2 Dead, 15 Missing After Flash Flood Tears Through the Grand Canyon. Here’s What We Know.
A flash flood destroyed nearly every footbridge at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, leaving one man dead and about 15 people unaccounted for. The park has no overnight lodging until further notice. Here’s what we know.
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A violent flash flood tore through the bottom of the Grand Canyon on Saturday, August 29th, destroying nearly every footbridge across Bright Angel Creek and forcing the evacuation of 62 people, mostly by helicopter. About 15 hikers and backpackers remain unaccounted for and two people are now confirmed dead, the National Park Service said.
The flood hit Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area at about 2:30 p.m. Additional evacuations are ongoing from the Cottonwood Campground. The park says so far, no injuries have been reported.
Evacuees were flown to the South Rim and taken to the Maswik Lodge cafeteria, where the American Red Cross is coordinating assistance, per the park service.
National Park Service Asking for Help Locating Missing Hikers
The National Park Service is asking the public for help accounting for “approximately 15 individuals who may be missing or unaccounted for” in the flood corridor, which runs from the North Kaibab Trailhead down through Cottonwood Campground, the narrow section known as The Box, and Phantom Ranch.
The flood’s first confirmed death came Sunday evening, when the body of a 46-year-old man was recovered near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River, park officials said. He has not been publicly identified, ABC News’ Phoenix affiliate reported.
A second body was recovered Monday, park officials said. No details about that victim have been released, CBS News reported.
If you know someone who was hiking or camping in that corridor on Saturday, or if you were there yourself and made it out, the park asks you to call the NPS Investigative Services Branch tip line at 888-653-0009. Useful details include the person’s name, approximate location, travel plans, group size, and what they were wearing or carrying. Tips can be made anonymously.
What the Flood Destroyed at Phantom Ranch
The park service says the flood caused significant damage to trails, bridges, utilities, and facilities throughout Bright Angel Canyon. “Nearly all footbridges spanning Bright Angel Creek were destroyed, eliminating hiker access across the creek,” the park said. Metal structures and debris were swept into the Colorado River.
Photos from the scene show the creek corridor buried in mud and rock, with only the stone pylons of a footbridge left standing, CBS News reported.
Grand Canyon Closures: Phantom Ranch, North Kaibab Trail, and the Colorado River
The following are closed until further notice, with no estimated reopening date, according to the park service:
- Phantom Ranch, including the canteen and cabins
- Bright Angel Campground
- The entire North Kaibab Trail, from the trailhead to Phantom Ranch
- Black Bridge and Silver Bridge, the two Colorado River crossings
- The Colorado River through the area, which is closed to river traffic, KNAU reported
The closures cut the canyon’s famous rim-to-rim route in half. Anyone with an upcoming river trip should contact their commercial outfitter or the NPS river permits office for trip-specific information, the park said.
No Overnight Stays: The Flood Knocked Out the Park’s Only Water Pipeline
The flood also destroyed the Transcanyon Waterline, the single pipeline that supplies water to Grand Canyon Village, which serves roughly 6 million visitors a year and about 1,600 year-round residents, the Associated Press reported. Park officials later put the damage at roughly 40% of the line, which is not operational, per CBS News.
Emergency water restrictions took effect Monday, August 31. Under them, hotels and lodges inside the park cannot take overnight guests until further notice, and residents have been told to conserve water.
If you hold a reservation at a South Rim lodge for Labor Day week, contact your lodge before driving in. The pipeline was already partway through a $208 million rehabilitation project that began in 2023 and was expected to finish in 2027.
The Grand Canyon NPS Warns More Storms Are Possible
The park service warned that additional thunderstorms and heavy rain were possible through the weekend, bringing the risk of further flash flooding, debris flows, rockfall, and rapidly changing trail and river conditions. Monsoon-season flash floods are among the deadliest hazards in canyon country precisely because they arrive with little warning: the rain that builds a flood can fall miles from where the water hits.
This is a developing story, and we will update it as the park releases new information, especially on the effort to account for everyone who was in the corridor. Last updated Monday afternoon, August 31: death toll revised to two after a second body was recovered Monday.
Sources
- NPS: Significant Flash Flooding Closes Phantom Ranch and North Kaibab Trail (primary)
- NPS: Public Assistance Requested to Account for Individuals Following Grand Canyon Flash Flood (primary)
- Arizona’s Family: Dozens rescued, infrastructure damaged after flash flooding hits Grand Canyon
- CBS News: Dozens evacuated from parts of the Grand Canyon after flash floods
- KNAU: Flash flooding in the Grand Canyon prompts evacuations and Colorado River closure
- ABC7/AP: Grand Canyon braces for more storms after deadly flash flood, about 15 people still missing
- CBS News: Grand Canyon flash floods leave 2 dead, about 15 missing (updated Aug 31)
- KJZZ/Fronteras: More storms possible at Grand Canyon after flash flood killed 2
FAQ
Is Phantom Ranch closed right now?
Yes. Phantom Ranch, including the canteen and cabins, Bright Angel Campground, and the entire North Kaibab Trail are closed until further notice after the August 29, 2026 flash flood, with no estimated reopening date, per the National Park Service.
How many people were evacuated from the Grand Canyon flood?
62 people were evacuated from Phantom Ranch and the lower North Kaibab Trail by Saturday morning, most by helicopter, with more evacuations planned from Cottonwood Campground. Two deaths have been confirmed, and approximately 15 people remain unaccounted for.
Who do I call if I know someone who was hiking the North Kaibab corridor?
Call the NPS Investigative Services Branch tip line at 888-653-0009 with the person’s name, location, travel plans, group size, and clothing or gear description. Anonymous tips are accepted.
Is the rim-to-rim hike still possible after the flood?
No. The North Kaibab Trail is closed for its entire length and both Colorado River footbridges (Black Bridge and Silver Bridge) are closed, which severs the rim-to-rim route until repairs are made.
Can I still stay overnight at the Grand Canyon?
Not right now. The flood destroyed the park’s only water pipeline, and emergency water restrictions that began August 31 bar overnight hotel and lodge stays inside the park until further notice.
