Angels Landing is undoubtedly Zion National Park’s most famous trail. In fact, it’s one of the most popular and well known trails in the country. From the dangerous ridgeline section to the incredible views from the trail’s peak, Angels Landing attracts thousands of hikers every year.
The trail’s popularity has led to issues in the past. An increase in visitor numbers in 2020 and 2021 caused lines to form at the trailhead, leaving hikers waiting in the heat for their turn to hike past Scout Lookout. As a result, the National Park Service implemented a new Pilot Permit Program in 2022.
Under this new program, any visitors hoping to hike past Scout Lookout must enter one of two lotteries for a permit. Only a limited number of permits are available each day. This can make getting a permit more difficult during busy times of year in the park, like summer weekends or around the holidays. Park staff and rangers check permits on the trail to ensure that everyone on the trail has a valid permit for that day. Since the permit program began in 2022, almost 400,000 permits have been issued to hikers.
If you’re hoping to hike Angels Landing during your stay at Flanigan’s Resort, keep reading. We’re bringing you the dates you need to know in 2024.
The Angels Landing Seasonal Lotteries
If hiking Angels Landing is on your bucket list during your stay in our Zion National Park hotel, you’ll want to increase your chances of getting a permit by entering the Seasonal Lottery. This is the first of the two lotteries that provide permits for the trail.
The Seasonal Lottery is open four times per year and provides permits for the following season.
2024 Angels Landing Seasonal Lotteries
The National Park Service recently announced the dates for the 2024 Angels Landing Seasonal Lotteries. These are the dates you need to know:
- If you want to hike Angels Landing between March 1 and May 31, you’ll need to enter the Seasonal Lottery between January 1 and January 20. Permits will be issued on January 25.
- For hikes between June 1 and August 31, the Seasonal Lottery will be open from April 1 to April 20. Permits will be issued on April 25.
- If you’re hoping to hike Angel Landing between September 1 and November 30, you’ll need to enter the Seasonal Lottery between July 1 and July 20. Permits will be issued on July 25.
- For hikes between December 1 and February 28, 2025, the Seasonal Lottery will be open between October 1 and October 20. Permits will be issued on October 25.
Entering the Seasonal Lottery
You can enter the Seasonal Lottery during any of the four open periods by going online to the National Park Service website. When a Seasonal Lottery is open, a hyperlink will become available on the site on the dates for that lottery.
When you enter the Seasonal Lottery, you’ll be able to pick up to seven days and times or windows of time when you would like to hike the trail. You’ll rank those dates and times in order of preference.
Each Seasonal Lottery entry costs $6. This fee covers up to six individuals, including the person filling out the application. This fee is non-refundable. If you do get a permit in the Seasonal Lottery, you’ll be charged an additional $3 per person registered on the permit application. If you are unable to hike the trail during your chosen dates, you can cancel your permit at least two days ahead of your hike to get a refund of the $3 per person.
Your permit will be available by logging into your account on recreation.gov.
What to Do if You Don’t Get a Permit
If you don’t get a permit in a 2024 Seasonal Lottery, you’ll have one more chance to get a permit. As the name suggests, the Day-Before Lottery opens daily, and issues permits for the following day.
You can enter the Day-Before Lottery between 12:01 a.m. and 3 p.m. Mountain Time each day. This lottery also costs $6 to enter and can include up to six people on one application. This fee is non-refundable.
Permits are issued in the Day-Before Lottery at 4 p.m. M.T. daily. If you do get a permit, you’ll be automatically charged an additional $3 per person on the application. In this lottery, this fee is also non-refundable.
You’ll receive an email letting you know that you got a permit. This email is your permit. You can print a copy to present on the trail or download a copy on your phone. Because mobile service is often unavailable in the park, it’s best to download your permit so that you’ll be able to show it.
Planning Your 2024 Zion National Park Visit
If you’re dreaming of hiking Angels Landing during your stay in the best spa resort Zion National Park has to offer, you’ll want to plan ahead to enter the Seasonal Lottery for the dates of your visit. This will give you two chances to get a permit.
Ready to start planning your 2024 visit to our Zion National Park hotel? There are a few other dates you’ll need to know. Check out this article next to learn more.