As a hiker and photographer, the Subway in Utah’s Zion National Park was on my bucket list for many years. I wanted to capture the iconic photo in one of Utah’s famous national parks, but I quickly discovered the challenge of making it happen.

Here’s what you need to know to get all the right permits and know what to expect along the trail.

Start by Entering the Lottery for a Permit

Hiking to the Subway via the Left Fork of North Creek requires a permit – regardless of the route you decide to take. You’ll need to plan roughly three months in advance and put your name in the lottery.

Here are the dates of when the lottery application period opens for the dates you’re planning to hike The Subway:

• Apply January 5-25 for hike dates between Feb 1 – Mar 31
• Apply February 1-25 for hike dates between April 1 – June 30
• Apply May 1-25 for hike dates between July 1 – Sept 30
• Apply Aug 1-25 for hike dates between Oct 1 – Dec 31
• Apply Nov 1-25 for hike dates between Jan 1 – Mar 31 (2025)

If you’re thinking about hiking Angels Landing in Zion National Park, that also requires a permit in a similar lottery system. Learn more about how to hike Angels Landing.

Here’s how:

1. Visit Recreation.gov during the open lottery dates listed above
2. Click on the Register for Open Lottery button on the right side of the page (If the lottery period is closed, you won’t be able to put your name in the hat)
3. Login to Recreation.gov
4. Make sure your contact information and address are correct
5. Scroll down to your Lottery Preferences and enter the number of dates you want to enter then click the Blue Button for Enter Choices
6. Pick the available dates and indicated the size of your group (Maximum is 12 people)
7. Read the Need to Know section and click that you agree to that information
8. Click on the Proceed to Cart button on the right side of the screen and follow the instructions to make the $6 application fee.
9. You’ll be notified a few days after the Open Lottery period ends. Good luck.

Fees and Cancellations

You’ll note there is a $6 fee to enter your name into the lottery. Keep in mind that it’s an application fee and not a guaranteed permit. If you don’t win the lottery for your dates, don’t just “hike it anyway” as there are fines for violating the permit system.

There is an additional per-person fee required, which will be charged if your request for a permit is drawn. For example, if you had four people listed in your application, you’d be charged $40. Ten people would be $100. Per person fees are refundable if the permit is cancelled or modified to a smaller group size before 5pm the day of the trip. However, the $6 lottery application fee is non-refundable in all circumstances.

You must carry proof of the permit with you, either on your phone (but note you won’t have cell signal on the hike) or printed out and one your person.

Finding the Right Route

There are two different routes you can take on the Left Fork of North Creek:

• The ‘Top-Down” route is a more technical hike, requiring everyone to rappel down cliffs into pools of water. (With my expensive camera gear, I opted to go for the other route option)
• The “Bottom-Up” route is less technical with zero rappelling. It is a challenging hike (a.k.a. bouldering) and you need to plan on your feet getting wet – and maybe more if you fall into the water.

Packing the Right Hiking and Photography Gear

The bottom-up hike is 6.6 miles round trip and takes anywhere from 5 to 9 hours – so it’s an all-day hike. Here’s a list of the gear and supplies you should carry with you.

• Good hiking shoes that can withstand hiking in water
• An extra pair of socks so you can switch to try socks, should your original pair get soaked
• Pants that are comfortable to hike in – Avoid cotton/jeans
• Layers: t-shirt, long-sleeve shirt, rain jacket
• Hiking backpack to carry a lunch, plenty of snacks, poncho, flashlight, and other survival gear
• Plenty of drinking water (3 liters of water per person – maybe more if you’re hiking in the middle of the Utah summers)

If you’re planning to take photos of the Subway and the beauty of the trail, here’s some recommended gear:

• Camera
• Wide-angle lens
• Memory cards for your camera
• Sturdy tripod
• Water proof bag to keep your camera in

I recommend the waterproof bag for your camera, because I lost my balance while crossing the creek and fell into a pool of water, essentially baptizing my two cameras. My Canon 6D survived, my Sony mirrorless camera didn’t.

Getting to and Hiking the Trail

Near the town of Virgin, Utah, find the Kolob Terrace Road and drive about 8.2 miles up that road to access the Left Fork Trailhead.

The trail heads east for about half a mile, before the descent down into the canyon begins. It’s non-technical, meaning no climbing gear is required, but it descends roughly 400 feet. Once you reach the stream bed, make note of some of the features around this access point so that on your return trip, you don’t hike past the exit point and spend more time in the canyon than you want.

Head upstream, following the trails along the side of the stream. But note that on occasion the stream bed is the trail, so you’ll be hopping from boulder to boulder. At times, you’ll be climbing over large rocks. The trail has been described as strenuous, and that is something everyone should be aware of before starting the hike so you don’t get in over your head.

The first portion of the canyon is beautiful, but the more picturesque spots will be found roughly two miles up the canyon.

Photographing the Left Fork of the North Creek

It’s the last mile of the trail where you’ll see cascading waterfalls and rock formations, that are often photographed. As a photographer, I encourage other photographers to be courteous to those enjoying the trail, and I encourage others hiking the trail to be courteous of the photographers and avoid walking through their shot when possible.

The Subway itself is a very short section of the canyon, where the two rock walls come close together, but the tubular formation created by the flash floods and river water give it the unique look. The pools inside that portion of the canyon, along with the right lighting of the sun’s position, can create amazing scenes to capture in photos.

The tripod will allow you to keep your ISO low for a sharper photo, and use a slow shutter speed to capture the movement of the water flowing through the pools. I would also recommend bracketing your photos – capturing five stops if possible.

Returning Back to the Trailhead

I often lose track of time when I’m taking photos. But that can be dangerous when hiking the Subway, because you still have a 3+ mile hike left, which includes a 400-foot ascent near the end of the already strenuous hike.

The bottom-up hike to the Subway is something everyone should have on their bucket list. But my personal advice: Don’t hike it if you are out of shape – that could be dangerous to yourself and others in your group.

Following our return to the car, my friend and I were exhausted, but we still had a four hour drive home. We stopped in Cedar City along I-15 and could barely walk over to the park pavilion where we made our dinner before finishing the drive north.

Summary of Hiking the Subway

• You must have a permit, so plan in advance (3 months in advance)
• If it’s raining anywhere in the extended area the day of your hike, speak with a park ranger about the dangers of flash floods
• Be aware that the 6.5 mile hike is strenuous, but not technical (the top-down hike is technical)
• Put camera gear in waterproof bags to prevent water damage
• Bring adequate water for the hike, along with snacks and food
• Your feet will get wet; they may get soaked – so bring extra socks and dress appropriately
• If you plan to take photos in the Subway, carry a tripod
• It is a full-day hike, so plan accordingly

Visit my photo gallery from Zion National Park, including sites captured along the Subway hike.

Love exploring national parks? Read my tips for other national parks.

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