Reservation6/10
Zion Pine Creek Canyon permit
Technical canyoneering permit for Pine Creek Canyon in Zion National Park....
Zion Canyoneering Permit — Imlay Canyon
Zion National Park · Utah
One date at a time
Technical canyoneering permit for Imlay Canyon in Zion National Park.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Imlay Canyon were gone within 10 minutes.
Plan the full trip, not just the permit
Build your full itinerary start to finish
Add your dates and get a day-by-day plan: what needs a permit, what gear to bring, and one link to share with your whole group to coordinate every step.
Start a plan — it's free
No permit needed to start
Imlay Canyon Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelModerate6/10
Imlay Canyon Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Imlay Canyon in Zion National Park, Utah requires a permit issued via reservation.
- The Imlay Canyon route covers 3 miles with 300 feet of elevation gain, rated strenuous.
- Cancelled Imlay Canyon permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Permit Details
TypeCanyoneering
Booking MethodReservation
Demand Level6/10
LocationUT
What to Expect
Route Details
Distance
3 miles
Elevation Gain
300 ft
Route Type
Point to Point
Duration
6-8 hours
Difficulty
StrenuousElevation Range
4,800 - 7,000 ft
Highlights
- •8+ rappels up to 60 feet
- •Multiple keeper pools requiring swimming
- •3 miles including approach and exit
- •6-8 hours typical completion
- •Stunning pothole formations
Best Time to Visit
June-September for warmest water. Potholes hold water year-round.
Hazards & Considerations
- !Flash floods
- !Cold water immersion
- !Keeper pools with no exit (must swim forward)
- !Route-finding on cross-country approach
- !Slippery pothole edges
How to Get This Permit
1
Create a Recreation.gov account
Sign up at Recreation.gov if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.
2
Know the release schedule
Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.
3
Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
4
Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand3/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill3/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk3/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation3/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment3/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Intermediate canyoneers seeking beautiful formations. Photographers.
Recommended Experience
10+ canyons. Keeper pool experience. Navigation skills for approach.
Not Recommended For
Those uncomfortable with route-finding. Non-swimmers.
About This Permit
Imlay Canyon features some of the most beautiful water-sculpted formations in Zion. The route descends through a series of perfect potholes connected by keeper pools, including a famous 'Subway-like' curving section.
Technical difficulty is moderate by Zion standards, but the aesthetic rewards are extraordinary. This is a photographer's canyon.
The Experience
Why It Matters
Imlay Canyon represents the aesthetic peak of Zion slot canyons. The potholes here are perfectly sculpted, the pools deep and clear. Technical difficulty is moderate, but the visual impact is extraordinary. This is the canyon that makes photographers cry.
The Route
Access via the West Rim Trail and a cross-country approach to the canyon rim. The technical section begins immediately with a series of rappels into progressively deeper potholes.
The famous 'Subway-like' section features a curving, tubular passage reminiscent of the more famous route. Multiple keeper pools require swimming between anchors.
The route exits into the main Zion Canyon via Right Fork, requiring a short hike to the road.
The Feeling
Each pothole is a sculpture. Water has spent millennia carving these perfect bowls into solid sandstone. You rappel into chambers that glow orange with reflected light, swim across pools that seem impossibly blue, and emerge into the next formation wondering how it gets any better. It does.
Rules & Regulations
- •Wilderness permit required
- •Group size limit of 6 people — only Orderville, Keyhole, Pine Creek, the Left Fork (Subway) and the Narrows top-down are allowed 12
- •Cross-country approach (no trail)
- •Exit via Right Fork to road
- •No commercial guiding
Gear Checklist
Required
- 150-foot rope
- Canyoneering harness
- Rappel device
- Helmet
- Wetsuit
Recommended
- Waterproof camera housing
- Pull cord
- Knee pads
- Canyon shoes
- Energy food
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Imlay Canyon
🚐
Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
Browse all shuttles🧭
Guide Services
Experienced wilderness guides
Browse all guidesSome links may be affiliate links. Purchases support PermitSnag at no extra cost to you.
Key Landmarks
↑
300ft
Gain↓
2,500ft
Loss⛰️
7,000ft
High📏
3.0mi
Distance📐
1.9%
Avg GradeClick on a marker to view details•7 landmarks
Landmarks (7)
Imlay Canyon FAQ
How do I get a Imlay Canyon permit?
Imlay Canyon permits use a reservation system. PermitSnag sends lottery open, deadline, and results reminders; you can also enable cancellation alerts if spots open later.
When is the best time to visit Imlay Canyon?
Check with the managing agency for current season dates. Weekdays generally have better availability than weekends.
How competitive is the Imlay Canyon permit?
This permit has a demand score of 6/10, making it moderately competitive.
What if I can't get a Imlay Canyon permit?
Cancellations happen daily. Set up alerts with PermitSnag to get notified the moment a spot opens up. Pro and $19 single-permit alerts are checked about every minute, 24/7; free accounts are checked hourly.
👥Community
Trail Conditions(1)
Questions
No questions yet
Be the first to ask about Imlay Canyon.
Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
The sculpted potholes catch reflected light beautifully at any time. Overcast days provide the most even illumination.
Best Light
Midday allows some direct light into wider sections. Focus on the reflected glow in potholes.
Beat the Crowds
Less trafficked than Mystery or Heaps. Weekday trips offer solitude.
Classic Shots
- 📍Sculpted pothole chambers
- 📍Swimmer in clear blue pool
- 📍Curved Subway-like passage
- 📍Rappel into pothole
- 📍Light reflecting off water
Can't Get a Imlay Canyon Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
The Subway
Similar ExperienceThe famous tubular formation. Similar aesthetics, different location.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
More iconic but harder permits. Similar difficulty.
Spry Canyon
Similar ExperienceAnother pothole canyon with beautiful formations.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Less famous, similarly beautiful. Good alternative when Imlay is full.
🏕️
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Imlay Canyon trip
Very HardIn Demand26 sitesCanyonlands National Park Needles District Campground
Canyonlands National Park
Book campsite
Very HardIn Demand3 sitesCanyonlands National Park Needles District Group Campsites
Canyonlands National Park
Book campsite
Very HardIn Demand57 sitesDevils Garden Campground
Arches National Park
Book campsite
A small favor
One tick helps us more than you’d think
Google lets you pick the sites it highlights for you. Add PermitSnag and our permit pages get marked as one of yours in AI Overviews and AI Mode.
Add PermitSnag in Google
Takes less than a minute.