Angels Landing: Winter (Hikes on December 1 - February 28)
- Part of Zion National Park
Zion National Park is piloting a permit program to hike Angels Landing. The program provides a fair process that will improve visitor experience and protect park resources along Angels Landing. Everyone who wants to hike from Scout Lookout to Angels Landing along the half-mile section of trail with chains needs to have a permit. This applies to hikers at all times of day and all times of year. Get a permit by applying to a Seasonal Lottery or by applying for our Day-before Lottery. Hikes during the winter, December 1, 2025 to Febuary 28, 2026 can be found on this page. See ‘Additional Information’ on the right hand side of this website for other seasons. Hiking on the West Rim Trail to Scout Lookout does not require a permit.
A permit is an opportunity, not a guarantee that conditions will allow a hike on your date and time. Environmental, trail, or other conditions may result in the NPS closing the trail and you may not be able to do the hike. If parking is full you may need to park at a nearby trailhead, or return later when parking is available. Zion Canyon Scenic Drive may close due to parking availability.
Ice and/or snow may be present on substantial portions of the trail throughout the winter. This trail is extremely dangerous during icy or snowy conditions. We recommend traction for boots (Watch: Hiking Safely: Winter Traction Devices in Zion National Park). Check the forecast before you hike. Your safety is your responsibility.
When you apply for the Seasonal lottery, you can pick up to 7 days and times or ranges of days and times that you are available to hike. Be sure to list the dates you want most first. The lottery uses a ranked choice system to allocate permits. If you do not get your first choice, you may get another.
The Day-Before lottery opens from 12:01am to 3:00pm the day before you wish to hike. Apply any time within that window, and you will be entered for a chance to receive a permit. You’ll be notified by 4:00pm if you have received one or not.
You can list up to six people (including the applicant) on your lottery application.
Applicants pay a $6 non-refundable application fee. This pays for recreation.gov to manage applications, run the lottery, and send emails to every applicant. You will automatically pay a $3 per person fee if recreation.gov issues a permit. This pays for National Park Service rangers to provide help on the trail and check permits.
If you get a permit, you need to print or screenshot it to bring on your hike. Cellular and data connectivity in the park are poor, so do this before you get to Zion. You may be asked to show your permit and valid photo identification to rangers at any point along the trail.
Limited parking will be at the Grotto trailhead when shuttles are not running. Otherwise you will need to ride the park shuttle from the Visitor Center.
Commercial Use Authorization holders must refer to the FAQs on the Zion Commercial Services website.
Permit & Season Information
You must have a permit to hike any portion of Angels Landing. Permits are needed every day and at all times. Permits are available by two lottery processes. The Seasonal Lottery application periods occur quarterly (see important dates below). Additional permits are issued in the Day-before Lottery.
Important Dates
| Dates | Information |
|---|---|
| October 1, 2025 - October 20, 2025 | Winter Seasonal Lottery Open (Hikes on December 1, 2025 - February 28, 2026) |
| October 25, 2025 | Notification of results of Winter Seasonal Lottery |
| December 1, 2025 - February 28, 2026 | Day-before Lotteries (Apply one day in advance of desired hiking date) |
| January 1, 2026 - January 20, 2026 | Spring Seasonal Lottery Open (Hikes on March 1, 2026 - May 31, 2026) |
Lottery Information
When you submit a permit application, you are entering a lottery. This is a virtual drawing that determines who will get a permit to hike to Angels Landing. Everyone who submits an application has the same chance of getting a permit. Learn more about how lotteries work .
Permits are divided between the Seasonal and Day-before lotteries. During the winter season ( December 1st - February 28th) those issued permits will start their hike from the Grotto (Shuttle Stop 6) at any time. Trail head parking is not guaranteed. You may be requred to park at the lodge or return later in the day to secure parking.
This is a pilot program, and the park will be monitoring how hikers affect the trail and each other's experiences to decide how many permits to issue in the future. Adjustments to the number of permits issued is expected based on how the pilot program goes. No matter when you plan to hike Angels Landing, you will need a permit.
How Does the Quota Work for this Permit?
Permits are issued through Seasonal and Day-Before lotteries. Around half of any given day’s permits are available in the Seasonal lottery. The remaining amount is available in our Day-Before lottery, and any cancelled Seasonal Lottery permits are added into the amount available in the Day-Before lottery.
The total number of permits available can change throughout the year depending on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to: the duration of daylight, seasonal shuttle hours, parking capacity, and trail conditions.
Each year, we issue about 200,000 permits– with the daily allocation ranging from a few hundred to over 800 permits. Holidays and weekends typically see a higher number of applicants, and the odds of receiving a permit may be lower. Park rangers regularly analyze permitting data to ensure that the number of Angels Landing hikers is as great as possible while still preventing the conditions that hikers used to report made them feel crowded, rushed, or unsafe.
