Over 20 People Missing Following Flash Flooding in Grand Canyon

More than 20 people are unaccounted for in Grand Canyon National Park, and dozens were evacuated after parts of the canyon experienced significant flash flooding, officials reported on Sunday. The National Park Service (NPS) requested that anyone with information about hikers or backpackers in Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area on Saturday afternoon, when the flash floods occurred, contact park authorities. NPS stated, "Grand Canyon National Park staff, in coordination with the Arizona Department of Public Safety, are continuing evacuation and response efforts and working to account for individuals who may have been in the affected area." Authorities are searching for anyone who may have been on the North Kaibab Trail from the North Kaibab Trailhead to Phantom Ranch, staying at Bright Angel Campground, or traveling in the area known as "the Box" north of Phantom Ranch. At least 62 people were evacuated from the popular tourist destination due to the flooding, which caused significant damage. NPS noted that nearly all footbridges spanning Bright Angel Creek were destroyed, which eliminated pedestrian access across the creek. Flash flooding prompted the evacuation of at least 62 individuals from Grand Canyon National Park. Officials reported that Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, Phantom Ranch Canteen, the North Kaibab Trail, the Black and Silver bridges, and access to the Colorado River in the area are closed "until further notice," with no immediate reopening date available. They also cautioned that additional thunderstorms and heavy rainfall are expected on Sunday and Monday, which could lead to further flash flooding, debris flows, rockfall, and rapidly changing trail and river conditions. Remnants of stone bridge pylons remain along Bright Angel Creek following a flash flood that destroyed the footbridge on August 29, 2026. Park officials advised the public to avoid the closed areas and indicated that the operator of the lodge, which is typically fully booked months in advance, will inform guests about the status of their reservations. Grand Canyon National Park is the fourth-most visited national park in the U.S., recording 4,430,653 recreational visits in 2025.