Angels Landing permits: lotteries, Scout Lookout and the chains

Angels Landing is a narrow sandstone fin in the middle of Zion Canyon, and the trail to its top is one of the most famous in America. The hike is 5.4 miles (8.7 km) round trip with 1,488 ft (454 m) of climbing, and most people take about four hours. The last half mile follows a knife-edge ridge with chains bolted into the rock and long drops on both sides; that final section needs a permit every day of the year (NPS Angels Landing).

Everything below the chains is open to all. Scout Lookout, the saddle at the foot of the ridge, is a strenuous and rewarding destination on its own, so a missed lottery does not have to mean a missed hike.

The hike, step by step#

The trail starts at The Grotto, shuttle stop 6 on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. You cross the road and a bridge over the Virgin River onto the West Rim Trail, then climb a series of steep switchbacks up the canyon wall (West Rim to Scout Lookout).

The gradient eases as the trail turns into Refrigerator Canyon, a narrow side canyon where the walls block the sun and the air stays cool. The respite is short. Walter's Wiggles, a stack of 21 tight switchbacks, lifts you out of the side canyon onto Scout Lookout, a sandy, partly shaded flat with restrooms, views up and down Zion Canyon and a chance of spotting endangered California condors.

To Scout Lookout it is 1.9 miles (3 km) one way with 1,187 ft (362 m) of climbing. The NPS rates it strenuous: the steepest grade reaches 43 percent, and two thirds of the trail is steeper than 8.3 percent. Allow three to four hours for the round trip.

From Scout Lookout the chains section runs along the spine of the fin to the summit, half a mile of narrow, exposed rock with chains to hold. Hikers going up and down share the same ridge, so expect to wait and take turns at the tight spots. At the top the whole canyon opens up, with the Virgin River far below and the Great White Throne across the gorge.

Scout Lookout without a permit#

You do not need a permit to reach Scout Lookout; you do need one for any step onto the chains beyond it (NPS permit page). For many walkers the lookout is the right finish anyway. The view down the canyon is excellent, the climb through Walter's Wiggles is a solid workout in itself, and you avoid the exposure. If you want more, the West Rim Trail continues north from the lookout, with no Angels Landing permit required.

How the permit lotteries work#

All Angels Landing permits are issued by lottery on Recreation.gov. There are two kinds.

Seasonal lottery. Apply during a published window for hikes in the following season. The windows announced by the NPS:

Day-before lottery. Apply between 12:01 am and 3 pm Mountain Time the day before you want to hike; permits are issued at 4 pm the same day. This is the best option if you are already in Springdale or the park.

An application costs $6 and covers up to six people, including the applicant. If you win, there is an additional $3 per person. On the application you choose a start window: before 9 am, 9 am to noon, or after noon. The start window applies at The Grotto, not at the chains, so you need to set off from the trailhead within your window.

The permit is tied to its holder and is not transferable. The holder or the named alternate must hike with the group, and rangers may ask for the permit and that person's photo ID at The Grotto, at Scout Lookout or on the trail. Carry the confirmation email on your phone or on paper. The trail closes for a few days each autumn for maintenance (5 to 8 October in 2026), with no permits issued for those dates.

Planning the day#

Getting to The Grotto. For most of the year private cars cannot drive the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive and the free park shuttle is the only way in; the ride to the last stop takes about 45 minutes. In 2026 the first shuttle leaves the visitor centre at 7 am, with the last departure at 6 pm until 24 October and 5 pm from 25 October to 28 November. From 29 November to 25 December there is no shuttle and you can drive to The Grotto in your own car; the shuttle returns for the holiday period from 26 December (shuttle system). Allow for the shuttle queue and the ride when you choose your start window.

Water. Fill up at The Grotto. There is no drinkable water anywhere else on the trail, including at Scout Lookout.

Conditions. The NPS advises against going onto the chains when storm clouds are around, when the rock is wet or icy (sandstone becomes very slick), or if you cannot finish before dark. A permit does not change that. In summer, an early start window avoids the worst heat on the exposed switchbacks; in winter, ice can linger on Walter's Wiggles and the ridge.

Who should skip the chains. Anyone uneasy with heights, or with young children, will enjoy Scout Lookout more. The chains section is busy, narrow and unforgiving of a slip.

Practical details#

Entry fees are on the NPS fees page. Lottery windows, fees and the shuttle timetable were checked on 8 October 2026; the next seasonal windows for spring 2027 will appear on the NPS permit page.