Wilderness Climbing Permits

Apply for Climbing Permits

 

Permits are not required for day climbs, but they are required for all overnight bivouacs. It is illegal to camp at the base of the wall or in your vehicle (unless the vehicle is in an established campground with a valid reservation).

Advance Reservations: up to 3 months in advance

Over half of all available permits are available using an online calender reservation system. Reservations are available online during a two 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.

Make a Climbing Reservation: up to 3 months in advance on recreation.gov

For a Climbing Bivy Permit in...	Online Reservations are available at 10:00 am Mountain Time on...
January	December 5th
February	December 5th
March	December 5th
April	March 5th
May	March 5th
June	March 5th
July	June 5th
August	June 5th
September	June 5th
October	September 5th
November	September 5th
December	September 5th

Climbing areas reservable online:

• Desert Shield
• Lunar Ecstasy
• Monkeyfinger
• Moonlight Buttress
• Prodigal Sun
• Spaceshot/Leaning Wall
• Touchstone Wall
• Tricks of the Trade

 

Permits are required for all overnight trips in the Zion Wilderness.

NPS Photo

Walk-In Permits

About one-third of climbing permits are not available through the reservation system. They are available as walk-in permits and can be obtained at the Zion Canyon and Kolob Canyons Wilderness Desks.

Obtain Your Wilderness Permit

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).
• All Wilderness permits must be obtained in-person at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center Wilderness Desk or Kolob Canyons Visitor Center.
• The individual listed as the reservation holder must be the one to obtain the permit, please plan accordingly.

Permit Cost:

• Permit Fee: $20 per permit (non-refundable)
• Per Person Fee: $7 per person per night (refundable)
• The same fees are charged for for first-come, first-served permits that are issued in person. This fee supports the permit and reservation management system.

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 recreation.gov. 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.

 

Zion Express Membership

Zion Express Membership allows visitors who regularly visit the park and are familiar with park resources to obtain express access 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 Visitor Center.)
• After watching the films, applicants will sign a Zion Express Program Agreement form. Their express access will be linked to their recreation.gov account.

• There is no cost for enrollment. Membership is valid for three years from the date they signed up. Memberships may be cancelled if any regulations are violated.