{"id":16887,"date":"2026-08-30T22:23:51","date_gmt":"2026-08-30T22:23:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/?p=16887"},"modified":"2026-08-30T22:23:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-30T22:23:51","slug":"more-than-20-people-missing-after-grand-canyon-flash-flood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/?p=16887","title":{"rendered":"More Than 20 People Missing After Grand Canyon Flash Flood"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"justify-start\">\n<nav class=\"align-left col-span-full mb-base\" data-pom-e2e-test-id=\"breadcrumbs\"\/>\n<p>Devastating floodwaters swept through Bright Angel Canyon, wiping out historic footbridges and forcing mass evacuations near Phantom Ranch. Search-and-rescue teams are scouring the central inner canyon while approaching monsoon storms threaten the region.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/p>\n<p class=\"fp-leadCaption py-tight text-left font-utility text-utility3-size leading-utility3-line-height text-secondary\">A debris flow in front of the Phantom Ranch Ranger Station sign<!-- --> (Photo: NPS)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-body\">\n<p>Published August 30, 2026 03:25PM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Authorities in Grand Canyon National Park are searching for more than 20 missing people after a flash flood tore through the park, causing significant damage to hiking areas. On August 29, floodwaters pummeled Bright Angel Canyon, a ravine that feeds into the Grand Canyon, and Phantom Ranch, the lodge at the canyon\u2019s base, destroying historic bridges, trails, and structures.<\/p>\n<p>Now, the National Park Service (NPS) is asking for help in finding those missing.<\/p>\n<p>As of the publishing date of this story, 62 people have been evacuated from Phantom Ranch and the lower North Kaibab Trail, a 14-mile hiking route from the canyon\u2019s North Rim. More evacuations are scheduled to take place on\u00a0of August 30 from Cottonwood Campground and Phantom Ranch, authorities said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you know of hikers or backpackers who were in the Bright Angel Creek corridor on August 29, or if you had a campground reservation in the affected area, please contact the NPS Investigative Services Branch (ISB),\u201d NPS wrote in a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"noopener\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/grca\/learn\/news\/public-assistance-requested-to-account-for-individuals-following-grand-canyon-flash-flood.htm?fbclid=IwY2xjawUBdnlwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMUZRMzBvdURHTllaelhxaXNzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeV4AetwCkcskQXy0uFdtFBjg-hxKiwI1Xt9CWlkS8CxGTrDY-lAvrx6vUC_E_aem_NW0mZZZIQirvrbGdIQIx-A\">statement<\/a>. People with information about hikers in the following areas should email ISB at nps_isb@nps.gov or call the ISB tip line at 1-888-653-0009:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Traveling the North Kaibab Trail from the North Kaibab Trailhead to Phantom Ranch<\/li>\n<li>Staying at Bright Angel Campground or Cottonwood Campground<\/li>\n<li>Traveling through \u201cthe Box\u201d north of Phantom Ranch<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cPlease provide any information you have, including a person\u2019s name, approximate location, travel plans, group size, clothing or backpack description, or when they were last known to be in the area. You do not have to provide your name,\u201d NPS wrote.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2753661\" class=\"pom-image-wrap photo-alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Remnants of stone bridge pylons remain along Bright Angel Creek following a flash flood that destroyed the footbridge on August 29. The flooding caused significant damage to infrastructure throughout the canyon\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2753661\" style=\"color:transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/BA-Creek-Flash-Flood-8-29-26-scaled.jpeg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 1x\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/BA-Creek-Flash-Flood-8-29-26-scaled.jpeg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover\"\/><figcaption class=\"pom-caption\"><span class=\"article__caption\">Remnants of stone bridge pylons remain along Bright Angel Creek following a flash flood that destroyed the footbridge on August 29. The flooding caused significant damage to infrastructure throughout the canyon<\/span> (Photo: NPS Photo\/J. Thompson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Officials also closed the Colorado River to boaters, citing concerns over metal structures and debris entering the river. NPS says it\u2019s working with rafters and kayakers already on the river. Anyone planning to visit Grand Canyon National Park should reconsider, authorities say.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGrand 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,\u201d the National Park Service said in a statement sent to\u00a0<em>Outside.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2753663\" class=\"pom-image-wrap photo-alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Left photo shows a debris field on the grand canyon, right photo shows an aerial view of muddy braided channels. flood store through bright angel canyon and phantom ranch\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1637\" height=\"1073\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2753663\" style=\"color:transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Copy-of-Untitled-Design-10.jpg?width=1920&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 1x, https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Copy-of-Untitled-Design-10.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 2x\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Copy-of-Untitled-Design-10.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover\"\/><figcaption class=\"pom-caption\"><span class=\"article__caption\">At least 20 people are missing after flash floods tore through the Grand Canyon on August 29<\/span> (Photo: NPS)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cEvacuees are being transported to the Maswik Lodge Cafeteria on the South Rim, where the American Red Cross is coordinating assistance, NPS wrote. \u201cNo injuries have been reported as of the latest available information.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nearly all footbridges spanning Bright Angel Creek, a fast-flowing tributary that flows into the Colorado River, have been destroyed. Hikers no longer have access to the area, which includes the historic Phantom Ranch landmark.<\/p>\n<p>As of this writing, the following areas are closed until further notice, with no estimated reopening dates:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Phantom Ranch<\/li>\n<li>Bright Angel Campground<\/li>\n<li>Phantom Ranch Canteen and cabins<\/li>\n<li>Entire North Kaibba Trail, from the North Kaibab Trail to Phantom Ranch<\/li>\n<li>Black Bridge and Silver Bridge<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The NPS says it may close additional areas as the full extent of the damage becomes known.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPark staff are continuing to assess damage to trails, bridges, utilities, facilities and other infrastructure,\u201d NPS wrote.<\/p>\n<p>Authorities warn that additional rainfall is expected on August 31, which the NPS says could could result in more flash floods, debris flows, rockfall and changing trail and river conditions.<\/p>\n<p>Hikers and boaters should contact their commercial outfitter or the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"noopener\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/grcariverpermits.nps.gov\/index.cfm\">NPS River Permits Office<\/a> for more information about any upcoming trips.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><span hidden=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.outsideonline.com\/uncategorized\/the-grand-canyon-was-rocked-by-a-flash-flood-more-than-20-hikers-are-missing\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Devastating floodwaters swept through Bright Angel Canyon, wiping out historic footbridges and forcing mass evacuations near Phantom Ranch. Search-and-rescue teams are scouring the central inner canyon while approaching monsoon storms threaten the region. A debris flow in front of the Phantom Ranch Ranger Station sign (Photo: NPS) Published August 30, 2026 03:25PM Authorities in Grand<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16888,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16887","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-wild-living"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16887","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16887"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16887\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/16888"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16887"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16887"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}