Left Fork of North Creek Trailhead

The Left Fork Trailhead, about 8.2 miles up Kolob Terrace Road from Virgin, is the start and end point for the Subway's bottom-up route — a strenuous, off-trail hike up the creek to the Subway's smooth, tunnel-like narrows, roughly 8 miles round trip and typically 6 to 10 hours for most groups. Expect river wading, boulder scrambling, and downed trees rather than a groomed path. Like the top-down canyoneering route, every trip through the Left Fork/Subway corridor requires a Zion wilderness permit, picked up in person at the Visitor Center's Wilderness Desk after booking through the NPS lottery system; no overnight camping is allowed in the corridor.

Before you go

• Wilderness permit required (shared quota with the top-down route, 80 spots/day)
• Off-trail hiking: wading, boulder-scrambling, no maintained tread
• Max group size 12; no overnight camping allowed