Backpacking Reservations

 

The Zion Wilderness is a world-renowned destination that offers opportunities for solitude and adventure. With over 90 miles of trails, dozens of designated backpacking sites, multiple at-large camping areas, and 124,406 acres of designated wilderness, Zion National Park offers a variety of unique backpacking opportunities.

Plan Ahead and Prepare

While preparing for your overnight backpacking trip, consider your interests, time, and the ability level of your group. There is no "one best trail." Come up with backup plans in case your first or second choices are not available. Trails and/or campsites may close at any time due to rockfalls, flashfloods, wildfires, etc. Always have a backup plan in mind. Use topographic maps and the webpage links below to plan your Zion Wilderness backpacking experience:

Check Availability of Online Calendar Reservations

  • Half of the backpacking campsites in the Zion Wilderness can be reserved online.
  • Online Calendar Reservations are available during a two-month time frame.
  • On the 5th day of every month at 10:00am mountain time, reservations for the next month become available.
  • If sites are still available, reservations can be made until 5:00pm mountain time, the day before your trip.

For a Backpacking Trip in...

Online Reservations are available on:

January December 5th
February January 5th
March February 5th
April March 5th
May April 5th
June May 5th
July June 5th
August July 5th
September August 5th
October September 5th
November October 5th
December November 5th


*Please be aware that most backpacking sites, that are available for online reservation, will become fully booked for the next month within minutes of reservations opening on the 5th of each month at 10:00am mountain time.

Before making a reservation, check the backpacking Online Calendar Reservations page to determine which designated campsites, at-large camp areas, and dates are available.

Multi-night trips

  • When available, you may create one reservation to stay in the same campsite or camp area for multiple nights.
  • Backpackers who intend to through hike, will need to make separate reservations for each night of their trip.
  • You may not use a Wilderness campsite as a substitute for Frontcountry Camping to day hike in Zion Canyon.

In the drop-down menu you will be able to select backpacking sites for:

  • East Rim Camp Area (At-large, dispersed camping)
  • Hop Valley (Designated campsites)
  • La Verkin Creek (Designated campsites)
  • Narrows (Designated campsites)
  • Southwest Desert (Designated campsites)
  • West Rim (Designated campsites)
  • Wildcat Canyon Camp Area (At-large, dispersed camping)

Available dates for the selected campsite or camp area will appear in green, and you will be able to click on the date in the top right corner. Dates that have already been reserved by another party will appear in red. The number in the bottom left corner is the group size limit for that site or area.

Apply for an Online Calendar Reservation

Make a reservation for each night of your trip by going to the Zion Wilderness Reservations Login page. Click Create Account and enter your information. If you have an existing Zion Wilderness Reservations account, log in.

*Your Password should be exactly eight characters and include: an upper case letter, lower case letter, number, and special symbol (i.e. & % * ! $ #)

Once you are logged in to your account you can then Make a Backpacking Reservation for each night, for the duration of your trip. Carefully read through and complete your reservation application(s). You will be required to pay a non-refundable $5.00 fee for each reservation. An additional fee will be paid when you obtain your Wilderness permit.

Wilderness areas subject to natural forces such as: wildfires, rockfalls, flash floods, and other related factors that may cause closures or changes to trip plans. An online reservation does not guarantee that a trail, canyon, or resource will be open at the time of the trip.

First-Come, First-Serve, Walk-in Permits

  • Half of the backpacking campsites in the Zion Wilderness are available on a first come, first serve, walk-in basis.
  • Download the Zion Wilderness Map or full Zion Wilderness Guide to view which campsites are available by online calendar reservation and which campsites are available on a first come, first serve, walk-in basis.
  • Permits must be obtained in person at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center Wilderness Desk or the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center during normal Hours of Operation. Permits can be obtained the day before, or day of the trip.

Obtain Your Wilderness Permit

  • All Wilderness permits must be obtained in-person at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center Wilderness Desk or the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center.
  • If you have made an advanced Calendar Reservation, the individual listed as the reservation holder must be the one to obtain the permit, please plan accordingly.
  • Plan your trip itinerary to allow sufficient time to obtain your permit the day of, or the day before your trip during our Hours of Operation.
  • Allow for at least 20 minutes to obtain a permit. Come prepared with all vehicle(s) information: make, model, and license plate(s).


Wilderness Permit Fee:

  • $15.00 for 1 to 2 people

  • $20.00 for 3 to 7 people

  • $25.00 for 8 to 12 people

Wilderness Permits are Non-Transferable

Traveling in the Zion Wilderness requires careful planning and preparation. Permit holders assume the responsibility of ensuring that their group is aware of the risks involved, is self-reliant, has developed a back-up plan, and will follow park regulations. Because these are such important aspects of trip planning and resource protection, permits for trips into the Zion Wilderness are non-transferable.

If you cannot participate in your trip, please cancel your reservation to provide opportunities for others. If other members of your group still wish to participate in a planned trip, you may coordinate with a new prospective permit holder for them to immediately reserve the available spaces or sites, as soon as your reservation has been cancelled.

You may cancel your reservation online by logging in to your Zion Wilderness Reservations Account. As soon as your reservation is cancelled, those spaces or sites will immediately be available for someone else to obtain through the calendar reservations page. New permit holders will need a Zion Wilderness Reservations Account prior to creating a calendar reservation.

Plan your trip itinerary to allow sufficient time to obtain your permit the day of, or day before the trip during Zion Wilderness Desk Hours of Operation. The individual listed on reservation must be the one to obtain the permit, please plan accordingly.

 
 
 

Last updated: July 1, 2022

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Zion National Park
1 Zion Park Blvd.

Springdale, UT 84767

Phone:

435-772-3256
If you have questions, please email zion_park_information@nps.gov. Listen to recorded information by calling anytime 24 hours a day. Rangers answer phone calls from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. MT, but a ranger may not answer if they are already speaking with someone else.

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