The Subway (Bottom Up)
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| Best season: | Spring; Summer; Fall
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37.2848, -113.0957
37.2848, -113.0957
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Introduction[edit]
This is the non-technical (hike-only, no rappels), bottom-up route for the Subway. If looking for the technical, top-down route for the subway see https://ropewiki.com/The_Subway.
This route requires a permit and is an out-and-back route beginning from, and returning to, the Left Fork Trailhead in Zion NP. This route is also known as the Left Fork of North Creek--bottom-up route. When applying for permits on the park's website that is the name the permit will be under.
This hike crosses the river several times and in high runoff conditions can be somewhat treacherous or exhausting. It can be a long day and route finding can be difficult, especially in the dark. Many groups have missed the exit, become exhausted or trapped by high water, and have even had to be rescued after being stuck in quicksand. Most groups will not have these issues if they come prepared--still, don't underestimate this hike.
The bottom-up route accesses the Subway proper--the curved, tunnel-like section that gives the subway its name. This section is very scenic but is also very short. You will hike a long ways to see it. The upper end of the subway proper is the base of a waterfall. Above the waterfall is the technical section of the subway which is unreachable via this route. Everything above the waterfall must be accessed via the top-down technical route which does require rappelling. While there is cools stuff to see in the upper, technical section, there aren't anymore tunnel--or subway-like features above the falls. If you goal is to see the famous Zion Subway, the bottom-up route will not be missing out on anything thing.
Approach[edit]
Begin you hike from the Left Fork Trailhead. There is a clear trail heading east from the parking lot/ trailhead. This will follow the plateau for a bit then it descends down a rocky switchback section to the river. On return/exit you will hike back up this trail--this then becomes the famous and dreaded up climb portion of the Subway Exit. Once down to the river follow the trail up stream. For a while there is a clear trail but eventually it will get less obvious and you will be hiking in-river. The park ask that you stay in the watercourse rather than cutting trails on the banks.
The Subway proper--the curved, tunnel-like section is at the very end of the hike and you will know it when you see it. This is a very scenic, but short section. Enjoy your time here. Water levels will vary, but please not it can be slippery and there are a few potholes that you can step in so watch your step in the Subway.
Descent[edit]
Exit[edit]
Return the way you came by hiking down stream and reversing your course. At the point where you are supposed to hike back up to the plateau there is a sign (unless it gets washed out by floods) that can be easily missed--especially if hiking in the dark. Have headlamps with you, a good GPS/mapping system, and the tracks downloaded. Many groups have missed this turn both in the dark and in the daylight.
Red tape[edit]
Permit Availability and Routes[edit]
A permit is required for the Subway and is difficult to get. The permits for the Subway operate differently from most Zion permits in that they are awarded as part of a lottery system rather than just the first-come, first-served calendar. The park issues 80 spots per day, shared between both the Top-Down canyoneering route and the Bottom-Up hiking route. Zion does not separate permits between these routes—it’s all one combined quota.
- 60 spots are distributed via an advance lottery.
- Any unclaimed spots roll over to the first-come, first-served calendar.
- The remaining 20 spots are released via a Last-Minute Drawing held the week of the trip.
When you apply, you must select an entry point, which determines your route:
- Wildcat Canyon Trailhead - This is the start for the Top-Down Canyoneering route
- Left Fork (Subway) Trailhead - This is the start for the Bottom-Up Hiking route
If you select the wrong one during the application, you cannot edit it through recreation.gov. However, once your reservation is confirmed and you're ready to print your permit (online or in person), you can change your entry point at that time. The park doesn’t track permits by route—only by total daily user count.
Group Size Limit[edit]
The Subway has a group size limit of 12, which is higher than the standard limit of 6 found in most other technical canyons in Zion. This is a hard limit. Zion defines a “group” as any people with a shared affiliation (e.g., club, friends, coworkers, scouts, family) entering the same canyon on the same day—even if they’re using separate permits. Affiliation matters more than permit paperwork. No matter how many permits are held, the total headcount for an affiliated group cannot exceed 12. https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/canyoneeringregulations.htm
Permit Reservations vs. Actual Permits[edit]
When you successfully apply, what you receive is a permit reservation, not the actual permit. A permit reservation does not guarantee you an actual permit either. The park service may decline to issue you a permit due to weather-related closures or other reasons. The actual permit will not be avialable to obtain or print (paper or digital copy) until a few days before your trip. There are two options for printing or obtaining the actual permit:
- In person, at the Zion Wilderness Desk
- Online, through your recreation.gov account (But only if you have a current Zion Wilderness account linked to your recreaction.gov account and 2 you applied for your permit reservation under that account. If you did not, or your ZWR account was not linked or expired you will not be able to transfer the reservation to a ZWR status and will instead have to pick up the permit in person at the Zion Wilderness Desk.)
To print online, your Zion Wilderness account must be set up and linked by park staff. This part of the system is unintuitive and often confuses people. If you don’t have the accounts properly connected, go to the desk in person. More info here: https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/canyoneeringpermits.htm
Beta sites[edit]
RoadTripRyan.com : The Subway (From the Bottom)- CanyoneeringUSA.com : Subway Bottom-Up
Zion Canyoneering Book by Tom Jones : Subway from the Bottom- AmericanSouthwest.net : North Creek; Left Fork
- Climb-Utah.com : Subway - Left Fork of North Creek
- Super Amazing Map : The Subway
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