BRYCE CANYON, UT — Heavy afternoon thunderstorms turned dangerous at Bryce Canyon National Park and the nearby Tropic area on Monday, flooding trails and roads and leaving visitors stranded in Garfield County. Sheriff Eric Houston said search and rescue crews, county deputies and National Park Service rangers moved quickly to reach people caught on the Fairyland, Navajo Loop, Peekaboo and Queens Garden trails.
Garfield EMS took two people to the hospital for hypothermia, and officials said no serious injuries were reported. Houston said everyone was eventually accounted for after the fast-moving water cut off access in parts of the canyon and around town.
Rescue Effort Spans Trails and Canyon Floors
The National Park Service later said the storm hit the park on Aug. 24 around 2 p.m. and brought heavy rain, hail, flooding, lightning, a sharp temperature drop and mudslides. The agency said about 11 hypothermia victims were found and helped to safety from the Bryce Amphitheater, including one patient who was in critical condition when rescued.
Park staff and the sheriff’s office worked together to bring visitors off trails and out of the canyon. The Navajo Loop was closed during the storm for public safety and trail assessment, then reopened Tuesday. As of Aug. 25, the Wall Street and Bryce Connector trails remained closed while crews continued checking conditions.
State Route 12 Flooded Near Tropic
The storm also sent water over sections of State Route 12, where sheriff’s office video showed traffic stopped near Tropic as floodwater rushed across the roadway. The National Weather Service estimated the area received between 0.75 and 1.25 inches of rain Monday afternoon, enough to trigger flash flooding in a short period.
Authorities said the flooding raised concerns about Tropic’s drinking water supply. On Tuesday morning, Houston said the town’s water system may have been compromised, and officials issued a precautionary boil order until further notice.
Tropic Residents Told To Boil Water
Tropic Town said residents can pick up bottled water at the town yard at 121 W. 200 North while the advisory remains in place. The town’s Facebook page said the notice is precautionary and promised updates as soon as more information is available.
For now, park officials are urging visitors to check the National Weather Service forecast for Bryce Canyon before heading out and to review current park alerts. The National Park Service also pointed hikers to its summer safety guidance for monsoon conditions, reflecting the continued risk of sudden storms in the canyon country around Bryce Canyon and Tropic.
When the weather turns dangerous, SVH Snow is watching.
