Zion Backcountry Permits
Learn about all the different backcountry permits that you might need when visiting Zion National Park
If you are planning a backcountry trip into Zion’s Wilderness, you will be required to obtain a backcountry permit. This includes all overnight trips, as well as hiking from the top of the Narrows down—even as a day hike. If you plan on staying at multiple campsite over the course of many days, you are required to get a permit for each site.
Two-thirds of all backcountry campsites are available for advanced reservation. There is a $5.00 non-refundable reservation fee in addition to the permit fee. The permit fee for 1 to 2 people is $15.00, for 3-7 people is $20.00, and for 8-12 is $25.00. The remaining one-third of campsites are available as walk-in permits, and can be obtained at the Visitor Center the day before your trip.
PERMITS FOR BACKPACKING
Permits are required for any backpacking trips in the Zion Wilderness. The Zion Wilderness being a “community of life that is untrammeled by man, a place where man himself is a visitor who does not remain”—this ensures that 84% of Zion National Park will remain wild and undisturbed.
Two-thirds of campsites are available for advanced reservation, and the remaining 1/3 are available as walk-in permits and can only be obtained at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center the day before your trip.. Since you will need a permit for each of the campsites that you plan on using throughout a trip, advanced reservations are recommended. You can check out a map of all the reservable backcountry campsites here.
PERMITS FOR THE NARROWS
If you are planning to hike the Narrows from the bottom up—starting at Temple of Sinewava, you do not need to obtain a permit. However, if you are hiking from the top down, either as a day hike or an overnight trip, you will need a permit.
If you are planning to hike the Narrows in one day, but there are no advanced reservations left, don’t stress! Zion National Park will open the Last Minute Drawing 7 to 2 days before your rip date. If there are still spaces open after the Last Minute Drawing, they will become available for walk-in, to be obtained the day before your trip. Backpacking in the Narrows requires backcountry campsite permit. There are 12 campsites in the gorge of the Narrows. Six of the twelve spots are available for advanced reservation, and the other half are only available as a walk-in permit—you can get these permits from 10 am to 5 pm on the day before your trip.
PERMITS FOR CLIMBING TRIPS
Permits are not needed for day climbs in Zion National Park; however, they are required for overnight bivouacs. Two-thirds of permits are reservable, and the remaining 1/3 are available as walk-in permits. You can make reservations up to three months in advance.
The climbing areas that are available for reservation include: Desert Shield, Monkeyfinger, Prodigal Son, Lunar Ecstasy, Moonlight Buttress, Spaceshot, Tricks of the Trade and Touchstone Wall. Make sure you know which climbing areas are open before you start planning a trip.
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WHEN TO APPLY
Advanced reservations are able to be made three months in advance, and are available to be reserved at any time within those three months leading up to your trip. If available, they can be made up until 5:00 PM on the day before your trip.
Below is a list that can help you determine when you can start the reservation process:
HOW TO MAKE A RESERVATION
For backpacking permit reservations, click here.
For the Narrows overnight permit reservations, click here. For the Last Minute Drawing for the Narrows, click here. For the Narrows day-hike permit reservations, click here.
JOIN A GUIDED HIKING ADVENTURE
Zion National Park is home to some of the most epic and amazing hiking vacations in the world. Wildland Trekking offers trips with the best of Zion: canyons, views, wildlife, solitude, adventure and fascinating natural and cultural interpretation.
Guided Zion treks are all-inclusive which covers permits; local transportation (excluded on certain tours); meals; equipment; safety systems and professional hiking/wilderness guides; all of which allows visitors to maximize their time in Zion and focus entirely on enjoying the Park.
ZION ADVENTURE TOURS
- INN-BASED HIKING PACKAGES: these tours are all-inclusive packages with lodging, amazing daily hikes, expert guides, meals, transportation and more!
- ZION CAMPING TOURS: camping-based hiking packages provide all-around hiking experiences of Zion on wonderful outdoor vacations.
- ZION DAY HIKE TOURS: maximize your day in Zion on a fully guided, award-winning hiking tour on one of the Park’s best trails.
- ALL UTAH HIKING TOURS: check out a full list of Utah offerings, which include Bryce Canyon, the North Rim, Arches, Canyonlands and more.
- UTAH BACKPACKING TRIPS: explore options for discovering Utah on an all-inclusive backpacking trip with expert guides and mind-blowing scenery.
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