Lottery System Unavailable?

[DiscGo]

What does it mean that so many of the canyons are not available in the lottery system right now in Zion? I have been checking for the last couple of weeks and I haven't even seen lotteries available for a lot of the canyons.

[DiscGo]

My wife and I and a couple of friends are planning on doing Zion this weekend, but I am getting pretty worried that canyons won't be available.

[xxnitsuaxx]

You can't apply for a last minute drawing unless ALL the permits have already been taken. For instance, there are 7 permits still available for Saturday that must be spoken for BEFORE you can apply for a last minute drawing. One of those kinks they haven't worked out yet.

[DiscGo]

So if the lottery isn't available then there should be permits still available if I walk in on Saturday?

[ratagonia]

So if the lottery isn't available then there should be permits still available if I walk in on Saturday?

uh, well no.

You can make a reservation now, for those 7 (I think, he is saying). And using your Expresso Permito Passo pay and print it before you even come down.

T

[Felicia]

We canceled our Mystery plans for Sunday, so those permits might still be available.

Felicia

[ratagonia]

Yes, I think you can walk in and get a permit. 73 available for Friday. Quite a few for Sunday...

The problem is there is a "donut hole" when you cannot reserve a permit, and it is too late for the last-minute lottery.

Tom

[Bootboy]

Is it me, or have they dramatically increased the number of slots per day in some of these canyons? It seems they used to start with either 6 or 12 for the day, depending on the canyon. Now 60?!?! What gives?

Do I understand that right, 73 people in pine creek in one day? What a fuster cluck....

[Bootboy]

The number next to the resource in the drop down menu is now moot. Has pine creek gone from a limit of 12 to 120?
60 reservable, and then 60 more for last minute and walkin?

[ratagonia]

The number next to the resource in the drop down menu is now moot. Has pine creek gone from a limit of 12 to 120?
60 reservable, and then 60 more for last minute and walkin?

We can see 60 reservable, and we know it is more than that... but I don't think it is 50-50 = 120.

They have bumped up the limits (thank you) on some canyons when they can. They are not really into announcing these changes, so they just kinda show up.

Tom

[DiscGo]

Good to know for next time. Thanks.

[Bootboy]

Maybe they bump up the daily limit in the off season and count on not having multiple consecutive days filled. Like maybe a single group on a Thursday and then a lot more, like 50-60 on weekends. Maybe the weekly traffic equals out in the off season...