Permits & Reservations

No tickets, permits, or reservations needed to ride the park shuttle or enter Zion National Park

You do not need a permit or reservation to visit most areas in Zion Canyon.

• You do not need a permit or reservation to ride a park shuttle.

• You do not need a permit or reservation to enter the park.

  • You do need to pay the park fee.

• You do not need a permit to hike the Narrows from the Temple of Sinawava going upstream in the Virgin River.

  • High water may prevent travel in the Narrows, so check the park's current conditions before you start your day.

 

 

The National Park Service issues permits for lots of activities in Zion National Park. These activities include things like canyoneering, hiking, backcountry camping, or hosting a wedding. There are many reasons we use permits, but they all boil down to one simple idea:

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This place is special, and permits give directions on how to protect and enjoy it.

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We write directions on permits so that you know what to do during adventures in the park. When you read the directions on your permit, you learn how to protect the landscapes, animals, plants, or history that make Zion... Zion. It is very important that you take your permit seriously so that you Leave No Trace of your visit. Each year, there are visitors that do not follow the directions on their permits, which hurts the park.

You can learn more about permits, including how to get yours, by looking at the activites listed here.

 

Other Permits & Authorizations

Special Use: Weddings, memorials, some commercial filming/photography, 1st Amendment activities, etc

A Special Use Permit (SUP) authorizes activities that benefit an individual, group, or organization rather than the public at large and require written authorization and management control in order to protect park resources and the public interest.

Examples include: weddings, memorial services, commercial filming and/or photography, special assemblies, First Amendment activities, athletic events, or collecting of resource materials. Each of these activities requires a special use permit that must be acquired in advance.

Commercial Use Authorizations

Any commercial activity, other than commercial filming and/or photography, requires a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA).

The Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) program authorizes the provision of suitable commercial services to park area visitors, as long as three conditions are met: the services (a) will have minimal impact on the park area’s resources and values; (b) are consistent with the purposes for which the park area was established; and (c) are consistent with all applicable park area management plans, policies and regulations.

The Superintendent grants CUAs to businesses when there are no fixed commercial facilities within a national park area; the commercial activity originates and terminates outside the park; no money changes hands on park lands; and no commercial solicitation occurs on park lands. CUA permits are available for the following activities:

• Commercial Interpretive Services (limited trail use)
• Bicycle Tours
• Photography or Painting Workshops
• Taxi and Recreational Shuttle Services
• Motorcycle Tours
• Rental RV Delivery

A business wishing to do any of these activities must procure a CUA in advance and follow the terms and conditions of the authorization. A Zion CUA is valid for one calendar year. Various liability insurance and first aid requirements must be met in order to receive a permit.

Scientific Research & Collecting Permits

Learn more about the Scientific Research and Collection Permit process here.

Conducting research within a unit of the National Park Service (NPS) presents the opportunity to both advance scientific knowledge and to serve as a steward by protecting natural and cultural resources for future generations. All science and research activities occurring at ZION are authorized with a Scientific Research and Collecting Permit. In addition to providing invaluable knowledge to park administrators for decision-making purposes, research permits are required to ensure that the values of the park, the visitor experience, and park resources remain intact.

A Principle Investigator (PI) may Request a Permit by submitting an application through the Research Permit and Reporting System (RPRS) as accessed through the Integrated Resource Management Application (IRMA) web portal. Prior to submitting an application, every PI is encouraged to become acquainted with the IRMA Data Store and NPS LIBRIS to access recent NPS research and resource management projects as well as the information available on NPS Natural Resources, Cultural Resources, and Social Sciences. It is imperative that PIs are familiar with NPS Director’s Order 79: Integrity of Scientific and Scholarly Activities as well as the RPRS application guidelines provided in the RPRS Help menu, specifically Investigator Help. Reporting and curation requirements must also be observed by each PI to preserve research efforts, obtain annual NPS approval for ongoing research activities, as well as to provide public access to research data and analyses.

 

Campground and Lodge Reservations

Zion National Park has three campgrounds and one lodge for overnight stays. Most sites and rooms are available by reservation only.

• Camping reservations can be made on recreation.gov. Standard sites at Watchman Campground can be booked up to 6 months in advance.
• Lodge reservations can be made on the Zion Lodge website. Rooms at the lodge can be booked roughly 1 year in advance.

For additional information about campgrounds and lodging, visit the links below.