WATCH THIS before you visit the Zion Subway

WATCH THIS before you visit the Zion Subway
I recently released a video where my wife, some friends and I visited the Zion Subway. As part of this trip, I wanted to put together a follow up video that would give tips and advice for people if they wanted to visit the Zion Subway themselves. And there's a reason for this;
I have read many reports of people who have gotten in trouble in the Subway. The degree of trouble varies from minor to severe. In fact, Tina and I came across a group in distress on our first trip through.
I can see why. People see the beautiful pictures and want to go. They think of Zion National Park in the frame of many national parks, with clearly marked and maintained trails. They see that it's an 8~9 mile hike and think 'that won't be too bad.'
Those expectations will get you into trouble in the Zion Subway. This is a back country route, not a maintained trail like the Riverside Walk or Canyon Overlook. It starts with a vague trail at the parking lot and quickly comes to a steep drop into the canyon. The hike down is steep, covered in loose rocks and sometimes confusing. When you get to the bottom, you are greeted by the last sign that you will see on your way in. It's a tiny sign, and many groups have walked right past it, missing their exit and making their trip miserable.
Then it's the creek walking. Boulders, roots, disappearing social trails and water. Lots of water. The going is slow.
Oh, and the water is undrinkable. I actually had a Zion Subway tips video, but since then Zion National Park has had issues with toxic algea blooms in the creeks and streams, making the water unsafe for consumption.
So....yeah. It's not as easy and straightforward as you might think. That's not to say it's impossible. It's not. It's not really that hard even, in the grand scheme of hikes. But you need to know what to expect so you can be prepared and safe. I hope this video helps.
If you click on the links below - and especially if you buy from these links - I'll get compensation. So that would be cool. No, I'm not sponsored by them, but I love the products.
Filmed on: GoPro Hero 9 Black: amzn.to/3qAGJcv

[@dmerth]

Great tips... My mistake was not picking up the permit the day prior to the hike. After waiting through a long line at the wilderness desk we didn't begin the hike around 10 or 11 AM. After about 2 miles in I checked the time and we decided we had to turn around. There was no way we'd make it back before dark in February. Turning around ended up being the right decision. Tip: No when to turn around. You are never too invested to stop and abandon the hike.

[@JerryArizona]

They make the permit system hard. I get that they want to look people in the eye, give them the latest info and grill them to know they're prepared, but at least they could open earlier/stay open later if they're going to do that.

[@matthewwilson1017]

Really well done video. Thanks for the info!

[@libertyvilleguy2903]

VERY helpful and informative, thank you!

[@akiture]

Excellent tips!

[@yairh77]

Thanks very much !!!!!

[@baldophil1386]

Merci Jerry .. super informations

[@TimmyCramer]

Uncle Jerry...your always looking out for us Rookies! Back to San Diego this Sunday for Week 4. Heaven....! Timmy C Arizona

[@trailandtravel]

Thank you for this video it was super helpful! Im looking forward to doing this hike soon!

[@JerryArizona]

Biggest recommendation I can give is find friends who are capable canyoneers and do the top down route. But barring that, bottom up is still amazing once you hit the red rock and waterfalls. Hope you enjoy.

[@monkichit]

Great tips! Thanks so for giving such a thorough and clear explanation.

[@JerryArizona]

You're very welcome.

[@jetset989]

Fantastic video!! Planning on hiking this in May, this was so helpful and informative thank you!

[@juliedo5243]

Were you able to complete the hike in May? We just got a permit for later May this year.

[@dixielambrecht7009]

Good to know; thank you Jerry.

[@JerryArizona]

I swear I made this video as a PSA for Zion SAR.

[@adventurelifewithbob2960]

Enjoyed your video! I love visiting Zion’s. It’s one of my favorite places. But it is getting very crowded.

[@JerryArizona]

It's been crowded since we started going years ago, but definitely getting worse. I'm lucky that I can canyoneer and backpack; helps to get places away from the crowds.

[@driverjohns6051]

Hiked the subway last week. It was amazing.

[@JerryArizona]

Been 3 times, always want to go back. Amazing place. Glad you got to check it out.

[@dariofloreani6532]

Jerry, you’re amazing. Just got back from Zion last month and back home in Phoenix. I love your vids. Can’t wait for this weather to break for the Supes. Did flatiron twice earlier this year. I hate hate hate it as much as you do. I want to learn Canyoneering. Any suggestions to start in the valley? I want to do it correctly.I’m 41 and in good shape but don’t know the best start. Any way. Love your vids.

[@JerryArizona]

Get in touch with AZ Rock and Canyon. Tom and Jeremiah are the best teachers around. Not sure what courses they offer or beginner experiences, but they know their stuff. Tina and I started (later than 41) with a 5 day course in the North Wash in Utah (by Hanksville.) It was amazing, but unfortunately the company isn't in business anymore. But AZ Rock should be able to point you in the right direction if they don't offer something similar.

[@christophertran8896]

Priceless tips!!! Much appreciated…I will join a canyoneering class then sign up to be in the lottery…

[@BeyondAestheticsAZ]

Nicely done informative video. As someone who has done top down, I could not have said this better than you have here. This is certainly not a “hike.” Also, I did this in August. Those pools were surprisingly cold.

[@JerryArizona]

Thank you. We wore wetsuits on most of our trip; we did top down a couple weeks back and even in July it was cold. Took them off after the last rap at Keyhole.

[@srivenkat3142]

Great video and advice !! I agree 100% especially about the skills for top down and the exit point on return by bottom down hike !! Is the floor slippery when you start approaching the subway, are spikes necessary at the subway ? And what time is the best to shoot at the subway to capture the best colors ? Thanks

[@JerryArizona]

It's slippery, but I wouldn't wear spikes; they'd likely damage the rock. Just watch your step. Fall (October) would probably be the best time for fall colors. It always varies a bit, so you can't be sure the exact best time though.

[@cathymoore1739]

Nice overview with valuable info. Thanks Jerry!

[@cindyshi5264]

Great video! Utah and Arizona are some of my favorite states and you capture them well - I'd love to learn videography and editing in the future. Curious, is KZbin a side or a full-time job?

[@JerryArizona]

KZbin is a hobby. I still have a 9 to 5 job. Several years ago, I had knee surgery and spent a week on the couch watching Peter McKinnon and Casey Neistat and thought "Hey, I should do that." Now I love videography and editing almost as much as I love hiking. My recommendation; learn the basics of cameras (aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc.) and then move into videography and editing. It's all fun.

[@lauraslanesvanlifetravels]

Well...beautiful...but probably never be able to do it...darn

[@juliedo5243]

Thank you for a wonderful video Jerry! We love all of your videos!!! We have a permit for near the end of May and plan to do Bottom Up. I know the SW had a huge winter last year. Do you know how this winter compares?

[@JerryArizona]

Much milder than last winter. You'll probably be fine from a spring runoff by the end of May. Still, you'll obviously want to ask at the backcountry desk when you get your permits and keep an eye on the weather up to the point you lose signal. Bottom up is also a lot less committing. If you drop in and the creek is raging, just turn around and go back the way you came. If it's all good, keep going ahead. (Barring current weather that's bad, of course.) But there are a lot of opportunities in the bottom up portion where you can get to high ground. When you're in the slotted up part on the top, it's easier to get trapped.

[@juliedo5243]

@@JerryArizona Thank you for your advice Jerry! That makes sense about how Bottom Up gives one more options. We would love to see some water flowing over the falls and will adjust our gear and strategy depending on what other hikers and the park report about water levels in the days leading up to our hike.

[@walkitoffarizona887]

Great video Jerry !! At the 10:30 point in video is it just me or some weird trick of the camera? Looks like the falls are flowing backwards. Keep them coming !

[@JerryArizona]

Damn. Nice catch. I didn't even notice it. I did this top down, but was describing bottom up, so my footage was going the wrong way. I must've reversed this and didn't catch it.

[@walkitoffarizona887]

@@JerryArizona watched a video on 7 hikers who died in a flash flood in key hole canyon. Then watched yours . Be careful!

[@narcisogarcia8112]

What kind of GPS do you use? Water filtration device? Other hiking tools? I looked in the description and you only had a link to the camera. We are going in September so we want to be prepared. Thank you so much great video

[@JerryArizona]

For GPS I use Gaia on my iPhone. I think it's like $40/year and it works great. I have a Platypus Gravity Works, but that's probably a lot for this hike. Maybe a Sawyer Squeeze or something. Note that you should only drink out of the spring due to their Cyanobacteria issue. Hiking poles that fold so you can put them into your backpack are nice. (You can get some cheap ones off Amazon that will do the trick.) For shoes I just use canyoneering or regular hiking shoes and wool or neoprene socks. Don't bother trying to keep them dry. Headlamps aren't a bad idea in case it takes longer than you planned.

[@libertyvilleguy2903]

Thanks Jerry. Question - on these hikes that require “submersion” in a river or lake, how do you handle your cameras? Waterproof bag, or do you just leave the digital SLR at home? I’d hate not to have my DSLR once I finally got to the Subway.

[@JerryArizona]

If you watch my video from a couple weeks back on our trip, my buddy Nick carried his camera IN HIS HAND through this entire canyon, even the technical section. I would not recommend that. I've taken a DSLR through the whole thing, but I had it in a canyon keg. For the bottom up, I'd probably have a dry bag, but for most if not all of it, I'd watch my step and just have it out on a Peak Design Capture Clip. If it got sketchy, I'd put it in the drybag and put that in my backpack.

[@libertyvilleguy2903]

@@JerryArizona Thanks!

[@TimA3167]

Easily one of the most memorable places I've ever been. Have you tried right fork of north creek?

[@JerryArizona]

I have not, but I'll be looking it up as soon as I'm done responding to comments. Thanks!

[@rayray4192]

I trust Jerry. There is so much conflicting information. All trails reviews had many people saying they never got wet, and others saying you need neoprene socks and even water shoes.

[@JerryArizona]

I guess if you were really scared of getting your feet wet you could maybe find ways to cross the creek and stay dry coming from the bottom up. (Impossible for the top down route.) But imo, that would take forever searching for crossings. It's much easier to just hop in the water and keep going when the 'trail' becomes impassable on your side of the creek.

[@narwhal004]

Your footage is from summer-ish time? It's pretty bright in there. I've never been in there with the sun but I've only gone in Sept-Oct.

[@JerryArizona]

I think this was July. Not 100% sure, but it was summer.

[@sp3x04]

where is “the Chute” or “Crack” that i’ve seen pictures and mentions about? i’ve seen a few mentions about it, but this was the first i heard about Key Hole Falls. hope i get my Sept permit!

[@JerryArizona]

Not sure what the chute/crack is. But good luck on the permit.

[@zebulonchow4342]

I would say it's not that hard but very tiring hiking, for bottom up. I've done this a month ago, and it takes me about 10 to 11 hours since I need to take photos. It's very easy to get lost before you go down the cliff, I got lost twice when I went in and went out. No need to carry much water, water is safe and I drank it lots of times.

[@JerryArizona]

It is confusing. We came across a group that was lost out there years ago...kinda inspired me to make this video, actually. I wouldn't recommend drinking the water out of the creek though. At least not without checking at the back country desk about the cyanobacteria levels. Seems like it keeps getting worse year after year.

[@zebulonchow4342]

@@JerryArizona cool, I ran out of all my water and took a risk haha

[@jeremyncrm2012]

@@JerryArizonawas just up there today and there are signs at every trailhead warning not to drink the water due to the Cyanobacteria

[@JoeMichael-jm8ub]

Any information on mountain lions? how common are they? I am planning on doing the subway end of April by myself and planning on starting my hike around dawn to hopefully capture some of that awesome zion reflected light for photography. Heard mountain lions are typically more active during the twilight hours.

[@JerryArizona]

Personally, I've never seen a mountain lion in all my years hiking around the SW. That doesn't mean they haven't seen me though. I know they're out there (seen the tracks), but they generally keep their distance when it comes to people. That said, there was just an attack around here (Salt River). Never heard of an attack in Zion.

[@LVFigGardenChannel]

I rescued a family of 10 kids from 10-15 years old, i had to lower them down the last rappel.

[@JerryArizona]

I still cannot believe how many times I've seen top down explained as a hike. It is not a hike. That seems to get too many people into trouble. That's why I wanted to make this video. Hopefully someone watches it and either changes plans to bottom up or prepares appropriately for top down. Good on you for helping that family out.

[@Rene-et9fm]

I’m going in late march, we have permits for angels landing and subway on the same day. I kinda don’t like heights so I’m leaning more on subway, also because of less people I imagine as well. Any suggestions?

[@JerryArizona]

Definitely will be less people in the subway. I will say the subway hike from the bottom up is not fun at all until maybe the last mile or so. Then it’s beautiful. But then you have to go back the way you came and climb out right at the end. Angels landing is incredible but crowded. And if you have a fear of heights you may struggle at the chain section. My wife doesn’t normally mind heights that much and she had a couple moments on angels landing where she needed to take a minute and calm down. Really depends on your preference but it sounds like the subway is the way to go for you.

[@rayray4192]

Why a brown sign? I get it - it’s wilderness, but is wilderness spoiled by a big orange sign?

[@JerryArizona]

I'm not really sure. I am guessing they used that type of sign to make it seem more like a wilderness area. Gotta keep your eyes open. That's one of the main reasons I wanted to make this video as it's much more of a 'back country' experience than most hikes in the park.

[@rayray4192]

I’ll take your word it’s worth it. Looks far from enjoyable.

[@prestongehrig2824]

if you have feet problems bring athletic tape and, tight and thick socks, and comfy hiking shoes