Search crews faced rain and rugged terrain Monday after flooding devastated Bright Angel Canyon, damaged infrastructure and forced dozens of evacuations.
GRAND CANYON, Ariz. — At least two people have died and about 15 remained missing or unaccounted for Monday after a powerful flash flood tore through the Grand Canyon, forcing helicopter evacuations and causing extensive damage around Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch.
The National Park Service said the flooding began at about 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, as heavy rainfall sent water and debris through the inner canyon. Search and recovery operations continued Monday in difficult terrain as steady rain, poor visibility and the threat of additional flooding complicated the response. More than 60 people were evacuated from the affected area, while park officials appealed for information that could help account for hikers and campers who may have been in the canyon when the flood struck.
The body of a 46-year-old man was recovered Sunday evening near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River, the Park Service said. Officials had not publicly identified him or provided additional details about the circumstances of his death as of Monday afternoon. A second body was recovered Monday morning. Authorities had not released that person’s identity, age or gender. Officials continued to describe roughly 15 people as missing or unaccounted for.
Rescue operations began soon after the flooding swept through the Bright Angel Creek corridor. By Sunday morning, 62 people had been evacuated from Phantom Ranch and the lower North Kaibab Trail, according to the Park Service. Additional evacuations were organized from Cottonwood Campground and Phantom Ranch with help from the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Evacuees were taken to the Maswik Lodge Cafeteria on the South Rim, where the American Red Cross was coordinating assistance.
The flood caused major damage across one of the most heavily traveled sections of the inner canyon. Park officials said nearly all footbridges spanning Bright Angel Creek were destroyed, cutting off normal routes across the waterway. Metal structures and other debris were also washed into the Colorado River, prompting restrictions on river traffic while rangers assessed changing conditions. Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground and the North Kaibab Trail remained among the areas affected by closures.
The disaster also severely damaged the Transcanyon Waterline, the system that supplies water to the South Rim and inner-canyon facilities. Preliminary assessments released by the park Monday indicated about 40% of the waterline had been damaged or destroyed. The 12.5-mile system has experienced more than 85 major breaks since 2010 and was already undergoing a $208 million rehabilitation project that began in 2023.
Because the damaged pipeline was not operating, the park moved to Stage 4 water restrictions on the South Rim beginning Monday. Overnight lodging inside Grand Canyon National Park was suspended, including accommodations at El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge, Maswik Lodge, Yavapai Lodge and Trailer Village. The park remained open for day use, while only dry camping was allowed and some water access was restricted to preserve limited reserves.
Weather conditions remained a concern Monday. The National Weather Service said several waves of rainfall had affected the canyon during the weekend, with earlier rainfall leaving drainages already flowing before another round produced rapid flash flooding. Additional showers and thunderstorms were forecast, raising the possibility of more flash floods, debris flows and rockfall while search teams continued working below the rim.
Park officials have also warned of heightened flooding risks in watersheds affected by the 2025 Dragon Bravo Fire. The fire burned a large area on and near the North Rim, including watersheds that drain toward the Colorado River. Burned terrain can shed water more quickly during heavy rainfall because less vegetation remains to slow runoff. Officials have not said the burn scar alone caused Saturday’s flood, but the Park Service has identified it as an ongoing hazard during monsoon storms.
The Park Service asked for information about anyone who may have been traveling along the North Kaibab Trail between the trailhead and Phantom Ranch, staying at Bright Angel Campground or traveling through the area known as the Box north of Phantom Ranch on Saturday. Investigators were seeking names, travel plans, last known locations and other information that could help determine who was safely out of the canyon and who remained missing.
Search and recovery operations were continuing Monday as crews dealt with unstable weather, damaged trails and difficult access across the inner canyon. Officials had not announced when the closed areas would reopen, and assessments of the damage to trails, bridges, utilities and the water system remained underway. The identities of the two people whose bodies were recovered had not been officially released.
Author note: Last updated Aug. 31, 2026.