Soap Creek Canyon

[mcontreras]

Hi Everyone

I want to plan a trip to Soap Creek Canyon. I have a few questions.
When is the best time to go?
I want to do a overnight, so do I need a permit? If so, where do I get one?

Me, husband and kids (10 and 12) are pretty fit. Can kids do this trail? I do like to challenge them. They have both done the Ford Canyon Trail in the white tanks, beyond the sign that says "expert hikers" or whatever it says. I guess the word hard or difficult is a relative word.

[joebartels]

April & October are typically the best months for Soap. May & Sept can still be pretty hot.

It's a big step up from Ford Canyon Trail in the White Tanks. Soap Canyon is just an unmaintained route. As mentioned in the description the biggest obstacle is the 20-25 foot boulder you need to down climb and ascend. Some say there is a bypass, I haven't taken it. It would have to be ridiculously steep and somewhat dangerous based on the surrounding canyon walls.

There is a sign as you approach the river when you enter the national park. At which point you need a permit to overnight. I think it's section AD9 when requesting a permit.
http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/u ... equest.pdf

[mcontreras]

@joe bartels
Thanks for the information. They are pretty adventurous kids and will and try pretty much anything.

[toddak]

You don't want to underestimate this canyon, there are some pretty stout sections of scrambling and downclimbs, especially if you're bringing camping gear. The pour-off shown in this photo http://hikearizona.com/photo=287222 required full use of the rope (make sure you bring one), and that was after some tricky ledge-stepping to get there. I might suggest you first tackle nearby Cathedral Wash and see how the kids do.

[azbackpackr]

You don't want to underestimate this canyon, there are some pretty stout sections of scrambling and downclimbs, especially if you're bringing camping gear. The pour-off shown in this photo http://hikearizona.com/photo=287222 required full use of the rope (make sure you bring one), and that was after some tricky ledge-stepping to get there. I might suggest you first tackle nearby Cathedral Wash and see how the kids do.

My first-hand experience taught me, also, never to use an external frame pack on down-climbing ledges and steep routes in Grand Canyon. I bought an internal frame pack after I almost got myself tipped over a few times. Lower center of gravity, also. I said this because it appears that one of your group is wearing an external frame pack. I have not done Soap Creek, but if it is like any of the other Grand Canyon "routes" I have done (South Canyon, Escalante, Pt. Huitzil) it's not for people used to hiking on trails. It's like rock climbing with a heavy pack.

[hikeaz]

http://hikearizona.com/photo=106766

[SAMBA]

@mcontreras

Following are the notes I posted from my adventure in Soap Canyon, http://hikearizona.com/gps=9569.

"IMHO (In My Humble Opinion), this hike was a real adventure. My recollections of the hike were a lot closer to those of The Stillernator, http://hikearizona.com/photoset=8520, than they were to Joe Bartels', http://hikearizona.com/photoset=8922. About the only JB comment that read true to me was his comment on one especially tricky, short, down climb, "It's just over body length so it's nothing to write home about. On the other hand I probably would have turned around if I was alone not knowing if I could climb back up without assistance". I could have said the same thing on four or five other occasions. My route file is a one-wayer from the river, so yes I did survive to tell yooz guys about it. All the challenges sure made the post hike malt beverages that much tastier and more satisfying.

P.S. Joe B. my GPS track recorded the distance as closer to 5 miles than the 4 miles your GPS recorded, 4.8 miles to be exact. 8 miles, 10 miles, who cares!!! This old buzzard was completely cooked at the end of this one. But what an adventure!!!!"

P.S. II Contrary to JB's recollections there IS a sketchy bypass high on the right side as you head down canyon around this point, http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ID=287222.

[joebartels]

P.S. Joe B. my GPS track recorded the distance as closer to 5 miles than the 4 miles your GPS recorded, 4.8 miles to be exact. 8 miles, 10 miles, who cares!!!

OJ,
According to that track you practically climbed out of the canyon 3 times

[SAMBA]

@joe bartels

And what exactly is your point? Anybody can hike Soap in the canyon proper.