The Subway: Tucked deeply in the heart of the western desert in US, there are places not well known to the general public. One of them is "The Subway".
Despite of being a part of Zion National Park. The do not advertise this site.
On October 23, 2005, we explored the Subway, hidden in a canyon in the North branch of Virgin River, located 7 miles from the nearest highway. The entry to this site needs a permit from the National Park only to a few groups not exceeding 12 persons each.



Three high school friends got together for the exploration, together with Ben's hiking group in Las Vegas. Shin-il Kim (LA), Seongsoo Kim (Denver), and Byungkoo Choi (Las Vegas).



Only a few people know the way to "The Subway". Luckily, Ben is the one of them and was our guide for the day. We were walking into the boulder strewn gulch, criss-crossing the Left Fork of North Creek in the western part of Zion National Park.
 


In the deep valley, the sun only shines at the upper most wall of the valley and the moon is the only one looking down the valley floor.
 


In front of fossilized foot prints of dinosaurs formed about 150 million years ago.
 


In the same line of the long geological history, I am looking into three different ripples in the sand. The ripples in the rock at the top were made 150 million years ago at the ancient creek just like this one. The ripples on the wet exposed sand at the left lower corner were just made only a week ago when it rained. The underwater ripples on the sand at the right lower corner are being made just now in front of our eyes. What a wonderful coincidence of having all three ripples at one picture!
 


As we walked up, the valley is getting deeper and narrower.
 


Just in time with the autumn color that came late in this protected valley.



Me and my wife on a fallen piece of sand stone boulder.
 


Towering valley walls, like curtains all around us.
 


The beginning of the tunnel formation with a huge overhang in the canyon wall as if it is a giant mouth of a monster with teeth. Please see the size of this thing by comparing the hiker at the far end.



Just passed the overhang into the widened creek bed.



The walls get taller and narrower as we were getting closer to "The Subway".
 


The dark oval entrance of "The Subway" is visible.



Our group enters the subway. It is getting cooler and darker.
 


Now, we are in the subway tunnel. The camera images are brighter than it is.
 


Deep rounded water hole that occurs under waterfalls. When in flooding, sand, gravel, and water must be pouring into this spot.



Our progress was blocked by an impassable obstruction of deep water pool and rocks. To go beyond, we will need wet suits and climbing gears.
 


On the way out of the subway, looking out into the valley.
 


Getting out from the subway into the real world of ours; cooled, refreshed, and awed by the unimaginable exquisite creation of the nature.
 


A picture of us, brief momentary visitors in the time scale of the universe.



Witnessing another subway being created in front of our eyes. This small slot will get deeper and wider into a narrow "slot canyon" and then, eventually, into a subway tunnel in the long distant future we can't even imagine.
 


At the lower valley, the autumn color is in full bloom. A group of cactus reminds us that this is still a part of southwestern desert.
 


The view of the surrounding desert under the afternoon sun. Tomorrow, there will be another exploration waiting for us.