National Park
Zion National Park
Regulations on 31 October 2026
Signs at the site and later resolutions prevail; check the source.
These hold everywhere inside the boundary, whether or not a site is marked.
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Permit required
Canyoning · All year
In force on 31 October 2026
§1.5(d) The following activities related to Public Use Limits and required Permits
1.5(d)(i) Narrow Canyon Day Hike Travel that requires a permit
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- - Any activity within any canyon in the park which normally involves the use of rope, webbing, or other device for descent or ascent including but not limited to canyoneering, ice climbing, and rock climbing.
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(a)(2)(xiii) Group size in the Zion Wilderness (including the area of the park within Kane County which has been recommended to Congress for wilderness designation), shall not exceed 12 people sharing the same affiliation (school, church, club, scout group, family, friends, etc., or combination thereof) in the same drainage or on the same trail on the same day. The group size limit for the Narrows north of the Orderville junction, Left Fork, Orderville, Pine Creek, and Keyhole Canyons is also 12. The group size limit for all other canyoneering routes in the Zion Wilderness is 6. Canyoneering is defined as any hike within any canyon which normally involves the use of rope, webbing, or other device for descent or ascent.
Published by National Park Service, 5 Jan 2026 · Zion National Park Superintendent’s Compendium, January 2026
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Regulated
Climbing · All year
In force on 31 October 2026
(a)(1)(vii) Cliff faces and rock formations occupied by nesting peregrine falcons and California Condors will generally be closed from March 1 through July 31. Condor Closures may extend beyond July 31 based on observed behavior. Climbing on faces, routes or formations closed under the authority of this order is prohibited.
Nesting territories often contain multiple nesting sites; therefore specific closures will be issued each season as nesting behavior is determined. A list of closed climbing routes and areas is available at the park Visitor Center and posted on the park website.
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(a)(1)(x) Behunin Creek and Heaps Creek as they drop from Middle to Lower Emerald Pool, Echo Creek as it drops into Weeping Rock and the canyon south of Mystery Canyon as it drops onto the Riverside Walk trail are closed to climbing and any form of descending, including rappelling.
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(a)(1)(xiv) The placement of fixed climbing anchors, including climbing bolts, for the creation of bolt intensive face climbs, also called sport climbs, within the Zion Wilderness is prohibited.
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1.5(d)(i) Narrow Canyon Day Hike Travel that requires a permit
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- - Any activity within any canyon in the park which normally involves the use of rope, webbing, or other device for descent or ascent including but not limited to canyoneering, ice climbing, and rock climbing.
Published by National Park Service, 5 Jan 2026 · Zion National Park Superintendent’s Compendium, January 2026
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Regulated
Hiking · All year
In force on 31 October 2026
1.5(d)(i) Narrow Canyon Day Hike Travel that requires a permit
- - Any through day hike of any tributary of the North Fork of the Virgin River, regardless of direction of travel.
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- - All travel above Big Spring in the North Fork of the Virgin River and direction of travel must be downstream.
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(a)(1)(xii) Research Natural Areas (RNAs) are closed to all recreational use.
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(a)(2)(xiii) Group size in the Zion Wilderness (including the area of the park within Kane County which has been recommended to Congress for wilderness designation), shall not exceed 12 people sharing the same affiliation (school, church, club, scout group, family, friends, etc., or combination thereof) in the same drainage or on the same trail on the same day.
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(a)(2)(xiv) The portion of the North Fork of the Virgin River and any tributaries within Zion National Park above Big Spring is closed to hiking when the river is flowing in excess of 120 cfs.
The portion of the North Fork of the Virgin River and all tributaries that enter the Narrows below Big Springs within Zion National Park between the end of Riverside Walk and Big Spring is closed to hiking when the river is flowing in excess of 150 cfs.
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(a)(2)(xv) All Canyons within the park are closed to hiking, and permits will not be issued once a flood warning has been issued by the National Weather Service.
Published by National Park Service, 5 Jan 2026 · Zion National Park Superintendent’s Compendium, January 2026
Regulated sites
3 sites · Regulations on 31 October 2026