Hike or Canyoneer The Subway, Zion National Park, Utah

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The Subway is a colloquial name for a uniquely-shaped slot canyon in Zion National Park. The Subway is so named for its tube-like, undercut slot canyons. This segment of canyon is less than a quarter-mile in length, but long approach and exit hikes are necessary for access. Left Fork (Subway) Bottom-Up Hiking Route: This is a very strenuous 9-mile round-trip hike through the Left Fork of North Creek that requires route finding, hiking in ankle to knee deep water, and scrambling over large boulders. This route begins and ends at the Left Fork Trailhead on the Kolob Terrace Road.Click here for additional trip planning information. Left Fork (Subway) Top-Down Canyoneering Route: This is a very strenuous 9.5-mile through-hike that requires rappelling skills, 60 feet of rope, and extensive route finding experience. The route also requires swimming through several deep pools of very cold debris-filled water. The route begins at the Wildcat Canyon Trailhead and ends at the Left Fork Trailhead. Both trailheads are located on the Kolob Terrace Road. It's a 9.5 mile trek that usually takes about 7 hours to finish. The narrow Subway section of this hike forces hikers through a unique tunnel sculpted by a for of North Creek. Churning water chiseled away the rock floor while forming shallow potholes that fill to the brim with icy water. Shadows dance on multi-colored walls where only the slightest amount of sun light penetrates into the curved chamber of the Subway. The use of a headlamp is highly recommended along with basic Canyoneering gear. It’s the promise of the sun’s warmth and full light that draws adventurers to the conclusion. Certain times of the year or especially wet conditions would make the use of a wetsuit a necessity. At least 100 feet of rope is required to complete this descent. 80 permits are issued per day. It is located between two peaks called the North and South Guardian Angels, deep within the Left Fork of North Creek. It is part of the larger Great West Canyon system, which includes both the Left and Right Forks of North Creek. Canyoneering groups acknowledge two popular routes for visiting the Subway. The through route, for advanced hikers, involves a one-way hike downstream from the Wildcat Canyon Trailhead. The easier route accesses the lower section of the Subway from downstream. You must get a backcountry permit to do this route and are hard to get. The National Park Service limits access to the canyon to 50 people a day. The Park holds a lottery for permits four months in advance. For more information on permit reservations, please see the Zion Permits website. WARNING: Slot canyons are particularly dangerous due to the risk of flash floods. Storms far away can send walls of water down the narrow canyons and hikers have been killed in such events. In many slot canyons, it can be miles before a safe exit or rescue is possible. Hikers should check conditions carefully and not rely on seeing the sky to judge the weather. If there is even a slight chance of rain, do not enter slot canyons. Everyone entering into the Left Fork of North Creek must abide by all Canyoneering Regulations. The Seasonal Lottery: An online Seasonal Lottery is held for all trips, all year, into the Left Fork of North Creek (Subway) to obtain a reservation for a Wilderness permit. Online applications must be submitted during the lottery window, up to four months in advance, with up to four choices for dates. Applications are limited to one request per individual, per canyon, per season. Choose your four prioritized dates carefully so that you do not need to change your application. Applicants will be sent a notification email on the 27th day of the month with information about the status of their request. Successful applicants will need to claim their reservation on rec.gov within two weeks of the results notification email. Unclaimed reservations become available to reserve on the 15th day of the month following the lottery, at 10am Mountain Time. There is a $6.00 non-refundable fee for the Seasonal Lottery application. Apply for the Left Fork Seasonal Lottery

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