Canyoneering Permits

 

All technical slot canyons in Zion National Park require a permit. There are several ways to obtain a permit for your canyoneering trip.

Advance Reservations: up to 3 months in advance

Over half of all available permits are secured using the advance reservation system. Reservations are available online during a three month time frame. On the fifth day of every month at 10:00 am MT, reservations for the next month become available. If they are still available, they can be made until 5:00 pm MT on the day before your trip.

Zion Wilderness has experienced a fifteen percent increase in the demand for Wilderness reservations and permits over the last 3 years.

As a result of the increased desire for a Wilderness permit, area reservations are quickly booked, almost immediately after becoming available on the 5^th of each month.

The Wilderness permit system receives an extremely high volume of use on the 5^th and visitors may find that they are unsuccessful in booking a reservation for their intended trip.

Zion Wilderness is a world-renowned destination that offers opportunities that range in recreational and educational experiences.

If you are unable to obtain a reservation for one of the Wilderness areas in Zion, there are still a number of amazing sites and activities you can enjoy in Zion National Park and the surrounding areas.

Make a reservation for a canyoneering day trip, including The Narrows one-day, top down hike.

For a trip in... calendar reservations are available on....
March.... January 5
April... February 5
May.... March 5
June... April 5
July... May 5
August... June 5
September... July 5
October... August 5
November... September 5
December... October 5
January... November 5
February... December 5

There is a $5.00 non-refundable fee for an online calendar reservation, and there is an additional charge for a permit that is determined by the size of your group.

The Advance Lottery: 3 months prior

The Advance Lottery is for trips through The Subway and Mystery Canyon. Due to the popularity of these two areas, the park created an online lottery for reservations. The Advance Lottery does not run from November through March due to a low demand for permits.

Advance Lottery applications are completed online. Entries must be submitted three months prior to your planned trip. Entries are limited to one request per individual per month. Entrants can request three prioritized dates. The non-refundable lottery application is $5.00.

Applicants will be sent a notification email on the fifth day of the following month with information about the status of their request. If a reservation is awarded, the permit must be obtained before the trip at a park visitor center. If there are spaces remaining after the lottery has run, they will become available through the advanced reservation system.

Apply for the Advance Lottery for The Subway and Mystery Canyon.

The Last Minute Drawing: 7 to 2 days in advance

The remaining permits can be obtained through the Last Minute Drawing, 7-2 days before your trip date. In the small chance the Last Minute Drawing does not fill, walk-in permits become available the day before or the day of your trip date at park visitor centers.

Apply for the Last Minute Drawing for canyoneering day trips.

Hours of Operation

Permit Cost:

$15.00 - 1-2 people
$20.00 - 3-7 people
$25.00 - 8-12 people

 

Zion Express Membership

• Zion Express Membership allows visitors who regularly visit the park, and are familiar with the park resources to obtain a login account to create online reservations and convert them into Wilderness Permits from home.

• To become a member, applicants must watch three orientation films at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center Wilderness Desk. (Membership cannot be obtained in the Kolob Canyons.)

• After watching the films, applicants will sign a Zion Express Program Agreement form and obtain a username and password for their member account.

• Before creating a reservation, members must login to their Zion Express account. Online reservations that are created before obtaining a Zion Express Membership, or without first logging in, CANNOT be converted into a Wilderness Permit from home.

• There is no cost for enrollment. Membership is valid for the remainder of the current year and for the next two calendar years.

• Memberships may be cancelled if any regulations are violated.