Planning a visit to our Zion resort in 2023? This year, the big question on many visitors’ minds is whether Zion National Park will require reservations to visit.
In the wake of COVID-19 and growing annual attendance, many popular national parks across the nation have begun requiring reservations, permits, and passes in order to visit. Close to home, Arches National Park began requiring timed entry tickets in 2022. Day-use visitors need to purchase a $2 timed entry ticket, which is released three months out in one-month blocks. A limited number of last-minute tickets are also released each day for the following day. If you want to visit the park between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. from the beginning of April to the beginning of October, you’ll need a ticket to do so.
While you can day trip to Arches during your visit to Flanigan’s Resort, you’ll likely be spending most of your time in Zion. Will you need a reservation in order to do so? Keep reading to find out.
Does Zion National Park Require Reservations?
Zion National Park does not require reservations, permits, or timed entry tickets to visit in 2023. Guests need only pay the park’s entrance fee or provide a valid national park annual pass, such as the America the Beautiful Pass, in order to enter the park. This is true no matter what time of year you choose to visit, including the busy summer season.
Riding the Zion Canyon Shuttle and Springdale Shuttle are both free and do not require reservations or tickets to ride.
But there is one activity that may require a permit, depending on where you choose to go; hiking. In 2022, Zion National Park began requiring a permit for visitors hoping to hike Angels Landing past Scouts Lookout.
How Does the Angels Landing Lottery System Work?
While you might not need a reservation to enter Zion, you will need to reserve a spot if you plan to hike the park’s most popular trail. At its most popular, it’s estimated that up to 1,000 people hiked Angels Landing each day. On busy days, it wasn’t uncommon for crowds to form on the trail. Add in difficult conditions on the trail and triple-digit temperatures, and this became a challenge.
To protect park visitors and the delicate natural environment on and around the trail, the National Park Service launched the Angels Landing Pilot Permit Program. Visitors now need a permit if they plan to hike the trail past Scout Lookout. Permits can be purchased in one of two lotteries. The first is the Seasonal Lottery. Held four times a year, this lottery awards permits for the following season. The second lottery is the Day-Before Lottery. As the name suggests, this daily lottery awards any leftover permits for the following day.
Entering either lottery costs $6, and each entry can be used for up to 6 people. If you do get a permit in one of the lotteries, you’ll need to pay $3 per person for the permit.
These National Parks Will Require Reservations in 2023
Zion National Park may not be requiring reservations in 2023, but several other national parks are. Rocky Mountain National Park was the first to implement a timed entry ticket. While the new system was launched in 2020 as a result of COVID-19, it is set to be continued in 2023.
Haleakala National Park, located in Maui, Hawaii, requires reservations for guests hoping to catch a sunrise in the park. If you want to enter between the hours of 3 a.m. and 7 a.m., you’ll need to make a reservation ahead of time. However, outside of those hours, you won’t need a ticket or reservation in order to enter the park.
Similar to Zion, some national parks are opting to require reservations to access certain trails or areas of the park. Glacier National Park, for instance, previously required visitors to have a reservation to drive the popular Going-to-the-Sun Road and to visit the North Fork area during the summer season. In 2023, guests will also need reservations to enter the Two Medicine and Many Glacier valleys.
Planning Your 2023 Zion Resort Stay
Unless you’re hoping to hike Angels Landing during your visit, you won’t need a reservation for Zion National Park. Riding the shuttle, entering the park, and hiking all but one of the park’s trails is open to anyone, at any time. All you’ll need to do is pay the park’s entrance fee, or present a valid national park annual pass.
While you might not need a reservation, doing a little planning ahead of your trip can help you enjoy a fun, stress-free vacation. Staying at Flanigan’s Resort is one great way to make the most of your time.
Located in the heart of Springdale and conveniently situated close to stops on the Springdale Shuttle line, Flanigan’s Resort makes it fast and easy to get to and from the park. Leave your vehicle parked at our Zion resort while you ride into the park early in the day to make the most of your visit.
Ready to start planning your next Zion resort stay? Book your next visit to Flanigan’s Resort today!