Left Fork (Subway)

 

Wilderness Permits for the Left Fork of North Creek (Subway)

Plan Ahead and Prepare

There are two ways to explore the Left Fork of North Creek (Subway). Permits are required regardless of the direction of travel. Both trips involve extensive route finding. Visitors are encouraged to obtain a detailed route description and travel with someone that has successfully completed the Subway in the past. The Subway is a day-use area only. While preparing for your trip, consider your interests, time, and the ability level of your group. Always have a backup plan in mind. Use the pages below to help plan your experience:

Left Fork (Subway) Bottom-Up Route

This is a very strenuous 9-mile round-trip hike through the Left Fork of North Creek that requires route finding, creek crossing, and scrambling over boulders. This hike begins and ends at the Left Fork Trailhead on the Kolob Terrace Road.

Left Fork (Subway) Top-Down Canyoneering Route

This is a very strenuous 9.5-mile through-hike that requires rappelling skills, 60 feet of rope, and extensive route finding experience. The route also requires swimming through several deep pools of very cold debris-filled water. The trail begins at the Wildcat Canyon Trailhead and ends at the Left Fork Trailhead. Both trailheads are located on the Kolob Terrace Road.

• Zion Wilderness Guide
• Wilderness Transportation

 

The Advance Lottery: 2 Months in Advance

• An online Advance Lottery is held for trips, April through October, into Left Fork (Subway) and Mystery Canyon.
• Applications must be submitted two-months prior to your planned trip with three prioritized dates, and are limited to one request per individual, per canyon, per month.
• Applicants will be sent a notification email on the 5th day of the following month with information about the status of their request.
• Any spaces for Left Fork (Subway) and Mystery Canyon not reserved through the Advance Lottery, can then be reserved through Calendar Reservations or the Last-Minute Drawing.
• There is a $5.00 non-refundable fee for the Advance Lottery application. Apply for the Advance Lottery

Calendar Reservations: 1 Month in Advance

Occasionally, a few spaces remain after the Advance Lottery has been held. These spaces may be reserved through the Canyoneering Calender Reservation System.

• Online reservations are available during a two-month time frame, one month in advance.
• On the 5th of every month at 10:00 am MT, reservations for the next month become available. If spaces are still available, reservations can be made until 5:00 pm MT, the day before your trip.
• There is a $5.00 non-refundable fee for each Calendar Reservation. Apply for a Reservation if the Advance Lottery has run

Reservation Dates:

For a trip in:	Advance Lottery applications received in:	Calendar Reservations become available:
April	February	March 5
May	March	April 5
June	April	May 5
July	May	June 5
August	June	July 5
September	July	August 5
October	August	September 5
November		October 5
December		November 5
January		December 5
February		January 5
March		February 5

The Last-Minute Drawing: 7-2 Days in Advance

• An online Last-Minute Drawing is an option for Canyoneering trips when the Advance Lottery or Calendar Reservations are fully booked.
• Individuals can apply for the Last-Minute Drawing to obtain any remaining reservations for permits.
• The Last-Minute Drawing is limited to one request per individual, per canyon. Applications can be submitted seven days prior to a trip date, until two days before at 12:00pm MT.
• The online drawing is held at 1:00 pm MT, two days before the trip date. Applicants will then be sent a notification email with information about the status of their request.
• Any spaces not taken through the Last-Minute Drawing will be available as Walk-in Permits the day before a trip date.
• There is a $5.00 non-refundable fee for the Last-Minute Drawing. Apply for the Last-Minute Drawing

Obtaining your Wilderness Permit

Left Fork (Subway) permits must be obtained in person at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center Wilderness Desk during Hours of Operation the day before, or the day of the trip.
⚠️Wilderness Permits cannot be obtained at the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center.

Come prepared with your vehicle(s) information: Make and model, color, license plate state and number.

Permit Cost:

$15.00 - 1 to 2 people
$20.00 - 3 to 7 people
$25.00 - 8 to 12 people

Zion Express Membership

• Zion Express Membership allows visitors who regularly visit the park, and are familiar with the park resources, to obtain a login account to create online reservations and convert them into Wilderness Permits from home.

• To become a member, applicants must watch three orientation films at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center Wilderness Desk. (Membership cannot be obtained in the Kolob Canyons.)

• After watching the films, applicants will sign a Zion Express Program Agreement form and obtain a username and password for their member account.

• There is no cost for enrollment. Membership is valid for the remainder of the current year and for the next two calendar years.

• Memberships may be cancelled if any regulations are violated.