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The Subway in Zion National Park

The mystical journey through the Left Fork of North Creek involves route finding, plunging cautiously into chilly pools then sloshing, sometimes frantically, through frigid water over and through difficult obstacles. The narrow Subway section of this hike forces hikers through a unique tunnel sculpted by the Left Fork of North Creek. Churning water chisels the rock floor, forming shallow potholes that fill to the brim with frosty water. Silhouettes dance freely on multi-colored walls where only a trickle of sun light penetrates into the curved chamber of the Subway. Falling water echoes in the nature carved tunnel where dragonflies dart, frogs laze about and shimmering emerald pools tempt cold hikers to dawdle. Before long, the promise of daylight urges an exit to the warmth of the sun waiting outside the Subway. The canyon widens as hikers cross back and forth across the creek, making their way to the grueling uphill exit. For those that want a glimpse of the canyon, but choose to stay away from uncomfortable obstacles, explore the canyon from the bottom where thin sheets of glistening water cascade over mossy stair-step slivers of rock.

Canyoneering: Never enter a technical canyon without the knowledge and skills needed to safely explore and return. Rappelling and down-climbing skills are required to navigate through the Subway. Do not jump. Jumping in Zion's canyons have resulted in many broken bones. The Subway route requires excellent map reading skills to navigate. GPS coordinates are only references and may or may not be accurate and a GPS has limited capabilities in canyons. Do not rely on them as the sole method of navigation. Always check your position with a detailed map before dropping into a canyon.

The Subway at a Glance
Photo Albums:
Subway Highlights | Subway Route | Das Boot
Topo Map: Subway map
Day Canyon: Yes
Distance: 9.5 miles
Average Hiking Time: 7 hours
Equipment: Neoprene socks, rope, harness, sturdy canyoneering shoes, 3 liters of water per person or a purification method, energy food, dry clothing, first aid kit and a headlamp. Spring and Fall may necessitate the use of wetsuits. Use a dry bag for electronics and extra clothing. Use a 100' rope to complete the canyon.
Difficulty: This is a technical canyon where rappelling and down-climbing skills are required, but these obstacles can be avoided by hiking from the bottom into the Subway.
Sun Exposure: There are some cold area that get no sun, but most of the hike is in full sun.
Trail Usage: Heavy, with 80 permits given out a day and most of them are used.
Permits: A permit is required and is available online or at Zion's backcountry desk. Call 1-435-772-0170 for more information
Canyon Rating: 3B III
Trail conditions: Swimming is usually required through at least three pools of cold water and there are usually four obstacles that must be down-climbed with the use of a rope.
Trailhead: Wildcat Canyon Trailhead is located on the Kolob Reservoir Road, 15.5 miles north of Virgin.
Trailend: The Left Fork Trailend is also on the Kolob Reservoir Road, 8 miles north of the town of Virgin.
Trail Access: Access to the trailhead of the Subway at the Wildcat Canyon Trailhead may be closed due to snow conditions in the winter. If the gate is closed, access to the Wildcat Canyon Trail is via the Hop Valley - Wildcat Canyon Connector Trail, south of the Kolob Reservoir Road or by hiking up the Kolob Terrace Road beyond the gate . This will add 1.5 miles to the hike.
Best Season: May through September when the water and air are warmer. Heavy winter snowfall and spring run-off may render hiking the Subway impossible in spring months. It's cold in this canyon and only experienced canyoneers with proper gear should attempt it in the spring, winter or late fall.
There is a flash flood danger, slippery rocks and obstacles to down-climb. Swimming in ice cold water can cause hypothermia. The lower section of the canyon is slippery due to moss.  Remember slot canyons can change dramatically in a short time due to flash floods. These directions are only a general reference. Be prepared for variations.
Elevation: Parking: 6985 feet
Elevation: Exit at the bottom of Left Fork: 4700 feet
Elevation: Trailend 5100 feet
Off the Beaten Path: 80 hikers a day are allowed in the Subway.
Water Availability: In the later section of the hike, there is one major spring entering from the right, when walking downstream and several seeps that may be present depending on conditions. Purify all water before use.

Call the Zion Canyon Visitors Center for weather conditions prior to the hike: (435) 772-3256. The Left Fork of North Creek is a slot canyon and like any slot canyon there is a very real danger from flash flooding. Do not hike this trail if it is raining. Remember a storm far off can trigger a flash flood. Flash flood danger is high.

Shuttle Setup - Drive to Virgin, which is 26-miles northeast of St. George on SR-9. Toward the end of town, turn onto the Kolob Reservoir Road and head north for 8 miles. Park your vehicle at the Left Fork Trailend, the bottom end of the Subway, then continue 8-miles north to the Wildcat Canyon Trailhead to park another vehicle and begin the route.

Wildcat Canyon Trailhead - Walk east on the Wildcat Canyon Trail for .85 miles until it meets the Northgate Peaks Trail. Head south on the Northgate Peaks Trail for less than .2 miles, where the Subway Trailhead sign marks the route to follow. The trail is now over slickrock, but there is a metal post with a footprint placard on the slickrock as well as cairns marking the proper path. Traversing down and right, the trail steers toward Russell Gulch and into the forest on the bottom of the steep slickrock slab. Look for the path of use near a little stream. This route meanders through pine trees, oak, manzanitas, juniper and aspens . The path leaves the forest and again travels down a slickrock slab before re-entering a dirt and vegetated area. Soon the trail arrives on a buttress overlooking Russell Gulch and the last steep 200' descent into the gulch.

Important - The NPS has done a lot of work on the entrance and exit of this route. In the upper portion from Wildcat, where typically one enters the forest, they have blocked off that trail. Go around on the cairned route, to the right and above the forested area and do not destroy or build new cairns. There has been at least a half-mile of use trail with cairned durable slickrock as an alternative. Below the Subway, the NPS has spent a large amount of time eliminating the web of unneccessary trails. Please stay on established trails or hike in the creek, thereby not creating any new trails.

Directions to Zion National Park From the North: Travel I-15 south, past Beaver. exit on Hwy 20. Follow US-89 to Mount Carmel Junction. Take SR-9 to Zion's east entrance. From Arizona: Travel US-89A through Fredonia, Arizona and Kanab Utah. Follow US-89 to Mount Carmel Junction. Take SR-9 to the east park entrance. From the South: Travel I-15 north. Take exit 16 and travel through Hurricane to LaVerkin. Continue on SR-9 to the south entrance of the park. SR-9 through Zion National Park is always open and is also called the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway. See restrictions for RV's.			Mary Cisneros and Shane Burrows in Zion's Subway. Photo by Bo Beck
	Lodging and services are available on the gorgeous east side of Zion National Park, where guests are close to Zion National Park (12 miles), Bryce Canyon National Park (60 miles), Cedar Breaks National Monument (45 miles), Coral Pink Sand Dunes (12 miles), and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon (85 miles). It's where city traffic is absent and the skies are bright and clean.

Russell Gulch - Once at the bottom of the gulch, hike to the slickrock on the east side of Russell Gulch. Look for cross-bedded dome-like hoodoos, high in the saddle, to the south. Continue over the slickrock, traversing toward the domes, passing between the domes at the saddle. Hike to the south, down the large slickrock bowl, surveying the landscape for the trail entering into the vegetated area at the end of the bowl. Continue a short distance where the beaten path arrives at a small wash and lures hikers to the right, but keep an eye out for a cairn to the left, that once again ascends to another small saddle and then descends into another wash. The trail then ascends a short distance and traverses for a couple hundred yards before the steep, final descent into Russell Gulch. Watch for the pine tree next to a slab of rock on the right. This seems like an improbable chute to maneuver, however, by carefully stepping down the "rock and root stairway and picking through the loose rock for 300 vertical feet, the bottom of Russell Gulch is obtained. At the bottom of this steep chute, turn left, and walk 100 yards to find the confluence of Left Fork of North Creek and Russell Gulch. Turn right at this confluence.

Boulder Obstacle - Walking down the left Fork of North Creek for about 300 yards the first obstacle appears. Scamper up the boulder and locate the sling anchor on the right side of the 12' rock. Secure a doubled rope so the last person in the party can pull it free. This is an easy and straightforward rappel. There is a chimney on the right side of the boulder which can also be rappelled. Do not jump! Search and rescue teams are often called to the Subway for those that are unprepared to navigate obstacles and thus get hurt jumping. Some people have slid down the log wedged in the slot at the first drop but is not recommended

Time to Get Wet - Be prepared to pack cameras and other sensitive items into dry bags if you have not already done this. If the temperatures are cool outside, wetsuits are required for the next section. The water in the canyon is ice-cold, even in the middle of the summer, but in spring and fall it can be dangerously cold. Even when it is hot outside, it's best to wear quick dry clothing and keep other clothing dry to put on in the shady and cool Subway section. Navigate through or around the potholes. Never jump into a pothole! Also note that each flash flood changes the character of the route and the depth of the pools.

Canyon Route - Continue down canyon and prepare to swim. The first pool can be 30-feetlong, followed by a shorter pool. At the end of the first pool there is a submerged window that some choose to swim through.

Second Obstacle - Bolts in the now narrow slot canyon may have a webbing sling attached that aids in the 8' drop to a small ledge and then another 3-4' drop into this pool below.

Caution - Do not jump into the pool, a submerged rock just 3' below the surface could be dangerous. This is a difficult obstacle for many to navigate without some aid. Swimming is required after climbing into the next pool of water. The next two chambers are wonderful photo opportunities, but keep your camera safe and dry by using two good quality dry bags, one inside the other.

Keyhole Falls - Yet another waterfall in the narrow slot will necessitate the use of a rope. The drop is only 8' to the water, but, once again, submerged rocks make jumping dangerous. To the right, an old bolt with a hanger is used as an anchor that allows a hand line or rappel through the crack. The first drop is about 20' but a longer rope is needed because the anchor is set back.

The Subway - The quarter-mile passage through the Subway is the most charming segment of the adventure. Deep inside the tubular tunnel glimmers of sunlight trickle into the darkness, allowing algae to grow in the water filled potholes. The green flora creates an eerie turquoise glow that radiates throughout the spectacular chamber. Finally, the crystal clear water splashing through this picturesque setting meanders over polished rock to the open canyon below.

Log Chamber and Subway Arch - Inside the Subway, just past Keyhole Falls is a chamber where there may be a log perched against the wall. It is amazing how long it has stayed without a flood washing it away. Ten yards before arriving at the leaning log, look up and on the left to the silhouetted cliff above where you can spot the free-standing arch.

Final Obstacle - A few yards past the leaning log, staying to the right, walk the rock ledge to bypass the 6' waterfall in the watercourse. Continue downstream 50 yards, where the canyon turns to the left and arrives at the final obstacle. A log jammed between a narrow crack in the rock waterway becomes a short bridge over the waterfall to cross onto the slickrock ledge on the left. Walk downstream on the ledge 20 yards and locate a two-bolt anchor, just 6 feet below inside a small bowl.) A 60' rope is suggested to safely navigate this obstacle. This 30' obstacle is a difficult rappel if the rock is wet and slippery from moss. The rock becomes vertical near the bottom so the best climber should rappel down first to help the others in the party.

Waterfall Room - Once at the bottom of the final obstacle, be sure to wade, swim and work through the potholes back upstream to see the Waterfall Room. This is the waterfall you walked over by using the wedged log bridge . Stay and enjoy the many desert tanks in the once again Tunneled Subway. Those who choose to hike up from the bottom will turn around at the waterfall room and exit the same way approached.

Cascades - Shortly after leaving the Subway there are several notable cascades. Use caution since the falls are slippery. Enjoy the beautiful cascades and crystalline water. The route from the last cascade now crosses back and forth from one side of the creek to the other and occasionally travels in the center of the watercourse.

Dinosaur Tracks - 7 miles into the trip, on the right, north, are two large slabs of white rock angled toward toward the river with embedded prints made by an ancient type of dinosaur therapod known as the Grallator.

Locating the Exit - It's easy to miss this exit, so be aware/ The exit from the Left Fork of North Creek is downstream from the dinosaur tracks and although there is often a small sign, this indicator can be washed away. Look for the large sandstone cliffs on the right and if you see basalt cliffs instead you have gone too far.

Hike Out - The exit scrambles up to the top of the basalt ridge that appears in front of you. It will seem impossible to climb, but the steep route ascends up and to the right of the 100-200' high basalt cliffs.

Caution - The Subway is a technical slot canyon that has become popular due to the many images in the media, but its a difficult adventure. Take the canyons in Zion serious and go prepared. Down climbs and short rappels are required. Bring a rope and gear. After the fun, there is a hot steep trek out of the creek.

Subway GPS Coordinates - WGS84 Datum

GPS coordinates are only references and may or may not be accurate. Do not rely on GPS coordinates as the sole method of navigation. Always have an accurate, detailed map at hand and have the proper map reading and navigation skills before setting out on any hike. Many of the hikes listed in this guide travel into canyons where a GPS has limited capabilities. Always check your position with a detailed map before dropping into a canyon.

Kolob Terrace Options

Das Boot

Das Boot is an technical option for entering The Subway or it can be done on its own.

North Guardian Angel

This is on the Sierra Clubs list of the top one-hundred desert peaks to do. This trail is outside of the main section of Zion National Park and in the Kolob Terrace section along with The Subway and Das Boot.

Freestanding Arches in Zion

Jug Handle Arch Two Pines Arch Hidden Canyon Bridge Mountain Hepworth Arch Guardian Arch Hidden Arch Checkerboard Arch Jug Handle Arch Two Pines Arch Hidden Canyon Jug Handle Arch Two Pines Arch Hidden Canyon

Crawford Arch Hepworth Arch Guardian Arch Hidden Arch Checkerboard Arch Pa'rus Bike Trail Kolob Arch The Subway Fat Man's Misery Spry Canyon Pine Creek Canyon North Fork Taylor Creek Englestead Hollow Zion Narrows

Beta: Coordinates and other trail and canyoneering information by Zion Park search and rescue veteran team member Bo Beck and zionnational-park.com author Mary Cisneros.

Corrections: To post trip reports, offer corrections, updates, or for more information please visit the
Zion National Park Forum

Suggested Equipment: A sturdy pair of shoes are recommend to hike a long distance in the Subway. Many quality shoes will help grip the rocks and prevent injury. Experienced hikers and Canyoneers often prefer a good quality rubber shoe like Sportiva Exum Ridge. Other prefer the Aqua Stealth Rubber Shoes or 5-10 Canyoneers but these are not as good for hiking. You might want to try wearing neoprene socks with them for added comfort if they are not already part of the shoe. Canyoneering Rope is required for this semi-technical canyon.

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