High around 75, low 45-50 deg.
The Subway is a popular slot canyon in Zion because of its unique water-carved rock features and the moderate technical skill required to descend the canyon. A few short 10 to 30 foot rappels requires a 60 foot rope, a harness and an ATC. Many of the rappels can be downclimbed. The park limits the number of visitors per day by lottery. Due to the high number of applicants, I did not apply for the lottery. But on a whim, I checked the calendar one day for October 1, and there was an open permit, so I snagged it. Regardless, a large number of permits seem to be given out, and it's a good summer canyon due to the many opportunities to go for a swim.
We started the hike slightly ahead of a group of 12 people who kept screaming at each other at the top of their lungs. The noise continued for at least 90 minutes, unfortunately - even as we kept a brisk pace. This is why it's better to do canyons that require advanced technical skill - so you are not surrounded by idiots. Later on, when the group caught up to us, the (supposedly adult) group leader encouraged two teenagers to jump 20 feet into a 3 foot pool of water. One of them jumped, and remarkably did not get hurt.
The unusual rock formations during the hike to the Subway
We hiked for a couple of hours before it was time to put on a wetsuit. A steep but short descent down a gully ends at a pool of water where the swims begin. We encountered a short rappel, but then there are only two more, and the last 30' rap is at the end.
Various sights while passing through the canyon:
Mandatory swim
Slot swim video
Fun to push the water over the edge of the pool while wading through it
As a cold-natured person, the wetsuit was well worth bringing along!
Walking through a slot
More slot action (and not the Vegas kind)
Fun rappel into a clear pool
Unusual and amazing rock formations.
At the end of the swimming sections we began the quarter mile long section that was tube-shaped, hence the name "The Subway". It's pretty easy to get through, technically speaking. Nice corridor with some tank-shaped pools of clear water. We ran into the park ranger here who checked our permits.
First portion of the Subway section
The famous "North Pole" log
This is looking down at the last rappel into the tanks. The pools were about 3' deep.
Final section of the Subway. Beautiful!
Exit from the Subway
At this point once we exited the Subway, it was safe to take off my wetsuit, put on dry clothes, and continue a two hour technical hike down a creek. It is fairly slow going as you must continually navigate through boulders and cross the running stream several times. A sign pointed us in the direction of the parking area, then we climbed 400' of elevation up a steep gully. The entire trip from start to finish took about 8 hours. Distance - probably 8 miles.
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