Angels Landing / The Grotto (Shuttle Stop 6)
There is no Angels Landing parking lot, and your permit doesn't get you one. The trail starts at The Grotto, shuttle stop 6, on a road closed to private vehicles from March 7 to November 28, 2026. You park at the Visitor Center or in Springdale like everyone else, then ride in.
The permit is separate from everything: $6 to apply (covers up to 6 people) plus $3 per person if you win. It is not a parking pass, not an entrance fee, and not a shuttle ticket. Rangers check it at The Grotto, at Scout Lookout, and on the chains.
The facts
- Trail served
- Angels Landing via West Rim Trail (5.4 mi RT, chains section permit-required); Scout Lookout and the West Rim Trail are permit-free from the same stop
- Cost / pass
- Park entrance $35/vehicle. Permit: $6 non-refundable application (up to 6 people) + $3 per person if awarded. Shuttle is free
- Lot size
- None — The Grotto has no public parking during shuttle season. It's a shuttle stop with a picnic area and restrooms
- When it fills
- N/A for parking. The binding constraint is the permit lottery, then the morning shuttle queue at the Visitor Center — expect a line before 8am in summer
- Overflow option
- Park at the Visitor Center (350+ spaces) or Springdale ($15–$25/day) — see the Zion parking master page
- Tow / citation risk
- You physically cannot drive the Scenic Drive in season; in winter, park only in the marked Grotto pullout spaces
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Road to the lot
- Zion Canyon Scenic Drive — shuttle only Mar 7–Nov 28, 2026; drivable Nov 29–Dec 25 and after Jan 2
- Busy season
- Spring and fall. Winter is the only time you can drive to the trailhead, but ice on the chains is a real hazard
Getting there
Get directions →The permit is not a parking pass
People conflate three separate transactions at Zion, and Angels Landing is where it hurts. Entrance fee ($35/vehicle, or America the Beautiful) gets your car through the gate. Parking is first-come at the Visitor Center or paid in Springdale. The Angels Landing permit is a lottery-issued authorization to walk the chains section past Scout Lookout — and it grants you nothing else. Winning it does not reserve a space, does not skip the shuttle line, and does not cover entry.
Rangers may check the permit anywhere — NPS specifically names The Grotto, Scout Lookout, and the trail itself. Carry it. Without it, they may turn you around.
How the lottery actually works in 2026
Two lotteries, both on Recreation.gov.
Seasonal lottery — apply months ahead, rank up to seven date/time options. 2026 windows: Feb 13–25 for March–May hikes; Apr 1–20 for June–August; Jul 1–20 for September 1–November 30 (permits issued July 25); Oct 1–20 for December 1, 2026 – February 28, 2027. $6 to apply, covering up to six people, non-refundable. If you win, $3 per person — refundable if you cancel at least two days out.
Day-before lottery — opens 12:01am and closes 3pm Mountain Time, results at 4pm the same day, for the following day's hike. Same $6 application fee, and here everything is non-refundable with no cancellation. This is the real option for anyone already in town, and it's how a lot of people get on the rock.
Plan B
Scout Lookout is free and permit-free. The West Rim Trail up to Scout Lookout — Walter's Wiggles, the switchbacks, the view down the canyon — requires no permit at all. It's the same trailhead, the same shuttle, and about 4 miles round trip. Only the final half-mile of chains is gated by the lottery. If your application loses, you have not lost your day.
The other honest Plan B is timing: in winter (Nov 29–Dec 25 and after Jan 2 in the 2026–27 season) the Scenic Drive reopens to private vehicles and you can simply drive to The Grotto and park in the small pullout. Permits are still required year-round, and the December–February lottery window opens October 1. The catch is ice — the chains section in winter is a genuinely different hike, and the reason the drive-up is available is the same reason most people shouldn't take it.
Frequently asked questions
Where do you park for Angels Landing?
You don't park at the trailhead. From March 7 to November 28, 2026, the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to private vehicles, so you park at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center (350+ free spaces) or in paid Springdale parking ($15–$25/day) and ride the free shuttle to The Grotto, stop 6.
Does an Angels Landing permit include parking or park entry?
No. The permit only authorizes the chains section past Scout Lookout. You still pay the $35 vehicle entrance fee (or use an America the Beautiful pass) and still find parking on your own. The permit gives you no priority in the lot or the shuttle line.
How much does the Angels Landing permit cost?
$6 to apply to either lottery, covering an application for up to six people, non-refundable. If you're awarded a permit, it's an additional $3 per person. The seasonal lottery's per-person fee is refundable if you cancel at least two days before your hike; the day-before lottery's fees are not refundable at all.
Can you hike to Scout Lookout without a permit?
Yes. Only the chains section beyond Scout Lookout requires a permit. The West Rim Trail up to Scout Lookout — roughly 4 miles round trip from The Grotto, including Walter's Wiggles — is open to anyone, no lottery needed.
When is the day-before Angels Landing lottery?
It opens at 12:01am and closes at 3pm Mountain Time each day, with results issued at 4pm the same day for the next day's hike. It costs $6 to apply and covers up to six people.
Facts on this page last verified July 21, 2026. Fees, hours, and access rules change seasonally — confirm with the official source before a long drive.