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The Subway (Bottom-Up)
Hiking Trail
Hard
7.4 mi
1,319 ft
Hike and scramble into a hidden section of slot canyon made famous by photographers.
The Subway is a photo-famous section of slot canyon resembling an underground railway tube. It makes a natural light show of soft sunlight bouncing off rock and reflecting on water in picture-perfect geometry. This natural artwork is so often photographed that you might think it a staple destination for Zion National Park visitors, but it’s actually buried deep in a wild corner of the park. It is accessible only by onerous hiking through a desert wash, and only allowed with a special permit.
There are two routes to reach the Subway, both of which require permits. The “Top-Down” approach requires rappels and swims, among other challenges, but the “Bottom-Up” is a non-technical and more direct route. It is not without its own difficulties, but they are well worth it for the incredible scenery in this remote region of Zion National Park. The Subway section itself is fairly short. The adventure is in the journey to get there.
The bottom-up route begins at the Left Fork trailhead along Kolob Terrace Road. A well-marked trail leads to a canyon rim then descends sharply to the bottom, into Left Fork of North Creek. The streambed then becomes the trail, which you follow all the way to The Subway. This requires boulder scrambling on uneven terrain, and stream crossing when water levels are higher.
Much of this canyon route is exposed to sun, and during warmer months can become incredibly hot. Plan accordingly: bring plenty of water and food, and closely monitor weather conditions and forecasts in the days and hours leading up to your adventure. Remember, the last place you want to be in canyon country during a rainstorm is at the bottom of a confined slot canyon.
To justly limit the numbers in this pristine part of the park, the National Park Service issues permits through a lottery system. You should plan in advance how to apply for and claim your permit. Find details about permits at the Zion National Park website.
Sources:
Written by Jesse Weber
The Subway is a photo-famous section of slot canyon resembling an underground railway tube. It makes a natural light show of soft sunlight bouncing off rock and reflecting on water in picture-perfect geometry. This natural artwork is so often photographed that you might think it a staple destination for Zion National Park visitors, but it’s actually buried deep in a wild corner of the park. It is accessible only by onerous hiking through a desert wash, and only allowed with a special permit.
There are two routes to reach the Subway, both of which require permits. The “Top-Down” approach requires rappels and swims, among other challenges, but the “Bottom-Up” is a non-technical and more direct route. It is not without its own difficulties, but they are well worth it for the incredible scenery in this remote region of Zion National Park. The Subway section itself is fairly short. The adventure is in the journey to get there.
The bottom-up route begins at the Left Fork trailhead along Kolob Terrace Road. A well-marked trail leads to a canyon rim then descends sharply to the bottom, into Left Fork of North Creek. The streambed then becomes the trail, which you follow all the way to The Subway. This requires boulder scrambling on uneven terrain, and stream crossing when water levels are higher.
Much of this canyon route is exposed to sun, and during warmer months can become incredibly hot. Plan accordingly: bring plenty of water and food, and closely monitor weather conditions and forecasts in the days and hours leading up to your adventure. Remember, the last place you want to be in canyon country during a rainstorm is at the bottom of a confined slot canyon.
To justly limit the numbers in this pristine part of the park, the National Park Service issues permits through a lottery system. You should plan in advance how to apply for and claim your permit. Find details about permits at the Zion National Park website.
Sources:
Written by Jesse Weber
Created By
Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed Rd Climb | 1.69 mi | 371 ft | 4.1% |
| Unnamed Road Climb | 0.20 mi | 167 ft | 15.6% |
| Unnamed Rd Climb | 0.37 mi | 151 ft | 7.7% |
| Subway back to parking - YD | 3.73 mi | -610 ft | -1.0% |
| Kolob Terrace Road Climb | 0.31 mi | 404 ft | 24.0% |
| Final climb out of Left Fork | 0.86 mi | 400 ft | 8.2% |