08/31/2026
Saturday afternoon at about 2:30 p.m., flash flooding began down in the Grand Canyon in Bright Angel Canyon where the North Kaibab Trail passes through. It was reported that Bright Angel Creek was flowing about nine feet higher than usual. It was serious enough that 62 people had to be airlifted from the Phantom Ranch area. There are about 15 individuals who may be missing or unaccounted for. Update: A 46-year-old man’s body was recovered near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River in a flood-related death, park officials said Sunday night.
Nearly all footbridges spanning Bright Angel Creek were destroyed. Damage to the area has closed down Phantom Ranch and the entire North Kaibab Trail for the foreseeable future. Traditional rim-to-rim hiking is likely closed for the remainder of the season. The flood broke the trans-canyon pipeline. Because this water cannot be brought up to the South Rim, overnight accommodations are being halted for now at hotels like El Tovar.
There have been many serious flash floods through this canyon over the decades, the worst being in December 1966 when a 1000-year flood destroyed the entire trail along with the trans-canyon water pipeline that was being built. During that event, about ten inches of rain fell in six hours and continued for three days. It destroyed much of Phantom Ranch.
Photo: Bridge washed out near Phantom Ranch - NPS Photo/J. Thompson
