Flash flooding has prompted an urgent search at Grand Canyon National Park, where officials report that more than 20 individuals may be missing or unaccounted for. The severe weather, which began on August 29, has led to the closure of several high-traffic areas within the Arizona park as rescue operations and damage assessments continue.
The National Park Service is actively seeking information regarding hikers or backpackers who were present in the inner canyon along the Bright Angel Creek corridor on August 29. Officials are specifically requesting details from anyone who held a campground reservation in the affected zone or was traveling along the North Kaibab Trail between the North Kaibab Trailhead and Phantom Ranch. This outreach also includes those who may have been staying at Bright Angel Campground or visiting the area known as “the Box” north of Phantom Ranch. Information can be provided to the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch via the dedicated tip line at 888-653-0009.
By the morning of August 30, park authorities had successfully evacuated more than 60 people, with additional evacuations planned as conditions evolve. The park service has warned that the threat of further flash floods and hazardous weather remains high due to ongoing forecasts of thunderstorms and heavy downpours over the next two days.
Extensive damage has forced the closure of multiple key locations until further notice, including Phantom Ranch, its canteen, and cabins. The entire North Kaibab Trail from the trailhead to the ranch is off-limits, and both the Black Bridge and Silver Bridge crossing the Colorado River are currently closed. Officials noted that nearly all footbridges spanning Bright Angel Creek have been destroyed, and the Colorado River is shut down to all traffic due to dangerous debris.
There is currently no estimated timeline for when these areas will reopen, and further closures in the inner canyon may be necessary. Visitors with upcoming river trips are urged to contact their respective outfitters or the NPS River Permits office, while those with Phantom Ranch reservations will be contacted directly by the concessionaire, Xanterra. Travelers are encouraged to monitor the park’s official alerts and hiking condition webpages for the most current updates. The report also notes that 30, more than 60 people had already been evacuated and more evacuations were scheduled, according to a previous news release.
