Zion National Park, a favorite of both experienced hikers and novices, offers a wide variety to visitors. From simple yet beautiful hikes, to extreme canyoneering, Zion is an outdoor lovers paradise. With its sheer sandstone cliffs, mazelike slot canyons and astonishing vistas, Zion draws a large crowd of people. If you are a fairly experienced hiker and you want to enjoy the glory of Zion without the large crowds, try exploring the backcountry of Zion.

Zion’s backcountry has some of the greatest hikes in the park. Group sizes in many of the popular canyons like Subway, Pine Creek, Orderville, and others are limited to six. However, if you have a larger group, you can simply split it up into smaller groups of six or less and pay for more than one permit. The total number of people allowed into many of the backcountry canyons per day is limited, so the permits go fast. The Subway, for example, is so popular that they hold a lottery for permits each year. You may submit your name and number of permits and hope to be picked out of the lottery. The park does reserve a number of permits that can be obtained online through a calendar sign up, but there are only certain dates when you can reserve permits using the calendar. Your third option is to wait in line at the permit office the day before, or the morning of your intended hike.

If you are going to choose the third option there are some things you should know. You are not allowed to camp or sleep overnight outside the permit office, but if you really want to get a permit, you should be at the permit office at about five or six in the morning. The mornings are cold, so bundle up and bring a camping chair. They only give a very limited amount of permits out at the office per day, so be prepared with another hike if you cannot get permits. The great thing about Zion is that if you don’t get the hike you want, there are plenty of other great hikes available.