Mile 81.5 - Grapevine Rapid

The sister rapid to Sockdolager, Grapevine is less powerful, but much rockier. Some have suggested the name came from one of the Powell crewmembers who noticed that the rocks exposed at low-water at the head of the rapid look like grapes on a vine. Dr. Harvey Butchart, preeminent canyon hiker, noticed grapevines thriving near the waters of a seep in the Tonto formation above the rapid and suggested that this must be the reason for the rapid’s name.