Subway - Zion National Park

"Subway"
Left Fork of North Creek

Zion National Park
Canyoneering

The famous "Subway" penetrates the spectacular canyon of the Left Fork of North Creek. Everyone interested in canyoneering eventually does the "Subway". If you have considered technical canyoneering, but have not yet taken the plunge this is a great first adventure with a semi-technical route.

Willing participants will battle climbing down boulders, ledges and waterfalls that bar the way. The route contains several short swims through chilly pools and miles of wading in ankle deep water. The route passes through several narrow slots and near a collection of dinosaur tracks from the Jurassic Period.

General Information:
The Subway (Left Fork of North Creek) is a semi-technical canyoneering adventure. This route should only be attempted when lead by an experienced hiker or canyoneer. The route will require 7 to 9 hours to complete. The payoff for your time and effort is visiting some of the most spectacular scenery in Zion, without the usual busload of tourists. I suggest a group size of six or less. A car shuttle is required for this adventure. Trailhead shuttle information is available.

You will need a 60-foot rope for hand lines, belays, lowering packs and possible emergency use. Many guidebooks list a 50-foot rope, which is too short to establish a handline at the final obstacle. Use a drybag for anything you don't want wet. The Subway contains several cold swims and miles of wading. Wetsuits are suggested for cold weather conditions. There are several downclimbing problems where inexperienced canyoneers might require a handline, belay or partner assist.

You will need a Zion backcountry permit to enter the Subway (Left Fork of North Creek). The Subway is limited to 50 visitors per day. Permits can be reserved three month's in advance. Twenty walk up permits are available each day for the Subway at the Zion Visitor Center. If you intend to obtain a walk up permit I suggest you get in line early.

The Subway is rated 2B III using the Canyon Rating System. Navigation for this adventure is moderate since there is no trail. The Guardian Angels, is the USGS 7.5 minute topographical map which shows the Subway. A GPS works in this canyon to identify all important route junctions and the exit trail. All waypoints and maps for this route use the WGS84 datum. The Subway and the Zion Narrows have a serious flash flood danger, check the weather report at the Visitor Center when you pick up your permit.

Shauna Burrows drops into the lower section of the Subway.

Left Fork Trailhead:
After picking up your Zion Backcountry Permit at the main Zion Canyon Visitor Center drive 14 miles west on Highway 9 to the town of Virgin. Turn north (right) on the signed Kolob Reservoir Road. Travel 8.1 miles to the signed Left Fork Trailhead. The trailhead is on the east (right) side of the road and contains a large dirt parking lot, pit toilet and information kiosk. The Left Fork Trailhead is where you will finish the route. Park a shuttle vehicle at this trailhead.

Wildcat Trailhead:
From the Left Fork Trailhead hitch a ride or drive 7.2 miles further up the road to the signed Wildcat Canyon Trailhead. The trailhead is on the south (right) side of the road and contains a large dirt parking lot, pit toilet and information kiosk. The Wildcat Trailhead is where you begin the route.

Both trailheads are reached by paved road and are accessible to any vehicle in good weather.

Your handsome tour guide and one of seveal arches.

The "North Pole" made famous by a local photographer.

Route Information:
From the Wildcat Trailhead (N37° 20' 24", W113° 04' 32"), follow the trail east for 1 mile to a junction with the Wildcat Canyon Connector trail (N37° 20' 23", W113° 03' 43"), turn east (left) at the junction and follow the trail for 300 yards to the junction with the Northgate Peaks spur trail. (N37° 20' 25", W113° 03' 25"), turn south (right) and follow the Northgate Peaks spur trail south for 200 yards until you encounter a well defined hiker made trail (N37° 20' 21", W113° 03' 34") forking off to the east (left) and descending towards Russell Gulch. The trail is easy to find and is signed with information about "Permit required to descend Left Fork".

Follow the prominent, unmaintained but well cairned trail for 1 1/4 miles to where the route reaches the floor of Russell Gulch, than climbs onto slickrock to the east. DO NOT descend Russell Gulch at this point, the route climbs out the east side and follows the slick rock.

1/2 mile beyond the floor of Russell Gulch the route crests through a slickrock saddle (N37° 19' 39", W113° 02' 35"). There is a large hoodoo in the center of the saddle.

From the saddle it is 3/4 mile to where the route descends Left Fork canyon at the confluence of Russell Gulch and Left Fork (N37° 19' 07", W113° 02' 21"). The last 100 yards of trail that descends into the bottom of the actual canyon is down a steep dirt and rock covered trail, use caution.

Follow Left Fork downstream as the obstacle course begins. The first major obstacle is a large boulder. Experienced canyoneers can downclimb the front of the boulder. Hikers will want to set up a rope as a handline. There is a route around the north (right) side of the boulder that looks inviting but straight over the front is a better option.

There are several pools to swim. The longest swim is approximately 40 feet, bring drybags for your gear. There are several other obstacles above the Subway that must be waded or downclimbed.

1 mile below the junction of Russell Gulch and Left Fork you will encounter Keyhole Falls (N37° 18' 42", W113° 03' 05"). This is the upper end of The Subway. Keyhole falls will require a rope for a handline. Anchor the handline to the bolts on the north (right) side of the canyon. The actual subway is only 1/4 mile long with a small cliff that blocks most hikers coming up from the bottom. This cliff can be avoided if you want to stay in the watercourse and do a simple downclimb and swim, or you can walk to the south (left) and set up a handline from two easy to locate bolts. This is the end of the difficult obstacles.

1/4 mile below Keyhole Falls you will exit the lower end of The Subway (N37° 18' 32", W113° 03' 07"). The remainder of the hike involves wading and boulder hopping. The canyon opens up and remains extremely scenic for the next couple of miles. The remainder of the hike contains several beautiful cascades over red rock formations, high sandstone cliffs and a lush, green canyon bottom.

1 1/2 miles below the Subway you will notice some excellent Dinosaur tracks (N37° 17' 58", W113° 04' 12") if you are paying attention. Several slabs of light gray mudstone are covered with dinosaur tracks. The stone is a fossilized lakebed from the Kayenta Formation, containing tracks laid down in the early Jurassic Period. The tracks belong to a bipedal carnivore. If you are looking at the ground you will not see the tracks. The slabs are located about 15 feet from the river, on the north side. There are 3 slabs approximately 30 feet wide by 20 high, tilted at a 45-degree angle.

1/2 mile below the dinosaur tracks Little Creek joins from the north (N37° 17' 43", W113° 04' 41").

1/4 mile beyond Little Creek and Pine Springs Wash joins from the north (N37° 17' 35", W113° 04' 51").

1/4 mile below Pine Springs Wash you must exit the canyon to the north (N37° 17' 22", W113° 05' 05"). The exit route is signed at the river "Left Fork Trailhead". The climb out has an elevation change of 400 feet as you climb up a very steep gully to the top of the lava cliffs.

3/4 mile after leaving the stream and after you have climbed out of the canyon the trail crosses Grapevine Wash. From Grapevine Wash it is only 200 yards to the Left Fork Trailhead (N37° 17' 05", W113° 05' 47").

Easier Optional Route:
For the less adventurous, the "Subway" can be completed as an out and back hike from the Left Fork Trailhead and is rated 1B III using the Canyon Rating System. This will require 6 to 8 hours and does not require a vehicle shuttle. All the semi-technical obstacles are located above the "Subway".

Harder Optional Route:
For the hardcore the "Subway" can be completed in the reverse direction of what is described here. This will require 6 to 8 hours and a vehicle shuttle. If you do the route in the reverse direction I suggest you have a climber along who can lead traditional 5.8 rated routes.

Das Boot Entrance:
The Das Boot Route is a fantastic entrance option to the Subway. The route is available to technical canyoneers. This is not an option for hikers.

Russell Gulch Entrance:
Technical Canyoneers can descend Russell Gulch directly. When the standard hiking route crosses Russell Gulch simply follow the Russell Gulch drainage downstream. The Russell Gulch Entrance contains three rappels with the longest being 95 feet. All rappel anchors are bolted. The Russell Gulch Entrance adds one hour to the standard top to bottom Subway route. The Russell Gulch Entrance with Subway is rated 3B III using the Canyon Rating System.

Shauna, Shane, Sierra and Stormy at one of many cascades.