Soap Creek Rapids is a Class III rapid on the Colorado River in Marble Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, at about river mile 11 in Coconino County. It is rated 5 on the Grand Canyon scale, and like the rest of the river corridor it is reached by river trip from Lees Ferry.
The falls
The rapid forms below the mouth of Soap Creek, which enters from river right, producing a long wave train of medium and large waves. A flash flood down Soap Creek in August 2015 constricted the entry and made the waves steeper and more powerful; the change made the rapid harder, especially at low water. The reach is read on the Colorado River at Lees Ferry gauge, where the recommended range is 2,000 to 48,000 cfs.
Getting there
Grand Canyon river trips launch at Lees Ferry, river mile 0, so Soap Creek comes about 11 miles into the trip. Private (noncommercial) trips go through the park's river permit lottery: a $25 lottery application, a $90 permit per participant and a $20 entrance fee per participant aged 16 and older, with a $200 or $400 deposit depending on trip size. An Interagency Pass covers the entrance fee for the holder and three more adults. Trips taking out at Diamond Creek also pay the Hualapai Tribe to use the Diamond Creek Road.
On site
The rapid is easy to scout from the right bank, though scouting usually isn't needed. The usual line enters right of center and works through waves and holes toward the middle and bottom. The large features in the center and on the left are dangerous at low water; at medium and higher flows the left-side waves become runnable.
History and name
The name comes from a story that Jacob Hamblin boiled a badger in the creek's alkaline water and ended up with soap. Early river parties usually lined their boats around the rapid. The 1927 Clyde Eddy expedition is credited with the first successful run, made while the crew was confused about which rapid they were on.
Nearby
Browns Riffle is about 0.6 miles away and Sheer Wall Rapids about 2.9 miles. Badger Creek Rapids is about 3.2 miles away and House Rock Rapids about 5.2 miles.
Distances are straight-line.