Wilderness Permits for the Left Fork of North Creek (Subway)
Plan Ahead and Prepare
There are two different ways to explore the Left Fork of North Creek (Subway) by canyoneering and/or hiking. A Wilderness permit is always required for this area.
The Wilderness permit application process is the same for all canyoneers and/or hikers going into Left Fork. The only difference will be the starting and ending trailheads listed on your reservation and permit.
All trips into Left Fork involve extensive route finding. Visitors are encouraged to obtain a detailed route description and/or travel with someone that has successfully completed a trip into this area in the past. Paid guided trips are not permitted.
The Left Fork of North Creek is a day-use area only. Overnight camping is not permitted.
While preparing for your trip, consider your interests, time, and the ability level of your group. Always have a backup plan in mind.
Permit holders must arrange their own transportation to the Wildcat and/or Left Fork Trailhead to complete their route.
Group Size Limits
The maximum group size for The Left Fork (Subway) is 12 people. The maximum group size for Das Boot and Russell Gulch is 6 people.
A group is any number of people sharing the same affiliation (e.g., club, scout troop, colleagues, family, friends, etc.) that enter a canyon or trail on the same day, even if they have multiple permits.
A minimum group size of 2 people is recommended for all technical canyons involving the use of rope, webbing, or other device for descent or ascent.
Group size limits are strictly enforced. Permits will be denied and violators will be cited if limits are exceeded.
Structured and Guided Activities
Structured and/or formally guided activities facilitated by educational, commercial, or like organizations are authorized to occur only on frontcountry trails.
Such activities are not authorized to take place in park Wilderness areas. (Primitive and Pristine Zones)
Left Fork (Subway) Bottom-Up Hiking Route
This is a very strenuous 9-mile round-trip hike through the Left Fork of North Creek that requires route finding, hiking in ankle to knee deep water, and scrambling over large boulders. This route begins and ends at the Left Fork Trailhead on the Kolob Terrace Road.Click here for additional trip planning information.
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 route begins at the Wildcat Canyon Trailhead and ends at the Left Fork Trailhead. Both trailheads are located on the Kolob Terrace Road.
The Advance Lottery: 2 Months in Advance
An online Advance Lottery is held for all trips, April through October, into the Left Fork of North Creek (Subway) to obtain a reservation for a Wilderness permit.
Online applications must be submitted two-months prior to your planned trip, with up to three prioritized dates selected.
Applications are limited to one request per individual, per canyon, per month.
*Example Application
Choose your three prioritized dates carefully. Once you submit an Advance Lottery application, you will not be able to change your selected trip dates. Even if you cancel your online application, the permit system will not allow you to submit a new Advance Lottery application. Please make sure your dates are correct before you click submit.
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) not reserved through the Advance Lottery, can then be reserved through Calendar Reservations or the Last-Minute Drawing.
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.
An online Last-Minute Drawing for Wilderness permits is an option for canyoneering and/or hiking 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.
Plan your trip itinerary to allow sufficient time to obtain your permit the day of, or the day before your trip during our Hours of Operation.
Allow for at least 20 minutes to obtain a permit. Come prepared with all vehicle(s) information: make, model, and license plate(s).
All Wilderness permits must be obtained in-person at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center Wilderness Desk or Kolob Canyons Visitor Center.
The individual listed as the reservation holder must be the one to obtain the permit, please plan accordingly.
Permit Cost:
$15.00 - 1 to 2 people
$20.00 - 3 to 7 people
$25.00 - 8 to 12 people
Wilderness Permits are Non-Transferable
Traveling in the Zion Wilderness requires careful planning and preparation. Permit holders assume the responsibility of ensuring that their group is aware of the risks involved, is self-reliant, has developed a back-up plan, and will follow park regulations. Because these are such important aspects of trip planning and resource protection, permits for trips into the Zion Wilderness are non-transferable.
If you cannot participate in your trip, please cancel your reservation to provide opportunities for others. If other members of your group still wish to participate in a planned trip, you may coordinate with a new prospective permit holder for them to immediately reserve the available spaces or sites, as soon as your reservation has been cancelled.
You may cancel your reservation online by logging in to your Zion Wilderness Reservations Account. As soon as your reservation is cancelled, those spaces or sites will immediately be available for someone else to obtain through the calendar reservations page. New permit holders will need a Zion Wilderness Reservations Account prior to creating a calendar reservation.
Plan your trip itinerary to allow sufficient time to obtain your permit the day of, or day before the trip during Zion Wilderness Desk Hours of Operation. The individual listed on reservation must be the one to obtain the permit, please plan accordingly.
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.
Zion National Park
1 Zion Park Blvd.
Springdale,
UT
84767
Phone:
435-772-3256
If you have questions, please email zion_park_information@nps.gov.
Listen to recorded information by calling anytime 24 hours a day.
Rangers answer phone calls from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. MT, but a ranger may not answer if they are already speaking with someone else.
