Do I need a permit to descend The Subway?
Yes. You need a permit to descend The Subway in Zion National Park. It is the The Subway Permit, and it comes back two ways: cancelled permits return to the booking system through the season, and the rest are awarded by lottery.
Lottery permit
What the The Subway permit costs and covers
- Fee
- $6 application + $10/person
- Group size limit
- 12 people
- Applications open
- Quarterly: February 1, May 1, August 1, November 1
- Applications close
- The 25th of the opening month
- Results
- Two days after the lottery closes
- Season starts
- Year-round
What the rules require
- 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
Published rules for the The Subway Permit, quoted as written.
Getting one
Lottery winners cancel and miss payment deadlines, and those dates go back into the booking system through the season. PermitSnag checks The Subway Permit and tells you the moment one reappears.
Common questions about the The Subway permit
Do I need a permit to descend The Subway?
Yes. You need a permit to descend The Subway in Zion National Park. It is the The Subway Permit, and it comes back two ways: cancelled permits return to the booking system through the season, and the rest are awarded by lottery.
How much does a The Subway permit cost?
$6 application + $10/person.
When can I apply for a The Subway permit?
The application window opens Quarterly: February 1, May 1, August 1, November 1. It closes The 25th of the opening month. Results: Two days after the lottery closes.
How many people can be on one The Subway permit?
12 people.
When is the The Subway permit season?
Season starts: Year-round.
What if I lose the The Subway lottery?
Lottery winners cancel and miss payment deadlines, and those dates return to the booking system through the season. PermitSnag checks The Subway Permit for those cancellations and tells you when one appears.