The Subway notes - trail was better than expected
Feb 9-9, 20264 people1 min read
K
Karthik Iyer
2 reports
5.0
Difficulty
3
Scenery
4
Trail Conditions
3
The Subway field notes
- Crowds: packed.
- Crew: 4 people.
- Start: 4:45 AM.
- Route: Left Fork approach with a quick weather check at dawn.
- Weather: Cool morning air helped us move fast before the canyon warmed up.
- Trail: Rock steps were stable, with a few muddy pockets by the creek.
- Water: Creek flow was moderate and easy to cross with poles.
- Wildlife: Only saw small lizards and birds near warm rock shelves.
- Gear that helped: Neoprene socks, Electrolyte mix, Work gloves
TLDR: start early, keep water simple, and do not wing the map.
Conditions at Time of Trip
Feb 2026Weather
Cool morning air helped us move fast before the canyon warmed up.
Trail
Rock steps were stable, with a few muddy pockets by the creek.
Water
Creek flow was moderate and easy to cross with poles.
Crowds
Packed
💡Tips from the Trip
💡
General
- •Have a turnaround time before you get committed to the hardest section.
- •If the trail is muddy, slow down instead of fighting it.
- •Take photos of the permit and save them offline.
- •Do not trust parking to work out at the last minute.
- •Pack a dry layer even if the forecast looks perfect.
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