Zion National Park has announced that it will be increasing fees for camping at several campgrounds throughout the park, as well as backcountry camping permits. The decision to increase costs for visitors looking to camp was shared via a press release from the park, which also included information on moving all permit systems to the recreation.gov website.
The increase in fees of up to 75% were cited by Jeff Bradybaugh, Zion’s superintendent, as a way to improve service for visitors: “These changes are going to help us maintain essential facilities like restrooms and drinking water systems, rehabilitate campsites, and simplify applications for Wilderness Recreation Permits.”
Zion’s annual visitation has continued to increase since 2016, with a record number of visitors in 2021. Over 5 million people used park facilities, putting additional strain on infrastructure and natural resources.
Rates for the non-electric sites Watchman Campground and the South Campground will increase starting July 1, 2024. They will raise from the original fee of $20 per night to $35 a night. Electric sites at the Watchman Campground will also increase from $35 a night to $45 a night. Finally, the non-electric sites at the Lava Point Campground will now cost $25 a night instead of $20 a night.
Zion has completely moved all campground reservations, as well as backcountry permits, hiking permits, and canyoneering permits, to the recreation.gov website since January 5, 2024.
Another change from previous years is that day-use permits will now be available on a per-person basis rather than as one fee for a group. For example, a group permit to hike the Narrows for eight people would now cost $80 instead of a standard fee of $25. Likewise, the application fee for these permits are now $6 rather than $5.
Fees will also increase for camping in wilderness campsites, at-large camping, and for bivouac camping on climbs. The cost of these vary depending on the type of activity and the location.
Reservations made in advance are also more expensive since January 5, 2024, increasing from $5 to $20.
How to navigate these changes
While these changes are intended to protect the park and provide additional resources to improve visitor experience, this can mean that a trip to Zion can add up–and require a bit more planning. An increase in visitation also means that you are competing for camping spots and permits, so any lottery pools will be larger and the chances of getting those coveted permits will be lesser.
In order to increase your chances of landing the permits you need, the best thing to do is a bit of research months in advance. While it might be tempting to head to Zion on a long weekend trip or on holidays, you’re almost guaranteed not to be able to find a camping spot in the park.
Instead, it’s better to have a plan if you can. This allows you to put in for lotteries like for the Subway or Angels Landing in advance and so you are more likely to have the permits you need for your dates. Looking into visiting Zion during less-busy months like November and April can also be useful, since fewer people are likely to be interested in the same permits and camping spots during that time.
You should also consider taking some time to get to know the recreation.gov website pretty well. Now that Zion National Park has moved everything over to this interface, you will be booking all activities and camping that require reservations here. It’s not the most straightforward, and when you are competing for camping spots, it can seem particularly stressful.
Creating an account well before you need to land your permits and reservations for campsites can make the process much smoother. You can also save card information, so instead of having to enter your credit card number every time you would like to make a reservation, it is already on hand to do so.
Setting reminders on your phone or calendar beforehand can also be incredibly helpful. Since many of these permits are also released at certain times throughout the day, getting on it sooner rather than later can increase your chances of getting the permits that you need for your Zion adventure.
Conclusion
While these increases in fees and the adoption of recreation.gov for every activity can seem overwhelming, overall, it most likely is a step in the right direction for the preservation of Zion’s natural resources and overused facilities. With a little more planning and research into how to get the permits and reservations you need, and accepting that you will need to pay more to enjoy it, you can still have an incredible trip to this beautiful national park.
