Soap Creek Canyon, AZ

Soap Creek provides a relatively quick access to the Colorado and Soap Creek Rapids.


After parking at the trail head just .6 miles off of Hwy. 89A head down the sandy wash. After about fifteen minutes of walking you'll come to a dryfall which you can bypass on either side. Downclimb the next dryfall which is only about a six to eight foot drop at an angle. Some more walking and a side canyon enters on creek right, go left or down canyon and continue on, this is where the fun begins. You'll notice as you hike the canyon walls start to rise higher as you drop further down toward your decent to the mighty Colorado.

You'll approach two distinct rockfalls, both you can either climb down as we did or find the steep trail around them. You'll then come to an area of slick rock which when approaching it looks as if your heading for a seventy-five foot drop, do not fear fellow canyoneers, you'll breathe a sigh of relief as you get closer. It drops about 6-7 feet which you can easily downclimb. But wait, what's this? Another dryfall? Ah yes, this one is a vertical drop of 20-25' but don't get bent out of shape just yet.
Option 1: Backtrack off the slick rock and find a trail leading up, over, and around on creek right.
Option 2: If you're a rock climber you can shimmy across on creek left then down.
Option 3: Climb down the falls via a rope and rope ladder that someone has graciously put there. We were hesitant about using it, the water has scoured out a hole above the falls where part of the slick rock sticks up, this is what the rope is anchored to. This rope is attached to another rope which has wooden rungs to step on. This thing is weathered and it scrapes the edge of the falls like a knife blade but both are beefy ropes which should last a little longer than most. I'm 275 lbs and it didn't break on me. Take your pick.

After all this, and a few more minutes of hiking brings you to another rock fall. The only way down this one is to find the cairn on creek right (boulder right) and you'll notice a black rope around a large boulder, use this as a hand hold and slide/climb down to a boulder that's not below you but to your right. After this it's pretty much smooth sailing to the Colorado. A major side canyon enters on creek left, this is the North fork of Soap Creek Canyon. Continue down the creek to a metal sign stating your in "Grand Canyon N.P." with all of its regulations. You then arrive at Soap Creek rapids and the mighty Colorado. Sandy beaches, good views upriver and down river await you and an awesome spot to eat lunch, fish and just relax. When your done head back up Soap creek.

Check out the Official Route and Triplogs.

Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your canyon trip to support this local community.

2004-01-01 J&SHike