Zion National Park Permit Guide 2026

Utah · No dogs in the backcountry

By Casey Rowan, Permit Ranger

Last updated

A Zion wilderness permit covers overnight backcountry trips to the park's designated campsites and at-large camp areas, including the West Rim, La Verkin Creek, Hop Valley, and the Southwest Desert. It is required year-round, and about half of the sites are reservable online while the rest are first-come in person. Prime spring and fall dates on the most popular routes go fast when each quarterly release opens.

Zion National Park issues its wilderness permits through recreation.gov, and popular passes sell out ahead of the season. Wilderness permits are quota'd year-round and sold in four quarterly releases at 10:00 AM Mountain on the 5th of the month before each quarter: Dec 5 (for Jan 1 – Mar 31 entries), Mar 5 (Apr 1 – Jun 30), Jun 5 (Jul 1 – Sep 30), and Sep 5 (Oct 1 – Dec 31). About half of all sites are reservable online; the rest are first-come, first-served in person at a Wilderness Permit Desk. One reservation covers your whole party. Permit Ranger watches every pass here and alerts you the moment a sold-out date opens.

When permits are released

Wilderness permits are quota'd year-round and sold in four quarterly releases at 10:00 AM Mountain on the 5th of the month before each quarter: Dec 5 (for Jan 1 – Mar 31 entries), Mar 5 (Apr 1 – Jun 30), Jun 5 (Jul 1 – Sep 30), and Sep 5 (Oct 1 – Dec 31). About half of all sites are reservable online; the rest are first-come, first-served in person at a Wilderness Permit Desk. One reservation covers your whole party.

Fees

  • Reservation: $20 per permit (non-refundable)
  • Per person, per night: $7 per person per night

How to get a Zion National Park permit

  1. Pick your route and campsite or camp area (for example West Rim, La Verkin Creek, or the Southwest Desert) and choose your entry date.
  2. Watch for the quarterly release that covers your date: sites go on sale at 10:00 AM Mountain on the 5th of the month before each quarter - Dec 5 for Jan–Mar, Mar 5 for Apr–Jun, Jun 5 for Jul–Sep, and Sep 5 for Oct–Dec.
  3. Book online on recreation.gov when that window opens; one reservation covers your whole party.
  4. If a site is only first-come, or you missed the online release, plan to visit a Wilderness Permit Desk in person - roughly half of all sites are held for first-come, first-served.
  5. For sold-out online dates, keep watching: cancellations return to the pool immediately, and Permit Ranger can alert you when a spot reopens.

Notable trails

Top passes in this area

The most in-demand Zion National Park entry points, each with its own detail page.

Frequently asked questions

When do Zion National Park permits open?

Wilderness permits are quota'd year-round and sold in four quarterly releases at 10:00 AM Mountain on the 5th of the month before each quarter: Dec 5 (for Jan 1 – Mar 31 entries), Mar 5 (Apr 1 – Jun 30), Jun 5 (Jul 1 – Sep 30), and Sep 5 (Oct 1 – Dec 31). About half of all sites are reservable online; the rest are first-come, first-served in person at a Wilderness Permit Desk. One reservation covers your whole party. Exact on-sale details are on the recreation.gov permit page.

What if my dates are sold out?

Cancellations open up all season. Watch the passes you want on Permit Ranger and you get an instant alert when a date you need becomes bookable.

Does Permit Ranger book the permit for me?

No. Permit Ranger alerts you the moment a watched date opens, with a direct booking link, but the booking is always yours to make on recreation.gov.

More permits in Utah

Plan ahead

Sold-out dates reopen all the time from cancellations and quota drops. Permit Ranger checks recreation.gov around the clock and alerts you the moment your dates open. It never books for you.

Browse Zion National Park passes · Book on recreation.gov