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Zion Overnight Wilderness cancellations
The backpacking permit for Zion's wilderness. You reserve a specific camp area f...
The Subway Permit
Zion National Park · Utah
Lottery, then cancellations all season
Technical canyoneering through a tube-shaped slot canyon—one of Zion's most spectacular and photogenic routes.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on The Subway were gone within 5 minutes.
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The Subway Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodLottery
Demand LevelHigh8/10
SeasonYear-round
Cost$6 application + $10/person
Max Group Size12 people
The Subway Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, The Subway in Zion National Park, Utah requires a permit issued via lottery.
- The Subway is a high-demand permit, rating 8/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The The Subway lottery typically opens Quarterly: February 1, May 1, August 1, November 1 and closes The 25th of the opening month, with results announced Two days after the lottery closes.
- The The Subway route covers 9.5 miles with 2,000 feet of elevation gain, rated strenuous.
- Cancelled The Subway permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Key Dates
Lottery OpensQuarterly: February 1, May 1, August 1, November 1
Lottery ClosesThe 25th of the opening month
ResultsTwo days after the lottery closes
SeasonYear-round
Permit Details
TypeCanyoneering
Booking MethodLottery
Demand Level8/10
LocationColorado Plateau, UT
Pro Tips
- •One permit covers both the top-down canyoneering route and the bottom-up hike, so pick your direction after you win
- •Miss the quarterly lottery and you still have two shots: unclaimed reservations hit the calendar at 10am Mountain on the 15th of the following month, and the Canyoneering Daily Lottery runs two days out
- •Zion will not let you guide or be guided here, so bring your own rope skills
- •The permit is a reservation, not a permit — you still pick up the paper at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center wilderness desk the day before or the day of
What to Expect
Route Details
Distance
9.5 miles
Elevation Gain
2,000 ft
Route Type
Point to Point
Duration
6-10 hours
Difficulty
StrenuousElevation Range
5,000 - 6,600 ft
Highlights
- •Top-down: 9.5-mile point-to-point technical route with multiple rappels and cold-water swims
- •Bottom-up: 8-mile round-trip strenuous hike with river wading and boulder scrambling
- •Both routes involve extensive time in water—wetsuits recommended except in hot weather
- •The iconic Subway formation with curving walls and emerald pools
- •Remote canyon with no escape routes once committed
Best Time to Visit
Summer (June-September) offers the warmest water temperatures but also highest flash flood risk. Spring and fall are ideal with moderate temperatures. Winter is possible but requires full wetsuits.
Hazards & Considerations
- !Flash floods—do not enter if rain is in the forecast anywhere in the watershed
- !Cold water—hypothermia risk exists year-round
- !Technical skills required for top-down route—inexperienced canyoneers have died here
- !No escape routes once in the technical section
- !Slippery rock and deep pools create fall hazards
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
🌧️
88°
67°
34%
Mon
☀️
86°
65°
Tue
🌧️
85°
70°
Wed
🌧️
86°
67°
Thu
🌧️
75°
65°
27%
Fri
🌧️
83°
65°
Sat
🌧️
84°
67°
View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
How to Get This Permit
1
Create a Recreation.gov account
Sign up at Recreation.gov if you don't have an account. Verify your email and add payment info ahead of time.
2
Apply during the lottery window
Submit your application between Quarterly: February 1, May 1, August 1, November 1 and The 25th of the opening month. Apply for multiple dates to increase your odds.
3
Wait for lottery results
Results are typically announced Two days after the lottery closes. Check your email and your Recreation.gov account.
4
If unsuccessful, monitor cancellations
Permits get cancelled daily. Peak cancellation times are 24-48 hours before the trip date.
5
Set up PermitSnag alerts
Get notified when cancellations happen. Pro and $19 single-permit alerts are checked about every minute, 24/7; free accounts are checked hourly.
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand4/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill4/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk3/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation3/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment4/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Top-down: Experienced canyoneers with rappelling skills. Bottom-up: Strong hikers comfortable with river travel and scrambling.
Recommended Experience
Top-down requires canyoneering experience and rope skills. Bottom-up requires hiking experience and comfort with river wading.
Not Recommended For
Top-down route is not for beginners. Both routes unsuitable for those uncomfortable in water.
About This Permit
The Subway is a famous slot canyon in the Kolob Terrace section of Zion National Park, named for its tubular shape where the walls curve inward at both floor and ceiling. There are two ways to experience it: a technical top-down canyoneering route (9.5 miles) requiring rappelling skills, or a non-technical bottom-up hike (8 miles round-trip) that visits the formation without requiring technical skills.
Both routes require a Wilderness Permit obtained through the lottery system. Commercial guiding is prohibited—all groups must be self-reliant.
The Experience
Why It Matters
The Subway is one of Zion's most iconic features—a tubular slot canyon where the walls curve inward at both the floor and ceiling, creating a tunnel-like space. It has appeared in countless photographs and represents the pinnacle of sandstone erosion art. The top-down route is considered one of the finest introductory canyoneering routes in the Southwest.
The Route
From Wildcat Canyon Trailhead, the top-down route descends Russell Gulch through slickrock terrain before dropping into the Left Fork of North Creek. The first rappels are short—30 feet at most—but commit you to the canyon.
The route follows the narrowing drainage, wading through pools that grow progressively deeper. Keyhole Falls requires either a rappel or a jump into deep water. Then the canyon walls begin to curve overhead, and you enter the Subway proper—the famous tubular section where the rock forms an almost complete tunnel.
The emerald pools here are jaw-dropping, and the North Pole—a massive log wedged vertically in the slot—marks the heart of the formation. Below, the Cascades offer one last obstacle before the canyon opens and you hike out to the Left Fork Trailhead.
The Feeling
The first rappel commits you to the canyon. As you descend, the walls close in and the light changes—filtered, ethereal, green with reflected water. Then the canyon opens into the Subway itself: a tube of rock where walls curve over your head and the emerald pools at your feet reflect a cathedral of stone. You're standing in a space that seems designed by an artist, not carved by water.
Trailhead Information
Wildcat Canyon Trailhead (Top-Down Start)
6,973 ft elevationStarting point for the technical top-down canyoneering route.
Restrooms
No water
No Service
Parking
Small dirt pullout on Kolob Terrace Road. Limited spaces.
Getting There
From Virgin, drive north on Kolob Terrace Road approximately 15 miles. Road may be closed in winter.
Nearest Services
Virgin (15 miles) has a small store. Full services in Springdale (25 miles).
Left Fork Trailhead (Bottom-Up Start / Top-Down Exit)
5,000 ft elevationPrimary trailhead for the non-technical bottom-up route or exit point for top-down route.
Restrooms
No water
No Service
Parking
Larger parking area with vault toilet. Requires shuttle or two-car setup for top-down route.
Getting There
From Virgin, drive north on Kolob Terrace Road approximately 8 miles.
Nearest Services
Virgin (8 miles) or Springdale (20 miles).
Rules & Regulations
- •Wilderness permit required year-round for all trips (top-down or bottom-up)
- •Group size limited to 12 people
- •Groups may not split into multiple trips to exceed the 12-person daily limit
- •Commercial guiding prohibited—groups must be self-reliant
- •Human waste must be packed out (WAG bags required)
- •No pets permitted
Gear Checklist
Required
- Technical canyoneering gear for top-down route (60-foot rope, harness, rappel device, helmet)
- Dry bags for electronics and spare clothes
- Sturdy footwear with good traction (canyon shoes or approach shoes)
- Water and food for full day
- Headlamp for emergency
Recommended
- Wetsuit or drysuit (water is cold year-round)
- Neoprene socks or booties
- Webbing and rapid links for anchor replacement (top-down)
- Waterproof camera or housing
- Spare dry clothes in dry bag
Plan Your Trip
Lottery concierge
Your next shot at The Subway
Next season’s application dates aren’t published yet.
We check for them every day. Track The Subway now and your concierge picks them up the moment they land, then emails you when applications open, before the deadline, and when results post.
Better odds with a crew
The Subway is a lottery. Every friend who applies adds another entry, so a crew gets more shots at the same permit than any one of you alone.
One of you runs the pool (Pro or a $19 alert). Everyone else joins free.
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for The Subway
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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
↑
2,000ft
Gain↓
3,873ft
Loss⛰️
6,600ft
High📏
9.5mi
Distance📐
4%
Avg GradeClick on a marker to view details•8 landmarks
Landmarks (8)
Lottery Statistics
Competitive
estimated success rate
Get detailed lottery statistics and tips. Sign up to track this permit.
Boost Your Chances
Apply with a crew to multiply your combined odds, and let auto win-detection tell you the moment you win — you never have to check Recreation.gov. Win-detection reads the result email you forward us, so it takes a one-time setup in your inbox (about two minutes, and we walk you through it). Pool and auto win-detection are on Pro or a $19 permit alert.
The Subway FAQ
How do I get a Subway permit in Zion?
Three ways, all on Recreation.gov permit 4251917. The Seasonal Lottery opens February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1 and closes on the 25th, each covering the next calendar quarter of hike dates. Unclaimed and cancelled reservations go on the calendar at 10am Mountain Time on the 15th of the month after results. And the separate Canyoneering Daily Lottery runs two days before your hike date.
Do the top-down and bottom-up Subway routes need different permits?
No. Recreation.gov 4251917 says the park "does not distinguish between top-down and bottom-up hikers for purposes of the quota," and both variations are booked from the same page. You choose your direction when you plan, not when you apply.
How many people can be on one Subway permit?
Twelve. NPS puts the Left Fork of North Creek in the same group as Keyhole, Pine Creek, the Narrows and Orderville: "Maximum group size in Keyhole, Pine Creek, the Narrows, Orderville, and the Left Fork (Subway) is 12 people." Splitting a bigger party into two groups on the same day is not allowed.
What does a Subway permit cost?
A $6 application or reservation fee that is never refunded, plus $10 per person that is refundable if you cancel before 5pm on the day of the trip. Zion's entrance fee is separate.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
Sign in to report trail conditions.
Photography Guide
Golden Hour
The Subway's tubular section is sheltered from direct sunlight. Midday offers the best light penetration into the slot.
Best Light
Late morning to early afternoon provides the best light in the Subway section itself. Emerald pools photograph best with soft, reflected light.
Beat the Crowds
Every trip through the Left Fork comes out of a lottery, so the canyon is never crowded. Start early for the best light and fewest people.
Classic Shots
- 📍The curving Subway walls with emerald pool reflections
- 📍The North Pole log wedged in the slot
- 📍Looking up at the tubular ceiling of the Subway
- 📍The Cascades waterfall section
- 📍Rappelling into the canyon (top-down route)
Can't Get a The Subway Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
The Subway Bottom-Up (Non-Technical)
Easier AlternativeAn 8-mile round-trip route that visits the Subway formation without technical canyoneering. Same permit lottery but no rappelling required.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Same spectacular destination without the technical skills. Still strenuous with river wading and boulder scrambling.
Orderville Canyon
Similar ExperienceA beautiful slot canyon that enters The Narrows, requiring wading but no technical skills.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Easier permit access and no canyoneering experience required. Narrower and more intimate than The Subway.
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Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your The Subway trip
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