A Journey to The Subway

The entrance to Zion's "Subway" doesn't require a token or ticket, but it does require a permit. Information on obtaining a Subway permit can be found here. The Left Fork Trailhead is located on the east side of the highway about 8 miles north on the road from Virgin Utah to Kolob Reservoir. For photographers, the normal way to visit the Subway is from the bottom up. The top down route requires technical canyoneering skills and gear.

From the Left Fork Trailhead a well-maintained trail starts off level as it makes its way to a terrace overlooking the Left Fork. It then makes a fairly steep 400-ft drop, zigzagging down a gully to the streambed. Once you reach the stream, make note of the trail entry point, you don't want to miss the exit on the way back! Take a GPS reading here if you have one.

The route then follows the Left Fork streambed up the canyon. As you hike, you alternate between sections of hiker made trails, boulder hopping, and hiking right in the stream course. As there is no definitive route, some of the trails are of questionable value. In about two miles, the canyon starts to get more interesting and the streambed turns almost entirely to solid slickrock. You should not have to get in water more than ankle deep if you pick your way carefully.

In about 4 miles, you get to Arch Angel Falls. In my opinion this is the prettiest falls in all of Utah. The light here can be amazing in mid to late morning.

Starting at Arch Angel Falls, the floor of the canyon changes from a mix of river rock, slickrock and debris to a flat surface. The floor here is the crimson-ebony fossilized lake bed of the Kayenta Formation. The golden hues of the sun light reflecting off the 1000 foot high walls of Navajo Sandstone above,  create a neon glow reminiscent of a great natural cathedral.

The long sinuous cascades offer endless compositional alternatives.You can shoot vertically or horizontally. You use normal, wide or super wide angle focal lengths. You can shoot at the bottom, middle or top of the cascades.

Shortly after the falls and about 200 yards before you reach The Subway, you pass The Crack. The Crack, also known as The Chute is a fissure line in the Kayenta Formation floor. It is deep enough to swallow most of the creek when flow is low. It makes for a fascinating visual contrast betwen rock and running water. If you like macro landscape photography, this is an opportunity like no other I have seen. In the fall some people carry downed maple leaves to add to the effect here.

About one half mile beyond the falls, you reach the Subway.The light here is also amazing in mid to late morning. It's pools, glow with a turquoise shimmer. It is a truly visual potpourri of the first order. The second set of emerald pools in the Subway mark the turn around point for most day hikers.