National Park Service Says 15 Unaccounted for After Grand Canyon Flash Flood

Flash floods hit Bright Angel Canyon at about 2:30 p.m. Saturday. The National Park Service conducted an aerial evacuation of roughly 50 people from Phantom Ranch.

• 0.25 to 0.75 inches of rain fell in 30 minutes, the National Weather Service said.
• Flooding originated below the Dragon Bravo Fire scar in the Bright Angel Creek Basin.
• North Kaibab Trail and Phantom Ranch are closed until further notice.
• No injuries were reported, officials said.

Why it matters: Phantom Ranch sits near the canyon bottom by Bright Angel Creek and is typically booked months in advance. The closure disrupts visitors at the fourth-most visited national park in the country.

• Heavy creek flow was ongoing and could affect additional campgrounds and recreational areas nearby.

How 41 sources split on this story

What’s next: The Red Cross opened a shelter at Grand Canyon High School in Grand Canyon Village.

• The lodge operator will contact guests about the status of their reservations.
• When the North Kaibab Trail and Phantom Ranch will reopen is not yet known.
• Whether flooding will spread to other campgrounds and recreational areas remains unclear.