While most people will visit the main Zion Canyon along the Zion Canyon Scenic Road, there is another smaller canyon, home to The Subway feature that far fewer people will visit. Steeped in mystery in my mind for many years, the Subway feature in west Zion was always on my list of destinations. It is difficult to get to. Not only is it a 10-mile round trip hike from the top down into a canyon, then up the river at the bottom of the canyon for a long distance, but it also requires a difficult to get permit to go in.
But a couple years back, luck intervened for me, and a good friend of mine contacted me to say she got a permit and do I want to go with her. Yes, of course, I replied. A total of 4 of us went very early in the morning of July 5, the day after Independence Day, to make the long trek.
For our hike, we took the bottom-up approach which can be done just by hiking. (There is also a top-down approach which requires doing some rappelling.) From the trailhead, it is about a 3/4-mile hike, before you get to a steep downhill section that drops 400 feet to the river below. The image below shows my friends going down this steep section.
Partway down, the view behind opens up and you get a beautiful view of the cliffs on either side of the canyon. Sandstone on the left and basalt rocks on the right.
But wait, as they say, there’s more. Eventually, you get to the bottom and get your first taste of the left fork of North Creek. It is a very pleasant hike up this creek. For much of the way, you can follow a trail on the side with frequent river crossings. Here are several views along the creek.
Along the trail is a fascinating couple of rock slabs with dinosaur footprints preserved in them. It is easy to pass by without noticing, and many people do. But it is a must see along the trail.
As you get further along, it begins to become futile to try to keep your feet dry. But the scenery is fantastic as the creek cascades gently down many small layers of sandstone.
Pretty soon, there is water flowing everywhere, cascading down steps in the sandstone, falling down waterfalls, and flowing through every nook and cranny.
Then, finally, we reached the subway itself.
You can see why it is called “The Subway.” The rounded walls with an almost closed top look like something a subway car would be traveling through.
It is not really a tremendously long feature, but there are many pools in it. When you get deep enough in and there is good shade, the pools take on a greenish tint. The reason for this is because of a toxic algae that grows in the water. So even if you might be tempted, don’t drink the water in the pool or anywhere along the creek.
Finally, at the end of the Subway, is a deeper section of water that you have to swim through. My friends said you can go back another 20 feet to get a view of a nice waterfall. I took their word for it but didn’t follow because I didn’t want to risk getting my camera wet. The view was terrific right from where I was. Besides, without ropes, the waterfall is the end of the trail anyway.
From here, you have come 5 miles, and it is another 5 miles back to the trailhead. But don’t forget there is the very steep climb out of the canyon near the very end. Worst of all, it is pretty easy to miss the trail up, so pay close attention.
Note: Besides, the fish, I saw many small animals along the trail. There were so many dragonflies and damselflies, that I decided to return on my own (lucky to get a last minute cancellation) just to photograph wildlife. My next blog entry will be about the wildlife along the creek.
Resources
- To find out more about Zion, visit the National Park Service Zion Page.
- For more information about the Subway feature itself, click here.
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