The Subway (Left Fork of North Creek)

The Subway is one of Zion's signature canyoneering objectives — a serpentine, lava-tube-shaped chamber where the Left Fork of North Creek has carved a half-pipe through pink Navajo sandstone. Reflected pools, cascading water, and the namesake 'subway tube' section where the canyon walls wrap overhead. It's one of the most photographed slots in the American Southwest, and one of the hardest day-hike permits in Zion.

**Two routes:** the bottom-up scramble (9.5 miles round-trip, hard, no rappelling required, your destination is the Subway tube) and the top-down technical descent (16-mile through-hike with rappelling, swimming, route-finding — for experienced canyoneers only). Most guests go bottom-up; it's the longest day hike in Zion but the only way to reach the Subway without ropes.

**Permits are required** for both routes. 80 permits per day, distributed via three Recreation.gov channels: Seasonal Lottery (apply 3 months ahead, ~50% of permits), Last-Minute Lottery (2 days before), Walk-in (day-of, very limited). Up to 4 dates per application; covers up to 12 people.

**Important note for first-timers:** Commercial canyoneering guides are prohibited inside Zion. Outfitters can rent gear and provide route consultation, but you cannot hire a guide to descend the canyon with you inside the park. If you want a guided canyoneering experience, do East Zion (outside the park, fully guided) or Zion Guru's BLM-area trips.