Flash flooding in Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park has resulted in the death of one person and left approximately 15 others missing, park officials reported. The flooding occurred on August 29, primarily affecting the Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch areas.
The body of a 46-year-old man was recovered from the Colorado River near Crystal Rapids on August 30, according to the National Park Service (NPS). Authorities have appealed to the public for information regarding the missing individuals, urging anyone aware of hikers or campers in the affected corridor to contact the NPS Investigative Services Branch. This includes people who were on the North Kaibab Trail from the trailhead to Phantom Ranch, staying at Bright Angel Campground, or in the area known as “the Box” north of Phantom Ranch.
The flooding caused severe damage to park infrastructure, including the destruction of almost all footbridges spanning Bright Angel Canyon, rendering hiking routes inaccessible. The Colorado River has been closed to river traffic as a result. The event also damaged key facilities such as a waterline supplying the park, prompting officials to implement stage 4 water restrictions on the South Rim starting August 31. These restrictions involve shutting down some overnight accommodations, turning off water spigots, and banning fires in certain areas.
Weather forecasts continue to warn of possible thunderstorms and heavy rain in northern and central Arizona, raising concerns about additional flash floods, debris flows, and rockfalls. The National Weather Service in Flagstaff has issued a flood watch, cautioning the public about potential dangers in normally dry washes, creeks, and slot canyons.
Several evacuees have described their experiences during the flooding. David Gregory, a hiker from Texas, recounted being ordered to evacuate from Phantom Ranch as the floodwaters rose quickly. He and his party crossed a small bridge just before it was destroyed by the flood. U.S. Representative David Schweikert, who was rafting on the Colorado River at the time, described hearing a loud roar and witnessing debris, including parts of a metal structure, being swept into the river. Schweikert and his group stopped upstream of the floodwater’s entry point and later observed extensive water flow in usually dry areas on the Bright Angel Trail during their hike out.
In response to the damage and safety concerns, the NPS has closed several key areas indefinitely until further notice. These closures include Bright Angel Campground, Phantom Ranch and associated facilities operated by park concessionaire Xanterra, the entire North Kaibab Trail from the trailhead to Phantom Ranch, and both the Black Bridge and Silver Bridge crossing the Colorado River.
Rescue and recovery efforts remain ongoing, and the park service continues to gather information from the public to account for all individuals who may have been present in the flood-affected areas.