through two lottery systems on recreation.gov: a seasonal lottery (quarterly application periods) and a day-before lottery (apply 12:01am–3:00pm the day before your hike; results posted at 4:00pm). No walk-up permits are available at any Zion office or day-of.
How do the two Angels Landing lottery systems work?
The seasonal lottery runs quarterly — apply during a set window for all dates in that season (e.g., spring lottery covers March–May). Acceptance rates run well under 5% for popular seasons. If you miss the seasonal window, the day-before lottery releases permits each evening on recreation.gov; apply before 3:00pm and results post at 4:00pm the same day.
Which season has the best odds?
Winter (December–February) is the least subscribed lottery — best odds and uncrowded conditions, though ice and snow on the chains require microspikes and caution. Fall (September–November) is the best combination of conditions and manageable competition. Summer draws the most applicants and has the lowest acceptance rates.
Can I hike Angels Landing without a permit?
Yes — the permit is only required for the chain-assisted final half-mile to the summit. Hikers who turn around at Scout Lookout do not need a permit, and the views from Scout Lookout are already spectacular.
Key Facts
- State
- UT
- Season
- Year-round; permits required for the chained section from Scout Lookout to summit; four seasonal lotteries (spring Mar–May, summer Jun–Aug, fall Sep–Nov, winter Dec–Feb)
- Quota
- Daily allocation varies (typically a few hundred to 800+ permits); no fixed daily cap — split between quarterly seasonal lottery and a rolling day-before lottery
- Trailhead
- The Grotto Trailhead
- Entry Point
- Angels Landing Chain Section (Scout Lookout)
- Difficulty
- 5/5(Nearly impossible)
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