Zion Overnight Wilderness Permit
Zion National Park · Utah
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.
Get an alert when a Zion Wilderness camp area you pick opens on your dates.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Zion Wilderness were gone within 10 minutes.
Zion Wilderness reservation dates
- Season
- January 1 to December 31
- max group size
- 12people
Zion Wilderness camp areas
Pick your camp area when you book.
West Rim
Nine sites along the West Rim Trail.
West Rim Overnight permit pageSource: Recreation.gov permit 4675338
How to get a Zion Wilderness permit
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. Cancelled Zion Wilderness permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The permit season for Zion Wilderness runs January 1 through December 31.
- Type
- Overnight
- Location
- Southwest Utah, UT
Step 1: Create a Recreation.gov account
Sign up at Recreation.gov if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.
Step 2: Know the release schedule
Permits release on a rolling basis. Check the release time for your dates.
Step 3: Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
Step 4: Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
Zion Wilderness 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.
More on Zion Wilderness: Live availability activityWhen Zion Wilderness permits open up
How much a Zion Wilderness permit costs
Zion Wilderness permit fee: $20 per permit plus $7 per person per night.
When to hike Zion Wilderness
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
74°
55°
57%
Wed
87°
56°
Thu
82°
60°
Fri
85°
67°
Sat
87°
68°
Sun
88°
70°
Mon
82°
68°
Zion Wilderness rules, gear and safety
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Zion Wilderness.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Zion Wilderness · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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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, and it keeps checking 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.
Zion Wilderness trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
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Questions
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Trip Reports
Write ReportAlternatives to a Zion Wilderness permit
Where to stay near Zion Wilderness
- South Campground (Ut)Zion National Park
- Watchman CampgroundZion National Park
- Lava Point CampgroundZion National Park
- All Utah campgrounds
Plan the full trip, not just the permit
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