The Zion Subway - The most beautiful canyon in Zion? 

The Zion Subway - The most beautiful canyon in Zion?
Clint's take on our trip:
• ZION Subway will Blow ...
Clint's channel:
/ thenotlostnomad
Nick's channel:
/ @nclegg
Ah, the Zion Subway. You've seen the pictures. You may have it on a bucket list. It is one of my absolute favorite areas in Zion National Park.
There are two ways to experience the Zion Subway - You can hike in from the bottom, or take a technical canyoneering route from the top. I'll put out a video explaining the bottom up route since I realize that there are many more hikers than canyoneers. But for this trip, and my previous trips, I went top down.
There is a reason for this. From the top down route, you start up near Lava Point at the Wildcat trailhead. You soon break off from this and follow the mostly unmarked Subway route. And the route is absolutely beautiful. It switches between pine forests and slick rock, with incredible views of Zion National Park below.
Eventually you come to the Left Fork and face a steep climb down into the Subway. You can also rappel into hear (Russel Gulch), but having lesser experience canyoneers along, we opted for the easier route. Soon, you come up to a junction with the Left Fork itself. To your left is Das Boot, another technical route. To the right is the Subway route. Immediately you come to the first rappel, which can, under normal conditions, be downclimbed by experienced canyoneers. But for most of us, this is where the harness gets broken out.
Then you're in it. The canyon is absolutely gorgeous at this point. Alternating between swims, obstacles and creek walking. Sooner than you want, you'll come to another rappel just upstream of Keyhole Falls. This is my favorite section. There is a beatiful slotted up section after the rappel, complete with all sorts of strange formations in the rocks carved out by thousands of years of water flow.
Then, you round the corner and you are in the Zion Subway....upper? I'm not sure what you call this. The Zion Subway is named after the short section that is rounded out like a subway tunnel. Most people refer to the area just after the last rappel as the subway. But just above the rappel, the area is even more subway shaped. And then there is the North Pole, and iconic log jammed into the rock in the middle of the canyon. It is deeply embeded into one of the distinctive rounded holes in the rock or it would stand no chance of surviving the many flash floods through the canyon. And yet, there it sits, year after year.
Shortly after this, you reach Keyhole Falls. This is where you rappel down to the area where the bottom up hikers turn around. The picturesque Zion Subway section. Take your pictures, eat your snacks and enjoy the area. It's a truly incredible place.
Soon enough it's time to hike to the exit, about 3.5 miles downstream. The beginning of this section is amazing, with multiple waterfalls and a red rock streambed. I'm always surprised that no one talks about this area.
After that, you're faced with miles of creek walking. It's pretty enough, but it gets old after a while. Finally, you have a 400' climb out of the canyon and back to your vehicle.
The Zion Subway. I love this canyon and already can't wait to go back.
Music by Epidemic Sound:
We Are Giants - Silver Maple
Love for the Ocean - Martin Hall
Rabbid - Tigerblood Jewel
Breathe In, Breathe Out - Mattias Tell
In Our Hands - Ten Towers
Tired of You Being Tired of Me - Chester Malone
Crosscountry - Margareta