The National Park Service has announced that its permit system for hiking Angels Landing will continue in 2023, and published dates when you can apply for permission to hike.
Angels Landing is the most popular and infamous hike in Zion National Park. Its sheer drops have claimed the lives of 14 visitors, but each year hundreds ofd thousands more come to test their nerve against its narrow paths and haul themselves to the top using chains bolted into the rock.
In fact, the route has become so popular that this year Zion introduced a permit system to limit the number of people on the trail at any one time, thereby reducing queues and, hopefully, accidents.
"Issuing permits is something we did after substantial public input, and it has been effective," Zion Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh told National Parks Traveler. "In 2023, park rangers will continue recording data and enhancing the pilot program to maximize the number of people making the hike while minimizing crowding and congestion on this half-mile, perennially popular trail."
Lottery dates
Permits are assigned via lotteries. There is a seasonal lottery for a visitors who want to plan their trip in advanced, and a daily one for those who have already arrived at the park, and want to try to hike the following day.
You can enter either lottery at Recreation.gov, and dates for the 2023 seasonal lottery are shown in the table below. All lotteries open at 8am MT, and close at 11:59pm MT. If you are successful, you will be assigned a start time for your hike, when you'll need to be ready to leave from the Grotto Trailhead.
| Date of hike | Lottery opens | Lottery closes | Permits issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 1 - May 31 | January 1 | January 20 | January 25 |
| June 1 - August 31 | April 1 | April 20 | April 25 |
| September 1 - November 30 | July 1 | July 20 | July 25 |
| December 1 - February 29 | October 1 | October 20 | October 25 |
