Zion Overnight Wilderness Permit

Zion National Park · Utah

Booked one camp per night, in order

The backpacking permit for Zion's wilderness. You reserve a specific camp area for each night, from the West Rim's cliff-edge sites to Kolob's La Verkin Creek.

70% of the openings our scanner caught on Zion Wilderness were gone within 5 minutes.

Plan the full trip, not just the permit

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Add your dates and get a day-by-day plan: what needs a permit, what gear to bring, and one link to share with your whole group to coordinate every step.

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Zion Wilderness Quick Facts

Permit RequiredYes

Booking MethodReservation

Demand LevelHigh8/10

SeasonJanuary 1 - December 31

Cost$20 per permit plus $7 per person per night

Max Group Size12 people

Zion Wilderness Permit Facts

As of September 2026, Zion Wilderness in Zion National Park, Utah requires a permit issued via reservation.
Zion Wilderness is a high-demand permit, rating 8/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
The permit season for Zion Wilderness runs January 1 through December 31.
Cancelled Zion Wilderness permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.

Live availability activity →When Zion Wilderness permits open up →

Key Information

Key Dates

SeasonJanuary 1 - December 31

Permit Details

TypeOvernight

Booking MethodReservation

Demand Level8/10

LocationSouthwest Utah, UT

Pro Tips

•The quarterly release is the main event and cancellations are the second chance. Sites come back throughout the season as trips fall apart.
•West Rim sites 1 through 6 sit closest to the rim views. They go first.
•You still have to collect the paper permit in Springdale, so build the visitor center stop into your drive-in day.

Weather Forecast

Trailhead (5,000 ft)

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Backcountry Tips

Windy conditions: Bring wind-resistant shelter if camping.

Today

☁️

87°

63°

Thu

☁️

87°

66°

Fri

☁️

84°

67°

Sat

☁️

85°

68°

Sun

🌧️

86°

67°

Mon

🌧️

74°

61°

27%

Tue

☀️

77°

59°

View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.

How to Get This Permit

Create a Recreation.gov account

Know the release schedule

Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.

Be ready when permits drop

Monitor for cancellations

If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.

Book at Recreation.gov

Learn More

Best booking times Cancellation hunting Recreation.gov tips

Plan Your Trip

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Gear Checklist

Required and recommended gear for Zion Wilderness

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Shuttle Services

Trailhead transportation options

Browse all shuttles

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Guide Services

Experienced wilderness guides

Browse all guides

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Safety & Planning

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Emergency Info

Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Zion Wilderness. Sign up to track this permit.

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Food Storage

Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit. Sign up to track this permit.

Zion Wilderness FAQ

When do Zion overnight wilderness permits become available?

In quarterly blocks at 10:00 a.m. MT. Recreation.gov lists the release dates for permit 4675338 as December 5 for January 1 to March 31 trips, March 5 for April 1 to June 30, June 5 for July 1 to September 30, and September 5 for October 1 to December 31. Set an alert for the block that covers your dates, then watch for cancellations after it opens.

Do I pick a campsite or a zone with this permit?

A camp area. Recreation.gov sells 36 of them and each one is its own line in the availability grid. West Rim has nine numbered sites, La Verkin Creek has thirteen, Southwest Desert has six, Hop Valley has two, and East Rim, Wildcat Canyon, Lower Right Fork and Southeast Slickrock are single areas. Book the area you want to sleep in on each night of the trip.

Does the reservation count as my Zion wilderness permit?

No. Recreation.gov is blunt about it: the confirmation is a reservation, not a permit. You pick the permit up in person at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center wilderness desk, either the day before or the day of your trip. The desk runs 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily and the park says to allow 20 minutes. Kolob Canyons Visitor Center does not issue them.

How big a group can one Zion wilderness permit cover?

Twelve people. Zion counts a group as anyone who knows each other on the same trail or route on the same day, so splitting a party of 16 into two bookings for the same trail on the same day is not allowed.