Grand Canyon Flash Flood: One Dead, Dozens Missing as Weather Wrecks Trails
A sudden monsoon‑driven flash flood at Grand Canyon left one fatality and 15 missing hikers, with emergency crews evacuating 62 people amid wrecked footbridges.
The flood hit Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area on Saturday afternoon, wiping out footbridges and propelling boulders downstream. The National Park Service (NPS) said the body of a 46‑year‑old man was found near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River. Sixty‑two people have so far been air‑lifted out of the area.
“The whole thing was terrifying,” said Nikki Baggs, 41, who was among those to be airlifted out of the bottom of the Grand Canyon with her two friends. “It was a beautiful day and then people were screaming, running,” she told reporters.
Baggs said she had dropped off her belongings at a cabin in Phantom Ranch before venturing out for a sunny day; suddenly a flood surged through the area. With rangers’ directions, she and her friends moved to higher ground, sat at a picnic table, and later ran again to another ledge where they waited for hours before evacuation at about 21:30 local time (04:30 GMT).
The group watched from higher ground as bridges were swept away and were grateful for the swift response from park rangers.
The NPS warned that many thunderstorms and heavy rainfall are forecast for Sunday and Monday, which could lead to additional flash flooding, debris flows, rockfall and changing trail and river conditions. The Grand Canyon remains one of the most popular national parks in the US, drawing about five million visitors each year, with the Bright Angel trail being the most frequented path.
The park’s water infrastructure suffered extensive damage, prompting a halt to overnight guest lodgings until further notice. The NPS remains search‑and‑rescue efforts for the 15 missing hikers, and urges anyone who knows of them to contact the park immediately.
