The Ultimate Southwest Vacation includes Zion National Park, Utah!
Stay in Mount Carmel Junction, the heart of the parks, and
visit the treasures of the Southwest.
Zion Park 12 miles
Grand Staircase 9 miles
Sand Dunes 11 miles
Dixie Forest 22 miles
Cedar Breaks 45 miles
Red Canyon 47 miles
Coyote Butte 57 miles
Bryce Canyon 60 miles
North Rim 85 miles
Toroweap 90 miles
Plan your Zion National Park Vacation with our Utah Maps and
Information
In these pages you will find insiders information on Zion National
Park lodging, adventures and hikes. This detailed guide includes road maps, park
maps, pictures, trail beta, backpacking, history, fees, geology, flora, fauna,
campgrounds, things for kids to do and even information on Zion's hidden treasures.
Making summer memories in the Utah National Parks and National
Monuments.
Directions to Zion National Park From Salt Lake City: Travel I-15 south, past Beaver.
Exit on Hwy 20. Follow US-89 to Mount Carmel Junction. Take U-9 to Zion's east
entrance. From Arizona: Travel 89A through Fredonia, Arizona
and Kanab Utah. Follow US-89 to to Mount Carmel Junction. Take U-9 to the east
park entrance. From Las Vegas: Travel I-15 north. Take exit 16 and
travel through Hurricane. Make a right on U-9 at the second traffic light in
LaVerkin. Continue on U-9 to the south entrance of the park. U-9 through Zion
National Park is always open and is also called the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway.
Well known canyoneer, Shane Burrows and Tanya in the Subway section of the canyon. The Subway is a technical slot canyon that has become popular due to the many images in the media, but its a difficult adventure. Take the canyons in Zion serious and go prepared. Downclimbs and short rappels are required. Bring a rope and gear. After the fun, there is a hot steep trek out of the creek.
Hiking The Subway
from the Bottom
Begin at the described Subway trailend, located 8 miles north of Virgin on the Kolob Terrace Road. Locate the dirt path and hike a half mile through a juniper and pinon forest before descending almost another half mile down the steep trail to arrive at the Left Fork of North Creek. Follow the trail upstream as it skirts and crosses the creek numerous times. After about a mile of hiking along the creek watch for the dinosaur tracks. After 3 miles of creek hiking there will be wonderful wide slabs of stair stepped sandstone covered with glistening cascades of water. Be very careful traveling on these slabs as they are very often slippery. After several scrambles through and around these pristine cascades, the trail arrives at the Subway. Traveling beyond this point becomes extremely difficult, however be sure to wade and swim through the narrow corridor and visit the Waterfall Room at trails end. Total distance to this point has been close to 5 miles.
Subway GPS Coordinates
WGS84 Datum
Parking at Wildcat Canyon Trailhead: Elevation 6985'
37°20.4490N
113°04.5539W
Junction Of Wildcat Canyon Trail and Northgate Peaks Trail:
37°20.3994N
113°03.5507W
Trail To Russell Gulch:
37°20.2877N
113°03.4502W
Cross Russell Gulch to the East Side:
37°19.8492N
113°02.6792W
Slickrock Saddle:
37°19.6445N
113°02.5941W
Entry Trail To Left Fork:
37°19.1274N
113°02.4163W
Wildcat Canyon Trailhead:
37°20.455 N 113°04.564 W
Dinosaur Tracks:
37°17.986 N
113°04.207 W
Exit from Left Fork:
Elevation at Bottom 4700'
Elevation at Trailend 5100'
37°17.378 N
113°05.084 W
Parking at Trailend:
37 17.080 N
113 05.761 W
GPS coordinates are only references and may or may not be accurate. Do not rely on GPS coordinates as the sole method of navigation. Always have an accurate, detailed map at hand and have the proper map reading and navigation skills before setting out on any hike. Many of the hikes listed in this guide travel into canyons where a GPS has limited capabilities. Always check your position with a detailed map before dropping into a canyon.
This is on the Sierra Clubs list of the top one-hundred desert peaks to do. This trail is outside of the main section of Zion National Park and in the Kolob Terrace section along with The Subway and Das Boot.
Beta: Coordinates and other trail and canyoneering information
by Zion Park search and rescue veteran team member Bo
Beck and www.zionnational-park.com author Tanya Milligan.
To post trip reports, offer corrections, updates, or for more
information please visit the Zion
National Park Forum
Suggested Equipment: A sturdy pair of shoes are recommend to hike a long distance in the Subway. Many quality shoes will help grip the rocks and prevent injury. Experienced hikers and Canyoneers often prefer a good quality rubber shoe like Sportiva Exum Ridge. Other prefer the AquaStealth Rubber Tennies or 5-10 Canyoneers but these are not as good for hiking. You might want to try wearing neoprene socks with them for added comfort if they are not already part of the shoe. Canyoneering Rope is required for this semi-technical canyon.
The mystical journey through the Left Fork of North Creek involves route finding, plunging cautiously into chilly pools then sloshing, sometimes frantically, through frigid water over and through difficult obstacles. The narrow Subway section of this hike forces hikers through a unique tunnel sculpted by the Left Fork of North Creek. Churning water chisels the rock floor, forming shallow potholes that fill to the brim with frosty water. Silhouettes dance freely on multi-colored walls where only a trickle of sun light penetrates into the curved chamber of the Subway. Falling water echoes in the nature carved tunnel where dragonflies dart, frogs laze about and shimmering emerald pools tempt cold hikers to dawdle. Before long, the promise of daylight urges an exit to the warmth of the sun waiting outside the Subway. The canyon widens as hikers cross back and forth across the creek, making their way to the grueling uphill exit. For those that want a glimpse of the canyon, but choose to stay away from uncomfortable obstacles, explore the canyon from the bottom where thin sheets of glistening water cascade over mossy stair-step slivers of rock.
Canyoneering: Never enter a technical canyon without the knowledge and skills needed to safely explore and return. Rappelling and down-climbing skills are required to navigate through the Subway. Do not jump. Jumping in Zion's canyons have resulted in many broken bones. The Subway route requires excellent map reading skills to navigate. GPS coordinates are only references and may or may not be accurate and a GPS has limited capabilities in canyons. Do not rely on them as the sole method of navigation. Always check your position with a detailed map before dropping into a canyon.
The Subway at a Glance
Photo Albums: Subway Highlights Subway Route | Russell Gulch | Das Boot Topo Map: Subway map
Day Canyon: Yes Distance: 9.5 miles/15.3 km Average Hiking Time: 7 hours Equipment: Neoprene socks, rope, harness, sturdy sticky rubber hiking shoes, 3 liters of water per person or a purification method, energy food, dry clothing, first aid kit and a headlamp . Spring and Fall may necessitate the use of wetsuits. Use a dry bag for electronics and extra clothing. A zip lock baggie and other household items will not keep gear dry. Difficulty:
This is a technical canyon where rappelling and down-climbing skills are required, but these obstacles can be avoided by hiking from the bottom into the Subway.
ACA Canyon Rating: 3B III Permits:
A permit is required and is available online or at Zion's backcountry desk. Call 1-435-772-0170 for more information Trail conditions:
Swimming is usually required through at least three pools of cold water and there are usually four obstacles that must be down-climbed with the use of a rope.
Trailhead:
Wildcat Canyon Trailhead is located on the Kolob Reservoir Road, 15.5 miles north of Virgin. Trailend:
The Left Fork Trailend is also on the Kolob Reservoir Road, 8 miles north of the town of Virgin. Trail Access:
Access to the trailhead of the Subway at the Wildcat Canyon Trailhead may be closed due to snow conditions in the winter. If the gate is closed, access to the Wildcat Canyon Trail is via the Hop Valley - Wildcat Canyon Connector Trail, south of the Kolob Reservoir Road or by hiking up the Kolob Terrace Road beyond the gate . This will add 1.5 miles to the hike.
Off the Beaten Path: Yes. Only 50 hikers a day are allowed in the Subway. Total Descent: 2285' Total Ascent: 550' Classic Zion Canyon: Yes Best Season:
May through September when the water and air are warmer. Heavy winter snowfall and spring run-off may render hiking the Subway impossible in spring months. It's cold in this canyon and only experienced canyoneers with proper gear should attempt it in the spring, winter or late fall.
Hazards:
There is a flash flood danger, slippery rocks and obstacles to down-climb. Swimming in ice cold water can cause hypothermia. The lower section of the canyon is slippery due to moss. Remember slot canyons can change dramatically in a short time due to flash floods. These directions are only a general reference. Be prepared for variations. Water Availability: In the later section of the hike, there is one major spring entering from the right, when walking downstream and several seeps that may be present depending on conditions. Purify all water before use.
The Subway
Shuttle Setup - Drive to Virgin, which is 26 miles northeast of St. George on Highway 9. Toward the end of town, turn onto the Kolob Reservoir Road and head north for 8 miles. Park your vehicle at the Left Fork Trailend then continue 8 miles north to the Wildcat Canyon Trailhead to park another vehicle and begin the route.
Wildcat Canyon Trailhead - Walk east on the Wildcat Canyon Trail for .85 miles until it meets the Northgate Peaks Trail. Head south on the Northgate Peaks Trail for less than .2 miles, where the Subway Trailhead sign marks the route to follow. The trail is now over slickrock, but there is a metal post with a footprint placard on the slickrock as well as cairns marking the proper path. Traversing down and right, the trail steers toward Russell Gulch and into the forest on the right bottom of the steep slickrock slab. Look for the path of use near a little stream. This route meanders through pine trees, oak, manzanitas, juniper and aspens . The path leaves the forest and again travels down a slickrock slab before re-entering a dirt and vegetated area. Soon the trail arrives on a buttress overlooking Russell Gulch and the last steep 200' descent into the gulch. Once at the bottom of the gulch, hike to the slickrock on the east side of Russell Gulch. Look for a cross-bedded dome-like hoodoo, high in the saddle, to the south. Continue over the slickrock, traversing toward the dome, passing to the left of the dome at the saddle. Hike to the south, down the large slickrock bowl, surveying the landscape for the trail entering into the vegetated area at the end of the bowl. Continue a short distance where the beaten path arrives at a small wash and lures hikers to the right, but keep an eye out for a cairn to the left, that once again ascends to another small saddle and then descends into another wash. The trail then ascends a short distance and traverses for a couple hundred yards before the steep, final descent into Russell Gulch. Watch for the pine tree next to a slab of rock on the right. This seems like an improbable chute to maneuver, however, by carefully stepping down the "rock and root stairway and picking through the loose rock for 300 vertical feet, the bottom of Russell Gulch is obtained. At the bottom of this steep chute, turn left, and walk 100 yards to find the confluence of Left Fork of North Creek and Russell Gulch. Turn right at this confluence.
Boulder Obstacle - Walking down the left Fork of North Creek for about 300 yards the first obstacle appears. Scamper up the boulder and locate the sling anchor on the right side of the 12' rock. Secure a doubled rope so the last person in the party can pull it free. This is an easy and straightforward rappel. Climbers might choose to down-climb on the right of the boulder, but it's not an easy climb. Do not jump! Search and rescue teams are often called to the Subway for those that are unprepared to navigate obstacles and thus get hurt jumping.
Canyon Route - Follow the waterway through the canyon. Pack cameras and other sensitive items into dry bags. If the temperatures are cool outside, wetsuits are required for the next section. The water in the canyon is ice-cold, even in the middle of the summer, but in spring and fall it can be dangerously cold. Even when it is hot outside, it's best to wear quick dry clothing and keep other clothing dry to put on in the shady and cool Subway section. Navigate through or around the potholes. Never jump into a pothole! Also note that each flash flood changes the character of the route and the depth of the pools.
Get ready to swim! The first pool can be 30' long, followed by a shorter pool. At the bottom of the second pool there is a submerged window that some choose to swim through.
Second Obstacle : A chokestone in the now narrow slot canyon may have a webbing sling attached that aids in the 8' drop to a small ledge and then another 3-4' drop into the pool below. Do not jump into the pool, a submerged rock just 3' below the surface could be dangerous. This is a difficult obstacle for many to navigate without some aid. Swimming is required after climbing into the next pool of water. The next two chambers are wonderful photo opportunities, but keep your camera safe and dry by using two good quality dry bags, one inside the other.
Keyhole Falls : Yet another large boulder obstruction in the narrow slot will necessitate the use of a rope. The drop is only 8' to the water, but, once again, submerged rocks make jumping dangerous. To the right, an old bolt with a hanger is used as an anchor that allows a handline or rappel through the crack. Another bolt extends over the pool below results in an easier rappel, but this choice requires reaching out several feet to grab the anchor.
The Subway The quarter-mile passage through the Subway is the most charming segment of the adventure. Deep inside the tubular tunnel glimmers of sunlight trickle into the darkness, allowing algae to grow in the water filled potholes. The green flora creates an eerie turquoise glow that radiates throughout the spectacular chamber. Finally, the crystal clear water splashing through this picturesque setting meanders over polished rock to the open canyon below.
Log Chamber and Subway Arch Inside the Subway, just past the third obstacle, is a chamber where there may be a log perched against the wall. It is amazing how long it has stayed without a flood washing it away. Ten yards before arriving at the leaning log, look up and on the left to the silhouetted cliff above where you can spot the free-standing arch.
Final Obstacle - A few yards past the leaning log, staying to the right, walk the rock ledge to bypass the 6' waterfall in the watercourse. Continue downstream 50 yards, where the canyon turns to the left and arrives at the final obstacle. A log jammed between a narrow crack in the rock waterway becomes a short bridge over the waterfall to cross onto the slickrock ledge on the left. Walk downstream on the ledge 20 yards and look for a single bolt that can be used to set a handline to a two-bolt anchor (just 6' below inside a small bowl.) A 60' rope is suggested to safely navigate this obstacle. This 30' obstacle is a difficult rappel if the rock is wet and slippery from moss. The rock becomes vertical near the bottom so the best climber should rappel down first to help the others in the party.
Waterfall Room - Once at the bottom of the final obstacle, be sure to wade, swim and work through the potholes back upstream to see the Waterfall Room. This is the waterfall you walked over by using the wedged log bridge . Stay and enjoy the many desert tanks in the once again Tunneled Subway. Those who choose to hike up from the bottom will turn around at the waterfall room and exit the same way approached.
Cascades - Shortly after leaving the Subway there are several notable cascades. Use caution since the falls are slippery. Enjoy the beautiful cascades and crystalline water. The route from the last cascade now crosses back and forth from one side of the creek to the other and occasionally travels in the center of the watercourse.
Dinosaur Tracks - 7 miles into the route, on the right (north), are two large slabs of white rock with dinosaur tracks imbedded in them. The rocks are angled toward the creek bed, and upon close inspection several large Grallator prints become apparent.
Canyon Exit - The exit from the Left Fork of North Creek is downstream from the dinosaur tracks. Look for the large sandstone cliffs on the right. If basalt cliffs appear high up on the right, then go back upstream and look for the trail that ascends the mountain side. A small sign marking the exit might be present. The exit scrambles up to the top of the basalt ridge that appears in front of you. It will seem impossible to climb, but the steep route ascends up and to the right of the 100-200' high basalt cliffs.
For more information see Shane Burrows excellent Climb-Utah.com website: The Subway A trip through Das Boot can be added to this adventure.
And how should a beautiful, ignorant stream of water know it heads for an early release - out across the desert, running toward the Gulf, below sea level, to murmur its lullaby, and see the Imperial Valley rise out of burning sand with cotton blossoms, wheat, watermelons, roses, how should it know?
