The Angels Landing Lottery, Explained

Since 2022, hiking the chained section of Angels Landing in Zion requires a permit issued by lottery. It is a day-use lottery separate from Zion wilderness permits: Permit Ranger does not watch it, and this page explains how it works and what we watch in Zion instead.

How the Angels Landing lottery works

Permits are issued through seasonal lotteries on recreation.gov: you apply during a window a couple of months before each season and rank up to seven day-and-time choices. A day-before lottery offers another chance, with applications open from midnight to 3:00 PM Mountain the day before your hike and results that evening.

There is a non-refundable application fee plus a per-person fee charged if you win. Rangers check permits at the start of the chained section at Scout Lookout; hiking to Scout Lookout itself requires no permit.

What Permit Ranger watches instead

The Angels Landing lottery has no cancellation availability to poll, so Permit Ranger does not cover it. What we do watch is Zion's backcountry and wilderness permits on recreation.gov, including overnight itineraries like the Zion Narrows top-down and West Rim routes, where cancellations reopen regularly.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to hike to Scout Lookout?

No. The permit requirement starts at the chained section beyond Scout Lookout. You can hike to Scout Lookout without entering the lottery.

Does Permit Ranger alert on Angels Landing permits?

No. It is a pure lottery with no availability to watch. We watch Zion wilderness and backcountry permits instead.