The Subway: crowds picked up fast after sunrise
Jan 27-29, 20265 people1 min read
E
Eden Hartley
1 reports
4.0
Difficulty
5
Scenery
4
Trail Conditions
3
The Subway timeline (rough)
- 6:25 AM: started moving
- +1h: settled into pace and stopped fiddling with layers
- +2h: first real break and water check
- +4h: turned around or started the exit
- finish: tired but not cooked
Conditions: Cloud cover held until late morning and kept the slickrock from baking. Rock steps were stable, with a few muddy pockets by the creek. Water was running and cold, so we packed extra socks for the exit.
Crowds: moderate. Crew: 5 people.
It felt steady from start to finish.
What helped: Keep snacks accessible so breaks stay short and clean. If the trail is muddy, slow down instead of fighting it.
Ratings (1-5): overall 4, difficulty 5, scenery 4, conditions 3.
Conditions at Time of Trip
Jan 2026Weather
Cloud cover held until late morning and kept the slickrock from baking.
Trail
Rock steps were stable, with a few muddy pockets by the creek.
Water
Water was running and cold, so we packed extra socks for the exit.
Crowds
Moderate
💡Tips from the Trip
💡
General
- •Start earlier than you think if you want space on the first mile.
- •Keep snacks accessible so breaks stay short and clean.
- •If the trail is muddy, slow down instead of fighting it.
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