It
was two weeks ago today the storm everyone on social media called ‘Snowmageddon’
hit about half the country, judging by the amount of snow we got (only 6-7
inches) it didn’t even come close to ‘Armageddon’ proportions. But the cold lasted up until a couple
days ago, today with predicted highs near 70° it’s time to get back outdoors
and go hiking. Also on social media
lately there has been a lot of ‘chatter’ about Subway Tunnel, so I’m going to
check it out.
 |
on the Subway
|
Not
far after leaving the house I realize I didn’t bring my water shoes or a
flashlight, that along with patches of snow still pretty much everywhere I begin
talking myself out of going into the tunnel. I even consider ‘plan B’ but in the end I
make it down Parker Ridge Road to the trailhead at forest road 92735A. I’m going hiking regardless, maybe I’ll make
it into the tunnel or maybe I won’t. |
| scattered parking off Parker Ridge Rd. |
 |
ORV trail to the Subway
|
There
seems to be plenty of parking spots on both sides of Parker Ridge Rd/NC 7410, I
choose one without snow or mud then head west on FR92735A which is a designated
National Forest ORV trail. The ATV road
is in good shape here at the top, plenty wide for a Jeep or small truck like mine
to easily drive this ‘trail’ but I wouldn’t recommend it although I’ve
driven worse (see: 88 A Country Drive, and 186 Buck Branch). |
FR92735A
|
There
are two rugged stretches of big sharp rocks with drop offs and ruts, very few
places to turn around and it may be illegal, so park at the top. Parker Ridge Rd. is the high elevation point
on this route, so easy hiking downhill going in but coming back is a different
story. After a quarter mile at the
bottom of the first big descent is a turn to the northeast and the road levels
out for almost 300 yards. |
| an iced over mudhole |
 |
one of two rugged stretches
|
Not
far past the turn two nice newer off-road vehicles come up the road from
further north, I step off the road to give them room. Stopping for a short visit they give me some
info on road conditions and a little ‘tease’ as to the extent of this system of
ORV trails. They drove down here from
somewhere up on SR 16 west of Deer, and if I take the left fork at the junction
ahead I could eventually go down all the way to Big Piney Creek and beyond.
As for
the road itself, ‘it’s in good shape, no dust and only a couple mudholes’ with
that they’re on their way around the corner and up the hill to Parker Ridge. I continue north soon going around a ‘road
wide’ iced over mudhole then down the second big descent. That’s it then, the two ‘rugged stretches’ of
road are now behind me, the rest of the way to Subway Tunnel is easy and almost
flat. |
fallen 'lumber' recently cleared from road
|
Just
ahead is where two or three big trees have fallen, one across the road has
recently been cut and rolled or dragged off to the side of the road. Less than 300 yards further is a large flat
boulder on the east side of the road, then 500 feet more to a fork in the road. Left FR92735A continues first down along
Steel Creek, and come to find out eventually going all the way to Big
Piney...and beyond. |
big flat boulder next to road
|
I
take the right fork FR92735B which apparently goes all the way up to SR
16... but I won’t be going that far.
About 300 yards north is a deer-stand against a tree, and a little farther I meet a couple hikers coming back from Subway Tunnel, well three hikers
if you count the little one with four legs.
After hearing the tale of their ‘tunnel adventure’ I won’t be having
anymore ‘second thoughts’ about the subway, after all that was the big
reason for coming here. |
| turn right at the fork |
 |
first glimpse of Subway after leaving the road
|
Standing
on the road we have a good visit; they didn’t bring a headlamp or flashlight
either so just used their cellphones, he went through the tunnel south to north
against the flow, and she did it north to south with the flow of Steel Creek, I
don’t know if they squeezed past each other somewhere in the middle, and
I wonder if the little dog went through the Subway? We reminisce about some past hikes including
Paradise Falls, Big Creek Cave Falls and Ponca to Steele Creek (see: 199 Paradise, 9 Big Creek... 43 Wolf Creek and 68 Ponca to Steele). |
above Steel Creek
|
After
heading our separate ways, I have over half a mile further north before
reaching the place to leave the road and head downhill to Subway Tunnel on
Steel Creek. This ‘place’ is marked with
orange ribbon tied in trees, a volunteer trail is starting to develop down
through the woods but this is still an easy bushwhack. A little steep but not bad, I zigzag down
first to the vertical edge of the 12-15 foot creek bank about 50-60 feet south
of where Steel Creek exits the tunnel. |
Subway Tunnel from the south
|
Realizing
there is no way down to creek level from here I get a picture of the south
tunnel opening. Then head back around
upstream to a better spot to climb down through the large rounded sandstone rocks,
many covered with moss. After a quick assessment
of the dimensions of the tunnel, its apparent I’ll have to shed some gear. While removing my day-pack and camera I see
two more hikers coming down the hill. |
looking downstream on Steel Creek
|
After
a quick greeting I ask how they heard about Subway Tunnel; social media seems to be the
underlying source for everyone’s interest in this place. I head into the south
(creek exit) end of Subway Tunnel on a little dry ledge for the first twenty
feet. Then step off the ledge into the
deepest water (almost to my knees) of the tunnel, yes it’s cold but not as bad
as I expected, after about two steps I’m acclimated to the water temp and
surprisingly it feels pretty good. |
| mossy rocks, where I leave my 'stuff' |
 |
south subway entrance
|
Squeezing
through the first tight spot I’m now in total darkness and my inner pessimist envisions
a scenario where I slip on the wet rock dropping my cellphone/flashlight. It doesn’t happen, the rock is not slippery
at all, using one hand for guidance and balance the other holding the ‘flashlight’
I slowly and carefully make my way through.
I’m amazed by a couple logs wedged tight in the rocks above my head, and
then far too soon I see light ahead, the end of the tunnel. |
Subway Tunnel
|
More
fun than I could have imagined, I’m sure glad I didn’t pass up the opportunity. Only 175 feet it reminds me of a short
version of Eden Cave at Lost Valley (see: 169 Lost Valley), not really
the same but similar. Now at the north
end of Subway, all the water flowing in Steel Creek goes through the
tunnel. The creek bed back down to the
south end is dry as a bone through small boulders and downed trees nothing
difficult and not very far. |
north subway entrance
|
Back
at the boulder where I left my ‘stuff’ the two younger hikers are just
finishing lunch and changing into their water shoes, we talk a little about some
past hikes including Indian Creek where they made it to Eye of the Needle and I
didn’t (see: 117 Indian Creek). Then
they’re off, on the way through the Subway Tunnel adventure. I head out back up the hill to the road and
turn south. |
dry Steel Creek (around the Subway)
|
On
the way back after about half a mile I notice a small flat boulder next to the
road perfect for a little sit down break.
Then it’s another mile and a half almost all uphill but even the two
steepest roughest sections aren’t bad. It
doesn’t take long to get back to the top at Parker Ridge Road and the end of
today’s Outdoor Adventure in the Ozarks.
I know there’s no need to tell you, but I had a great time on this 4
mile hike with 530 feet of elevation gain. |
| low bridge on the way back |
 |
perfect for a sit down break
|
Subway Tunnel: Statistics Chart 217
Getting here isn’t hard; at Deer Schools next to the school bus parking
is NC 7410 Parker Ridge Road, turn east here the road soon turns south winding
its way down about 4 miles to the parking area on both side of the road. Unmarked FR92735A to the west is the trail and
is easy to miss so slow down when you get close, and enjoy the Arkansas Subway
Tunnel.
 |
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