The Subway, Zion National Park (Top-Down)

Canyoneers downclimb into a pool and then swim under the bowling ball.

LOGISTICS
Rating	3B III
Season	Summer or fall
Time   Commitment	6 to 12 hours
Longest Rappel	30 feet (10 m)
Access	Requires car spot, shuttle service or short hitchhike.
Permit Required?	YES, and permits are hard to get.
Emergency	Zion Wilderness Desk: 435-772-0170 Zion EMERGENCY: 435-772-3322

Click to view Subway Mileage Chart

TOM'S DIATRIBE ABOUT HANDLINING

Many people tackle the three short rappels in The Subway via handlining, rather than actual rappelling. I am not a big fan of this. Perhaps I have an excessively-vivid imagination, but handlining can go wrong very quickly. Not all people are strong enough to grasp a rope and control their descent down these short but steep drops. However, there is a strong tradition of handlining in the Subway. If you choose to handline, choose your anchors and line of descent carefully - not all anchors in place are suitable for handlining as some were established as rappel anchors. 

SEASONAL ADJUSTMENTS

Summer - In hot weather, The Subway can be enjoyed without a wetsuit for all but the skinniest. An early start (trailhead at 8 am) will allow the sunny approach to be completed before it becomes sweltering. The hike out can also be very hot, and taking a siesta at the end of The Subway part is often a good idea.

Fall - In cooler weather, wetsuits add to the enjoyment of The Subway. Zion has short days in late fall, which often means starting or ending by headlamp. AWESOME with red leaves floating in the water.

Winter - If clear of snow, The Subway CAN be a reasonable venture. Lots of headlamp hiking is to be expected. With snow, the road closes at the base of Mahoney Hill, adding at least 45 minutes to the approach. The route can be difficult to follow if obscured by snow. Snow and ice in the canyon can make downstream travel difficult or impossible! The red ledges at the bottom of The Subway can be slabs of ice requiring crampons.

Spring - In Zion, spring occurs sometime in March, April, May or June. For several weeks in that time period, the basin feeding The Subway melts off and The Subway floods, with too much water for safe passage. There is no gauge on the stream so water level information is not available remotely. Winter conditions may apply, and access to the trailhead might be blocked with snow.  The route can be difficult to follow if obscured by snow. Snow and ice in the canyon can make downstream travel difficult or impossible! The red ledges at the bottom of The Subway can be slabs of ice requiring crampons.

In the spring of 2011, the melt-off was especially slow, and many parties entered the canyon unprepared for the conditions present, expecting summer conditions despite plain evidence to the contrary. The Backcountry Desk cannot continuously assess conditions in the canyon, so it is up to each party to make a decision, when they arrive at the canyon bottom. ANY flow in the canyon at this point indicates serious Class C technical canyoneering conditions, and parties without sufficient knowledge, experience and equipment will be putting their own, and rescuer's, lives at risk by continuing forward when there is flow in the canyon. Proceeding downcanyon in the face of clear evidence that conditions are beyond your competence is foolish, and likely to result in injury, rescue and a citation for endangering others.

The Subway starts at the Wildcat Canyon Trailhead on the Kolob Terrace Road, and ends at the Left Fork Trailhead. In the summer, it is easy to hitch a ride from the Left Fork Trailhead the further 7 miles to the Wildcat Canyon trailhead. If you have one car, leave the car at the bottom (Left Fork Trailhead) with water, food and clothing. Hitching a ride is easier at the beginning of the day, when you are clean and smell nice. Or, arrange a shuttle from the lower trailhead to the upper with a local company such as Zion Adventure Company for around $25/person. In summer, get an early start to avoid the hot sun.

Spotting Cars

From Springdale, drive on Hwy 9 south and west 14 miles to the town of Virgin. Turn right (north) on the Kolob Reservoir Road (KR road, sometimes called the Kolob Terrace (KT) road). The paved KR road winds through town, then climbs a dramatic ridge in making its way to Kolob Terraces. Six and a half miles from Virgin, the road enters the park and three trailheads are soon encountered – the Right Fork, Grapevine Springs, then the Left Fork. Park at the Left Fork Trailhead. The trailhead is not shown on many maps, but is close to the Bench Mark labeled BM 5248. Mileage from the town of Virgin is 8.6 miles. Driving time from Springdale is 45 minutes.

By car or thumb, continue up the road another 7.0 miles to the Wildcat Canyon Trailhead. Start your hike here. Toilets are available at both trailheads.

At times, it can be easy to become lost. Photo: John Gums
The Approach

The Park re-aligned the "trail" in spring 2012, and made it quite a bit better, with more time on the slickrock and less in the woods. However, it is still a backcountry "route" rather than a "trail", so it requires attention and some backcountry savvy to follow. Straying from the trail tends to lead to "cliffs" - so make the effort to stay on the route. If you lose the route, please backtrack to the last place you had it. If the terrain in front of you does not match the description, you have probably lost the route. If the drop you come to looks longer than 30 feet, you might be at the bolted first rappel in Russell Gulch which is 100 feet, and on which your 60 foot rope will not magically get you safely to the bottom. Turn around and go back to the trail. The standard route to The Subway is called the Russell Gulch Route, but it does not follow Russell Gulch, it crosses it. There is also a "Russell Gulch Start" that descends
the gulch with three 100-foot rappels.

For the regular route, head east from the parking lot on the old fire road as it crosses the open meadows of Kolob Terrace. Open areas intersperse with stands of Ponderosa Pine. After 20 minutes, the signed Hop Valley Connector Trail comes in from the right. This trail is not shown on some maps. Continue straight. Five minutes later, the signed Northgate Peaks Trail comes in on the right - take this trail to the south. A few minutes down the Northgate Peaks Trail, take a trail well-marked trail that branches left (east) to the top of a slickrock area. There is a sign: "Subway Hikers". The maintained trail ends here.

Approaching the slickrock pass, take the Subway variation.Work your way down and right, staying to the slickrock and following cairns. Thirty feet above the woods, follow a sidewalk-like ledge to the right that traverses at that level for 100 yards. Look for and take a small sandy trail and drainage on the left that cuts across the woods to the next slickrock area. Follow the drainage on the rock until it threatens to plunge over a short drop into the forest. Do not plunge, instead hike to the right and down through brush until it comes back onto the rock. Follow ledges right to a large ponderosa log; hop the log and cut left and follow the slickrock down to a small trail that enters the woods. Follow the trail through the woods then out to a lava-boulder-strewn area where the trail is still clear. The trail continues out and left, eventually gaining and following the top of a ridge. A sandy trail leads to the end of the ridge with good views of the terrain ahead.

After enjoying the view, cut back left forty feet and downclimb a step, then a steep slab. Follow the ridge and trail beyond as it descends to, then crosses the small stream of Russell Gulch, then climbs to the slickrock pass ahead. Descend the bowl on the other side, then continue straight, then a bit right and find a trail that crosses the brush and comes out onto yet another slickrock area. Cut left and climb to the crest of the ridge beyond, over the crest and then right to follow the ridge briefly, until ramps lead left and down to the wash below, with conspicuous trails on the far side. Follow a well-established trail through the brush to the end of the ridge, overlooking a steep drop on two sides.

Normal approach time to the end of the ridge is 1-1/2 to 2 hours.

Follow the trail as it goes over the edge, then as it swings to the right, and steps further right to attain the top of a steep, rocky and sandy gully. Carefully descend the gully to the floor of Russell Gulch. In wet times, there is a pool, often waist-deep, at the base of the gully. If you have wetsuits you may want to put them on here. Follow Russell Gulch to the left 30 yards where it meets the main canyon, which is the Left Fork of North Creek.

Floor of the canyonEntering the Canyon

Turn right and boulder-hop down the (usually) dry canyon to the first obstacle - a jumble of giant boulders. If the canyon is running with water, evaluate if the flow is too high for your group's abilities. 100% of the water is funneled through a two-foot wide slot in two places - you will need to be in that slot with the water and not be swept away.

First Obstacle

The first obstacle is a pile of giant boulders that blocks the canyon wall to wall, and provides no conspicuous way down without using a rope or downclimbing something not all that easy. There are several options. Follow signs of traffic to the right wall of the canyon and a giant boulder with a two-bolt anchor near its top, and a V-Slot between the boulder and the canyon wall.

Option A: The Rabbit Hole: This is the easiest and funnest way down. Look across the canyon to the left wall, across from the bolted boulder. There is a small flat ledge with two holes behind it, and sometimes a cairn. Cross the boulders and crawl into the most up-canyon of the holes, then down and through another hole to come out on the canyon floor. Easy!

Option B: Rappel 30 feet (9m) the downstream face of the boulder. A short rappel can be made down the face of the boulder. It is often easy for most of the way, then for the final five feet, then boulder cuts away underneath.

Option C: From a single-bolt anchor on the next boulder up-stream, rappel or handline the V-slot. I have always found this very awkward, and the rope can get stuck on the pull, especially if there are logs in the V-slot.

Option D: From the single-bolt anchor above, rappel or handline straight down through a hole between the boulders.

Continue Downcanyon

A few nice potholes are avoided by climbing rock on the sides; a few more are waded to perhaps waist deep. About 15 minutes below the first obstacle, the Triple Pools presents the first mandatory swim. Ascertain your gear is properly dry-bagged, and swim the three pools. Bonus style points are awarded for swimming through the underwater arch on the left, at the start of the third pool.

To The Subway

Waterfall RoomA few minutes downcanyon, springs start providing a small, year-round flow. Often the spring water is warmer than the retained water in the Triple Pools. Fifteen minutes downcanyon, the canyon narrows to a slot, with a couple short drops. Downclimb a couple short drops and swim under a chockstone then out through a large pool. (Variation: the slot can be avoided by a traverse up 20 feet on the left. Follow this out to the end, where a short rappel can be made from a tree. Getting up to the traverse is not all that easy.

The canyon in this section is exceptionally beautiful. Five or ten minutes downcanyon, the final section begins at Keyhole Falls. The stream drops through a slot with a small arch on the left. Rappel 10 feet from bolts on the right into water that is usually waist-deep. Downclimbing this drop is difficult because the landing is very bad. Bowling-ball size rocks are hidden beneath the churning water.

You are in an amazing corridor. Swim through an arch on the left for a few more bonus points. At the end of the corridor, the canyon turns sharply right, revealing the famous "North Pole" log. Take pictures, downclimb a short shelf and wind your way downcanyon. Where the canyon opens somewhat, with the waterflow on the left wall. Use logs to cross to the bench on the left side of the canyon. The logs have but a tenuous hold on their position, so use caution when crossing. (If the logs have been washed away, rappel the final drop from a 2-bolt anchor on the right.) Once on the left bench, traverse the ledge about 50 feet (15m) to a multi-bolt anchor at the top of a slab. Rappel (or handline) down the slab and the short, steep step at its base (30 feet or 10 meters). The tenuous logs help form a waterfall. The waterfall and the room behind it are often fun to visit.

Subway log in the Spring. Photo: Ryan GardnerContinue downcanyon past some lovely pools. The rock can be very slippery here, so be careful. Soon you are walking through the eponymous "Subway" section, where the curving canyon walls and parallel cracks in the floor call to mind underground trains. Past this, the canyon opens up and flattens out, and there is often comforting sunshine. Many groups remove their wetsuits and harnesses here, and warm up in the sun. If it is hot out, take a siesta until the sun is lower in the sky.

The Walk Out

The exit continues down the Left Fork and is long and rugged. The first part descends marvelous and photogenic red ledges with waterfalls. A few minutes below the red ledges, a spring drops water into the stream on the right. Following paths on both banks and crossing the stream many times, make your way downcanyon. Most parties take a little more than two hours for the hike out. About one hour downcanyon, look for two large tumble-down boulders close to the water on the right. Their flat, gray faces hold many dinosaur tracks. Admire but do not touch these fragile remnants of the past.

The Climb Out

Another hour downcanyon and it's time to exit up to the road. Missing the exit is easy, so make sure you pay attention. Two streams come into the Left Fork from the north (right). One third of a mile (1/2 km) past the second stream, the exit gully will be in front of you. The north (right) wall of the canyon is a 400-foot (120m), steep, tree-covered talus slope with 400-foot (120m) vertical sandstone walls above. Downstream, the sandstone at the top ends and a black lava flow replaces the steep talus. The trail out climbs the crease below the left edge of the vertical sandstone to where it meets the lava flow.

The hike up, at the end of a hot day, can be brutal. Photo: John Gums

The climb can be extremely hot - the black rock traps afternoon heat. Take a final dip in the stream before starting up. Find the well-established trail on the right side of the creek that starts up a gully. Do not begin the climb up without finding the trail. At the top of the slope, the trail traverses left to the top of the lava flow and works its way left through ledges to the mesa top above. Follow the trail through the pinon-juniper forest 1/2 mile (800m) to the parking area. Enjoy the ice-cold beverages you left in your cooler.

In the (geologically) recent past, lava flowed over the edge and into the Left Fork, forming a dam. The creek gradually built a lake until it over-topped the dam and cut its way through. Soft sandstone from the lake deposits can be seen lying on top of the lava in a few places just after reaching the top of the steep climb out. Look for these thin-layered, soft sand- and siltstones.

Author's Experience

The Subway from the top was my second Zion canyon, in June 1999, though we, uh, actually, uh, got lost and only found it at the end of the day. I came back two weeks later and reclaimed my honor, and do The Subway once or twice a year, though usually with a Russell Gulch or Das Boot start. 

Russell Gulch and The Subway, Zion, 10/26/02 - Tom and Polly hit The Subway on a rainy day.
Das Boot and The Subway, Zion, 7/14/05 - A cool respite during Bake Fest '05, with Denise Manweiler, Eric Godfrey, and Jim Schnepel.
The Subway, Zion, March 2007 - A spring descent with Bruce Silliman and Chris Reeves.
Das Boot and The Subway, Zion 4/25/08 - Tom, Sarah Stratton and Karen from Chicago avoid catastrophe.
The Subway in Ideal Conditions, April 2012 - Shai and a friend from Israel join Tom for a spring trip through the canyon.
Anchor Work in The Subway, October 2012 - Tom relocates the first anchor and explains the placing of four new bolts.
The Subway via Russell Gulch, Christmas Day 2012 - Tom, Ram, and friends kick off FreezeFest XI by descending The Subway via Russell Gulch.
 

Stories

The Subway sees a LOT of visitors each year, and thus has seen numerous accident reports and search & rescues. Read some especially interesting Subway accident reports, compiled in Zion: Canyoneering, to learn from the mistakes of others.

Exterior Links

Trip Reports

The Subway Flash Flood, 8/4/08 - Video clip of a flash flood.
The Subway, Zion, July 2009 - Felicia takes nothing but memories from her hike this trip through The Subway.

Stories

Das Boot, November 1998 - This Dave Pitney adventure is one of the best tales from Canyon Tales.

Alternative Descriptions

Chris Brennen, The Subway
The Subway, Joe Braun 

• Ready to go Ready to go
• Down the slickrock Down the slickrock
• On the approach On the approach
• The slickrock pass The slickrock pass
• The top of the gully The top of the gully
• Floor of the canyon Floor of the canyon
• The triple pools The triple pools
• Below triple pools Below triple pools
• Downclimb into a pool. Downclimb into a pool.
• Nice corridor Nice corridor
• Keyhole Falls Keyhole Falls
• Keyhole Falls Keyhole Falls
• After Keyhole Falls After Keyhole Falls
• Logs and corridor Logs and corridor
• Log in the Subway Log in the Subway
• Log in the Subway Log in the Subway
• The Subway in spring The Subway in spring
• The waterfall room The waterfall room
• Crowds in the Subway Crowds in the Subway
• Waterfall in the Subway Waterfall in the Subway
• Walking by the pools Walking by the pools
• Fall leaves Fall leaves
• The Subway 'tube' The Subway 'tube'
• Hot tub? Hot tub?
• Watch out for the trains!!! Watch out for the trains!!!
• Slot in the red ledges Slot in the red ledges
• The exit trail. The exit trail.
• Service Project Service Project
•