Hiking the Subway at Zion National Park is a challenging and exhilarating adventure that offers hikers the opportunity to witness stunning beauty that most people will never get to experience in their lives.
This popular hike is a bucket-list destination for experienced hikers and outdoor enthusiasts who are seeking a challenging and rewarding experience. It’s easily one of the best things to do at Zion National Park — perhaps even better than the popular Narrows hike!
If you were fortunate enough to get permits, you lucky dog! You’re in for an experience of a lifetime!
Having said that, hiking the Subway can be a daunting task, especially for those who are not familiar with the terrain and conditions of the park. In this post, I want to help dissolve some of that mystery and provide you with several essential tips for hiking the Subway at Zion National Park, including what to pack, how to prepare, and what to expect along the way.
Whether you are a seasoned hiker or a first-time adventurer, these essential hiking tips for The Subway Hike (bottom-up route) will help you make the most of your experience and ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable hike with your friends!
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Table of Contents
The Subway Hike at Zion National Park: Bottom-Up Route Overview
The Bottom-Up Route is a popular option for those who want to experience the beauty of the Subway without having to navigate the more challenging and technical sections of the hike.
This route begins at the Left Fork Trailhead and follows a well-marked trail through a beautiful forest and meadow. As hikers approach the canyon, the trail becomes more challenging, and hikers will need to navigate through sections of the river and climb over boulders and rocks.
The highlight of the hike is the section through the Subway, where hikers will pass through the narrow slot canyon and witness the stunning beauty of the surrounding rock formations.
The Bottom-Up Route is approximately 9 miles round trip and takes an average of 6-8 hours to complete.
The Subway Hike (Bottom-Up): Important Things To Know
Before we dive into the tips of the hike, let me give you a refresher on what to expect on the hike at a high level.
- Difficulty Rating: Strenuous
- Hiking Time: 6–10 hours
- Distance: 9 miles, round-trip
- Elevation Change: 1,000 feet
- Permits: Zion National Park requires all hikers of The Subway to have permits.
- Route Note: The Subway top-down route (which also requires a permit) involves technical canyoneering. Most day hikers will do the bottom-up route.
Essential Tips For Hiking The Subway at Zion National Park (Bottom-Up Route)
1. All of your friends / hike mates should apply for the permit and hope for the best.
A permit is required to access and hike the Subway. The NPS only allows about eighty people per day to do this hike, so it’s a complete luck of the draw when it comes to obtaining permits.
Having as many people in your group apply to the advanced lottery (2 months in advance) helps with your odds of winning the permits.
For reference, here is my Subway hike lottery experience: 3 of us applied, only 1 of us won the lottery.
2. The bottom-up hike can be easily done without a guide.
If you’ve taken the time to note the landmarks of this hike before going, it will be easy to hike without “having someone who’s hiked it before guide you”.
The trails are all very well-maintained so it’s hard to get lost. The key is this: if you continue to see footprints in the dirt and dried sand on the rocks you’re scrambling over (signs of usage from previous hikers), chances are you’re on the right track.
3. Start the hike early.
Allow plenty of time to do this hike and keep track of time! Don’t underestimate how long it’ll take to complete this hike; it takes a full day to hike and explore The Subway.
If you start late and hike slower than average, you may have to turn around before seeing the best part of the canyon and race the sun back to your car!
For reference, we started at 10:15am, which was pretty late, and finished at 6pm. It took a whole 8 hours for a relatively fit group of girls.
4. You need to pick up the permits before your hike. But you also want to start the hike early. Plan accordingly.
Plan your trip itinerary to allow enough time to obtain your permit the day of, OR ideally the day before your trip.
All Wilderness permits must be obtained in-person at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center Wilderness Desk or Kolob Canyons Visitor Center. But here’s the thing. They aren’t open until 8am!
This means if you hadn’t had time to pick up your permit the night before, you’re not going to be able to start your hike until after 9am or so (accounting for the time needed to pick up the permit and drive to the trailhead).
If you’re the first group in line to pick up permits, allow for at least 20 minutes to obtain a permit. If there are a few groups in front of you, you’re in for at least a 30-45 minute wait!
Again, I want to stress the importance of planning accordingly. Ideally, you’d pick up your permits the afternoon before the day of your hike!
Come prepared with all vehicle(s) information: make, model, and license plate(s). The individual listed as the reservation holder must be the one to obtain the permit, please plan accordingly.
5. This is not a dry hike, use water shoes.
If you don’t have a sturdy pair of water shoes on hand, then rent them at one of the many local outfitters. Wet hiking boots are not pleasant, and you WILL get wet.
Neoprene socks will also save your life and prevent frozen feet! For reference, when I went towards the end of summer, the highest water levels reached my upper thigh (I am 5’8).
6. Be prepared for a long hike in and a long hike out.
This is an all-day hike. The hike starts out relatively flat, followed by a pretty intense descent into the canyon, then continues to be a long trek into the canyon to the Lower Subway. Then, you do it all over again on the way out.
Because of all the water crossings and switching between the left and right banks of dry land, you may end up doing more mileage than what hiking guides officially note the hike distance to be. (For us, it ended up being about 10 miles from the parking lot to the end of the Subway.)
7. Bring lots of water for the trek.
Bring 2.5 to 3 liters of water, or enough to satiate your thirst for 7-9 hours of hiking. This will be especially important if you are hiking the Subway in hot summer weather.
I brought about 2 liters and underestimated the distance/time it would take to complete the hike and ran out of water towards the last mile and a half. Don’t be a noob like me!
If you do anticipate running out of water, the water in the springs of the Subway can be filtered to drink — but you’ll want something like the Katadyn BeFree 1.0L Water Filter or the Katadyn Hiker Pro Lightweight Water Filter.
Pro Tip: Everyone knows it’s crucial to drink water while hiking. But I want to iterate the importance of being well-hydrated before you even start hiking. Try to drink a half-gallon (or more!) of water on the day before your hike. Feed your cells what it needs!
8. Note landmarks while hiking.
After the descent into the canyon and before you continue on through the canyon, take note of where this junction is. When you come back out, you’ll have to locate where the ascent begins (there will be a sign for “Left Fork Trailhead”).
We spoke to the park ranger who said that many groups have inadvertently missed this exit point and have hiked for many extra hours in the wrong direction.
9. If you aren’t a pro hiker, Google Maps can help guide you into the canyon.
When I hiked the Subway with my group of friends, we referred to Google Maps to make sure we were walking in the right direction. Though it won’t tell you which turns to make or which forks to take, Google Maps is helpful in giving you a hint of if you’re in the general vicinity of where you need to be, or if you’re veering off track completely.
10. You might not need hiking boots or a dry bag.
A lot of other guides out there mention the need to bring sturdy hiking boots and a dry bag to keep your belongings safe. I found neither of these to be useful.
As long as you rent or buy sturdy water shoes, there is no need to bring an extra pair of dry hiking boots (water shoe recommendations: men and women).
I had asked multiple outfitters around Zion NP and was told that bringing extra dry hiking boots on the trail is more of a preference, but by no means necessary to enjoy The Subway hike. Do what you like here, there is no right or wrong answer.
In terms of bringing a dry bag, this is typically not required in the summertime since at no point in the bottom-up hike are you ever submerged or chest-deep in water.
11. Hiking sticks are also not required.
Hiking during the summer season? Since you’ll be doing a lot of rock scrambling and not so much water wading past hip height, hiking sticks or trekking poles will just get in your way.
Despite what the park ranger told our group when we hiked The Subway in late September, we went against his canned advice and found that there was really no need for trekking poles at all.
12. You can get a sense of recent trail conditions by reading the reviews on AllTrails.
Head to The Subway Trail’s page and scroll down to the comments section to better understand trail conditions. The comments may mention things like how muddy the trails are, how deep the water levels are, and how hot the weather was during other people’s hikes.
The little tidbits of info from the more recent comments could really help you better understand what to expect on the day of your own hike.
13. Keep an eye out for flash flood warning signs at all times.
Flash floods are a serious, life-threatening risk in the Zion area. They can occur with very short notice, so always be on the lookout for flash flood warning signs.
According to the park ranger, you would be relatively safe if you were within the first 2 miles of the hike and it started raining. Since the canyon walls are relatively far apart here, flash floods are less of a risk.
However, if you are in the Lower Subway (the last portion of the hike) during a flash flood, get out immediately and retreat to higher ground as fast as you can. Better yet, if rain or thunderstorms are in the forecast, don’t attempt the hike at all.
14. Know your limits, take breaks and turn around if needed.
The Subway is a challenging hike that requires advanced hiking skills and physical fitness. Be honest with yourself about your abilities and don’t push yourself beyond your limits. Treading through water doesn’t make things easier either!
Take breaks when needed and stay hydrated to avoid injury or exhaustion.
15. Respect the environment.
Zion National Park is a fragile ecosystem, and it’s important to respect the environment and follow Leave No Trace principles.
Pack out all your trash, stay on designated trails, and avoid disturbing wildlife or vegetation.
16. Be prepared for changing conditions.
Weather conditions can change quickly in Zion National Park, and it’s important to be prepared for all types of weather. Bring extra layers for areas that lack sunlight, sunscreen for when you are in the sun, and plenty of water to stay hydrated and comfortable throughout your hike!
And since you’ll be climbing over rocks from time to time, make sure you have a mini first aid kit in case anyone gets scraped or bumped by nature!
17. Get to know the route well before you actually attempt it.
This is not a hike where you simply follow signs to the final destination. Sorry to break it to you, but it’s a bit more complicated than that!
You’ll want to be prepared before you actually start the hike to prevent getting lost and taking the wrong trail for hours and hours on end.
You can check out my hiking guide (with photos of landmarks and all) here: The Subway at Zion National Park: Hiking Guide (Bottom Up Route)
18. If you do this hike in the summer, try to start before 8 am to beat the heat.
The warm temperatures that summertime brings can prove to be a bit too hot for some hikers. Sure, this is a water hike, but the water on your feet can only do so much to keep you cool.
To combat being completely obliterated by the heat, start your hike by 8 am to try and beat the sweltering sun. The end of the trip will still be hot, but at least the harder and drier parts of the hike can be done while the weather is still relatively cool.
Packing List For The Subway Hike (Bottom-Up Route)
Hiking to The Subway involves multiple river crossings over the Left Fork of North Creek.
If you bring nothing else on the recommended list below, I’d still highly recommend you wear closed-toe water shoes. You may have a very uncomfortable day without these!
And remember, this is an all-day hike, so along with the recommendations below, you should also bring what you personally need to be out all day.
- Hiking Daypack | A must-have to carry your snacks, keys, tech, light towel, packable jacket, etc. I like the Osprey Daylite Daypack!
- Weather-appropriate clothing (windbreaker or puffy jacket for men and women) | Since this hike is shaded in some parts, not to mention the fact that you’ll be getting wet throughout the hike, it’s always best to carry a light jacket with you.
- Water Hiking Shoes (for men and women) | You need these, your feet will thank you later. We like the Merrell All Out Blaze Aero Hiking Water Shoe.
- Neoprene socks | You also need these, your feet will thank you later. You can also rent water shoes and neoprene socks at Zion Outfitter.
- Hiking poles (optional, if you want that extra stability; we didn’t bring any and did just fine– budget-friendly option or lighter, higher-quality, more ergonomic option)
- Lots of water and snacks, maybe even a packable lunch.
- Stinger Waffles are one of my favorite sources of quick and delicious energy.
- Aim for 3 liters of water per person, maybe more if you’re hiking in the summertime or tend to drink a ton of water while hiking
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Mini survival kit | Get one that’s pre-made like this one, or make your own
- Directions for the hike | Print this guide out or screenshot the important parts on your phone.
- Waterproof bag / dry sack | We have this trusty one. Always good to have, especially if you’re bringing a nice camera for photography or anything else you don’t want to potentially get wet.
- The America the Beautiful National Parks Pass | Entrance into the park costs $35 for a private vehicle, valid for 7 days. I recommend getting this national parks pass instead. It costs $80 and will get you into any of the 2,000 National Parks, National Monuments, or National Forests for an entire year. As long as you visit 2 additional national parks, the pass will more than pay for itself and save you so much money on park admission fees. You can buy a pass online at REI or in-person at the entrance gates of any National Park.
Read More: My Top 15 Hiking and Camping Essentials (With Product Recommendations!)
The Subway Hike / Zion National Park: Travel Insurance
This is a no-brainer. When traveling internationally, be sure to get yourself some travel insurance.
I’ve heard of too many unfortunate experiences where friends and family have had baggage lost/stolen, hotels canceled, or have had unexpected medical emergencies while traveling where they’ve had to cut their trips short.
True story alert — in 2022, my partner even had his shoulder completely dislocated while surfing in Mexico, resulting in a $950 USD emergency room bill that we had to pay out of pocket for! Not fun… and most definitely not cheap.
Without travel insurance, you would have to pay out of pocket for these mishaps. This is why I get travel insurance for all my international trips now!
One of the best budget-friendly travel insurances for those traveling outside their home country is SafetyWing.
SafetyWing Insurance provides coverage for unexpected illness or injury, including eligible expenses for hospital, doctor or prescription drugs. This means that if you get ill or injured, THEY will cover the medical expenses.
In addition, it provides emergency travel-related benefits such as:
- emergency medical evacuation – very much needed if you like to go hiking or backpacking in the wild.
- travel delay
- lost checked luggage
- adventure sports coverage (add-on) – so you can rappel down waterfalls, cave dive, mountain bike, scuba dive, etc. with peace of mind.
- electronics theft (add-on) – get reimbursed if your laptop, phone, camera or other electronics get stolen.
Click here to price out how much travel insurance would be for your trip.
I hope you found these hiking tips for The Subway useful. Good luck on your hike and have fun on this adventure of a lifetime!
Read More:
The Subway at Zion National Park: Hiking Guide (Bottom Up Route)
The Perfect 5-Day Zion and Bryce Canyon National Park Road Trip From Las Vegas
15 Expert Tips For Hiking The Narrows at Zion National Park (Bottom-Up)
