Zion National Park official: Angels Landing permits ‘level the playing field’

ST. GEORGE — Improving the visitor’s experience and safety when hiking Angels Landing are the goals of the lottery system in Zion National Park. The summer season lottery applications opened on Thursday and will run until April 20. 

Visitors hiking Angels Landing in Zion National Park, Utah, July 9, 2017 | Photo courtesy of Zion National Park, St. George News

“This levels the playing field,” said Susan McPartland, Zion National Park’s Visitor Use manager. 

Anyone who hikes Angels Landing will be required to have a permit. By spreading out how many people visit the iconic site, visitors will feel less rushed, McPartland said. This lottery will be for permission to hike the trail between June 1 and Aug. 31.  

Park rangers will enforce the lottery at three locations: the Grotto Shuttle Stop 6, along the trail and at the top of Angel’s Landing. The extra staffing is funded through the fee paid by the person awarded a permit, and hikers will need to retain the permit in the park.

“Rangers may ask to see permits at the Grotto or Scout Lookout,” McPartland said. “Hikers may see a ranger on the trail at any day or night.

“If you have a permit, do not forget to print or download your permit confirmation email before starting the hike. You may need to show this and identification to a ranger on the trail.”

However, visitors will not need a permit to hike Scout’s Landing or ride the shuttle buses. Entry into the park will still require a park fee

The Angels Landing Trail requires chains in some of its narrowest sections
The Angels Landing Trail, which includes narrow ascents with drops of 1,000 to 1,500 feet, Zion National Park, Utah, date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Lisa Landreth, St. George News

The time printed on a permit is when the permit holder needs to be at the Grotto. McPartland advises hikers to allow themselves plenty of time to get to the Grotto before the start time printed on their permit. She also advises travelers to check the shuttle schedule before leaving to avoid missing the last shuttle.

The Angels Landing hike is challenging for all fitness levels, and McPartland cautions hikers to be extra prepared. Most people are unaware that the trail climbs in elevation quickly and gains 1,488 feet. The path is 5.4 miles round trip and can take four hours or longer to complete.

Hikers will sweat more than they expect, McPartland said. Salty snacks and plenty of water are advised. The weather can change quickly from hot sun to rain showers and lightning, so layers are suggested. Additional information is available on the National Park Service Angels Landing webpage.

Additional tips include carrying a flashlight or headlamp with new batteries, food and plenty of water. Even though the trail is well marked, McPartland advises visitors to bring a park map in case they get disoriented. If someone needs assistance on the trail and can’t get cellular service, finding a ranger or volunteer is wise.

“Your safety on the trail is your responsibility, and we want to share some tips so that you reduce the risks and have an enjoyable hike,” she said. 

The first phase of the lottery showed that weekends and early morning permits were the most requested. The park service plans to track the trends this year to make any future adjustments. Visitors are encouraged to leave feedback on the park’s website to help with the data the park will need to manage future permit lotteries. 

“We don’t know how many people will apply so we can’t report the odds of getting a permit yet,” McPartland said. “We’ll have to see how it goes over time.” 

Visitors can apply for seasonal permit lotteries or a different lottery the day before their planned hikes. The cost is $6 to enter any of the lotteries, and successful permit holders will pay $3 per person. These funds will cover costs to manage the lotteries and for additional NPS rangers who will assist visitors and check permits on the trail. Click here to learn when and how to enter the lotteries.

The Angels Landing pilot program will be adjusted needed. The program reflects comments from nearly 1,000 members of the public, park neighbors and other stakeholders. Additional lessons learned were by the NPS metering the number of hikers on the trail in 2019 and 2021. And the information was pulled from the distribution of tickets to use the park shuttle system in response to COVID-19 in 2020.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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