GRAND CANYON, AZ — A fast-moving flash flood in Bright Angel Canyon has left at least one person dead and more than 20 others possibly missing or unaccounted for, according to the National Park Service. The flooding struck Saturday afternoon and ripped through one of the Grand Canyon’s most heavily used backcountry corridors.
Park officials said the water surge began around 2:30 p.m. and caused major damage across trails and crossings. Nearly every footbridge over Bright Angel Creek was destroyed, and crews are still assessing the impact as evacuations and search efforts continue.
The National Park Service is asking anyone with information about hikers or backpackers in the area to come forward, especially people who were in the inner canyon on Aug. 29 or had reservations at nearby campgrounds.
What park officials say happened
Officials identified the man who died as a 46-year-old found near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River on Aug. 30. The Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office is on scene. Park officials have not released additional details about the death.
The flooding hit Bright Angel Creek Corridor areas used by hikers traveling the North Kaibab Trail, staying at Bright Angel Campground or Cottonwood Campground, or passing through the area known as “the Box” north of Phantom Ranch. The park says damage was widespread and that several facilities remain closed until further notice.
Those closures include Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, the Phantom Ranch canteen and cabins, the entire North Kaibab Trail from the trailhead to Phantom Ranch, the Black Bridge and Silver Bridge, and the Colorado River corridor because of debris and metal structures in the water.
Rescues, evacuations and damage in the canyon
Park officials said 62 people were rescued from Phantom Ranch and the Lower North Kaibab Trail. About 30 more were guided across a bridge to higher ground just before floodwaters surged through the area. Others were airlifted out by the National Park Service and the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
One evacuee, David Gregory of Dallas, said conditions changed from calm to urgent within minutes. He said rain fell briefly, then the creek rose out of control and forced an immediate evacuation. Gregory described seeing cabins, ice chests, logs and other debris washing through the river.
He also said the quick response from park rangers helped prevent a worse outcome, and that there was little left of the bridge after the flood swept through.
More rain could deepen the danger
The National Park Service said additional heavy rainfall was possible on Aug. 30 and Aug. 31, raising the threat of more flash flooding, debris flows and rock falls in the park. Crews are still checking facilities and backcountry routes, and there is no estimated timeline for reopening the closed trails.
The flooding also damaged the Transcanyon Waterline, and the National Weather Service says the park is under Stage 4 water restrictions. Visitors and residents are being asked to conserve water while repairs and assessments continue.
The park is also asking the public for help identifying hikers and backpackers who may have been in the Bright Angel Creek corridor on Aug. 29. Anyone with names, travel plans, clothing descriptions, group sizes or last-known locations is asked to contact the NPS Investigative Services Branch at 888-653-0009 or nps_isb@nps.gov.
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