Zion Left Fork North Creek (Subway) Seasonal Lottery
This page provides opportunities to obtain a reservation for the Left Fork of North Creek (Subway). All trips into the Left Fork of North Creek (Subway) require a permit. The Subway hike can be done top-down, or bottom-up. Top-down is a technical canyoneering route, requiring ropes, harnesses, and usually wetsuits or drysuits. The bottom-up is a strenuous off-trail hiking route that requires most groups 6-10 hours to complete and includes wading through a river and scrambling over boulders and downed trees. Both variations of the hike require the same permit, for which reservations for can be obtained on this page.
The maximum group size for the Left Fork of North Creek (Subway) is 12 people. Additional permit requests that would exceed the group limit will be denied or cancelled, and violators may be cited.
Guiding is not allowed in the Zion Wilderness. Anyone applying for this lottery must have their own skills and equipment to safely complete their desired trip.
Wilderness overnight permits, Narrows overnight permits, other technical canyoneering permits , climbing bivouac permits, and Angels Landing permits can be found on different pages within the Zion Recreation.gov gateway menu .
This page is for advanced lottery and reservations. If you are trying to apply for the Daily Lottery for a Subway permit two days from now, go to the Zion National Park Canyoneering Daily Lottery.
Permit & Season Information
This permit allows visitors to access the Left Fork of North Creek (Subway), from either the top-down canyoneering route, or the bottom-up hiking route.
Use this page to enter the Seasonal Lottery for a chance at permits for this hike. If your group is successful in the Seasonal Lottery you must claim your reservation on rec.gov by the claim by date. Then you must pick up the Wilderness Permit from the permits desk in the Zion Visitor Center, either the day before or the day of your hike.
If your group is not successful in the lottery, you can check the calendar on this page for any unclaimed or cancelled reservations during the proper window. See the important dates table below. Your group can also enter the Canyoneering Daily Lottery for the Left Fork of North Creek (Subway) two days before your desired hike date.
Need to Know
When planning your trip, please keep in mind:
This page is to apply for the Seasonal Lottery for a Left Fork of North Creek (Subway) permit in Zion National Park. It does not guarantee that the resource will be open or accessible. Trails, canyons, campsites, and even the entire park may be closed due to fires, floods, rock falls, or other reasons.
A Wilderness permit is required year-round for any travel in the Left Fork of North Creek (Subway).
Permit fees are non-refundable.
Overnight trips are not allowed in the Left Fork of North Creek (Subway).
Your Reservation Confirmation email is not a Wilderness permit and cannot be used for Wilderness travel. Claim your reservation by the "Claim By" date. Then, bring your Reservation Confirmation email and proof of identity to pick up your Wilderness permit at a Zion Wilderness Permit Station.
You must pick up your permit in person during operating hours at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center Wilderness Desk the day before, or day of permit entry date.
Fee Policy
- Lottery Application/Permit Reservation Fee: $6 (non-refundable). This fee is charged for early-access lottery applications or to make a reservation during the general on-sale.
- Per Person Recreation Fee: $10 per person (refundable)
- Entrance Fee: Zion charges an entrance fee separate from permit fees. You may pay the fee upon arrival. The park honors valid America the Beautiful-the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands passes (also known as an interagency passes, e.g., Senior, 4th Grade, Military, etc.). Visit the park's Fees & Passes web page for details.
Note: The same fees apply when the park issues permits in person. These fees support the permit and reservation management system.
Cancellation Policy
Per person fees are refundable if the permit is cancelled or modified to a smaller group size before 5pm the day of the trip. The $6 lottery application fee is non-refundable in all circumstances.
Contact Information
Mailing Address
1 Zion Park Blvd Springdale Utah 84767
Phone Number
435-772-0170
