Subway (Left Fork of North Creek)

Name:	Subway (Left Fork of North Creek)
Details:	A semi-technical canyoneering route in the western part of Zion. Start at Wildcat trailhead and head east on Lava Point trail, then descends down on the east side of Russel Gulch. The descent is cross-country, but well marked with cairns. Near confluence of Russel Gulch and Left Fork, the trail descends a steep slope down to Russel Gulch bottom. Here I lost the GPS signal in the deep canyon and did not regain it till past the water cascades below the Subway. The trail continues in the slot of Left Fork, and there are four minor obstacles to overcome. First is about 3m chokestone, that we bypassed on the right climbing in the crack between the stone and the canyon wall. No rope required. Then follows a step into a deep pool, there was a piece of tree that helped the descend. Otherwise, just jump in the pool. Then follow several more deep pools with swimming or deep wading. Right before the narrowest section, there is about 4 m waterfall that jumps into about chest deep pool. There are anchors for rope there, which we used. This was the toughest downclimb, as the boulder stuck in the fall created a small overhang. When I was there four years ago going from the bottom, we climbed up this on a tree trunk that was stuck in the fall. I also don't remember the boulder being there, it made the fall about 0.5 m higher. Below this fall, the canyon is the most scenic, with the slot being slightly curved in a subway shape. The main Subway, however, is another 200m below, right below Keyhole Falls, which are bypassed on the left by about 8 m rapell. There are several anchors in the rock, that can be used. We had a 30 m rope, which was more than enough. Below the Subway, there is about a km long stretch of beautiful cascades, then the canyon opens a bit and one has to only occasionally hop from one side of the creek to the other. Final attraction is dinosaur tracks about 3 kms below Subway on white rock slabs on right side of the canyon, right next to the trail. Then the trail exits the canyon about another 3 km below on a marked turnoff. For detailed trail guide and map at Climb-Utah.com, click here

Trip Length:	7.64 miles + about a mile worth of canyon curvature when the GPS signal was lost
Total Trip Time:	6:07
Total Climbing:	1432 feet
Total Descending:	3413 feet
Average Speed:	1.27 mph

Fotos with captions

Walking on Lava Point Trail.

Hiker path towards Russel Gulch.

Descending towards Russell Gulch.

Walking in and on the right of Russell Gulch towards Left Fork.

Descent to the bottom of Russell Gulch right above confluence with Left Fork.

Pool at the bottom of Russell Gulch.

In Left Fork towards the large choke stone.

Climbing down on the right side of the large choke stone.

The canyon is pretty wide and there are large boulders before the first water section.

Then the canyon narrows and wading becomes necessary.

The first swimming pool, divided into two sections, each about 4 m long.

Another deep wading pool.

Followed by a relatively dry section.

Then come several deeper wading pools.

The longest swimming pool, with two round rocks wedged in the slot in the middle of the pool.

The section that follows is again wider, but quite cool.

Finally some sun to warm us up.

On the way to the waterfall.

In and around the waterfall. Notice how we had the rope on the anchors. The blue webbing is not ours, it's there but it's not too long.

Very scenic area in the upper Subway.


Last deep wade in the upper Subway pool.

Middle part of Subway above Keyhole Falls, not less scenic.

Keyhole falls with the descent down the rope anchored on the bolts on the left end of the falls.

Lower part of Subway, the most sub looking area.

Cascades right below Subway.

Middle section of the cascades.

Lower section of the cascades.

Going towards the dinosaur tracks.

Dinosaur tracks.

Going down Left Fork towards the ascend trail.

Ascend up the canyon to the Left Fork trailhead.

Left Fork trailhead.

Organizing and drying at the Zion Visitor's Center.