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Grand Canyon beneath a storm, with distant curtains of rain, a muddy river, and stone buildings nestled among green trees

Park news · Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon: one dead, lodges closed, South Rim water rationed after the flood

After the August 29 flood, a man died near Crystal Rapids. The park's lodges close August 31 and the South Rim shifts to water restrictions; only Tusayan stays open.

By Jocelyn Pion, · Updated

Developing story · 1 update since the first story Jump to where it started

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  1. Latest update

    One dead near Crystal Rapids, lodges closed and water rationed

    A 46-year-old man was found dead near Crystal Rapids on August 30, and roughly 15 to 20 people were unaccounted for that day, according to Newsweek, VVNG, and WSLS. Every lodge inside the park closes starting August 31: El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge, Maswik Lodge, Yavapai Lodge, and Trailer Village, per ABC15 Arizona and Newsweek. With the Transcanyon Waterline out of service, the South Rim moves to Stage 4 water restrictions at noon on August 31, capping showers at 5 minutes. The Colorado River is closed to boating, and the Black Bridge and Silver Bridge are closed until further notice. Only the hotels in Tusayan, outside the park, stay open.

    Official source : Flash flooding causes major damage, forces evacuations in part of Grand Canyon National Park ; Grand Canyon National Park Launches ‘Stage 4’ Controls After Flooding ; More Than 20 People May Be Missing After Significant Flash Flood At Grand Canyon ; Grand Canyon flash flood leaves 1 dead and several missing or unaccounted for, park service says

  2. Where it started

    Grand Canyon: Flash Flood Closes Phantom Ranch and the North Kaibab Trail

    A flash flood hit the bottom of the canyon on August 29, closing Phantom Ranch and the North Kaibab Trail while evacuations continue.

    If you're planning a hike down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, change your plans right now. A significant flash flood swept through Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area on August 29, starting around 2:30 p.m. The damage led officials to close Phantom Ranch and the lower North Kaibab Trail.

    In practical terms, the deepest part of the park, the one you reach only after hours of walking, is off limits. By the morning of August 30, 62 people had already been evacuated from Phantom Ranch and the lower North Kaibab Trail. More evacuations were scheduled that same morning from Cottonwood Campground and Phantom Ranch, carried out by the National Park Service with the Arizona Department of Public Safety. That tells you the situation is still serious and is pulling in significant rescue resources.

    Muddy flood surging through a red-rock canyon beneath dark storm clouds, with waterfalls and desert vegetation

    For a traveler, the lesson is simple. The bottom of the canyon funnels the water that pours off the walls during summer storms, and a flood can arrive fast, with no rain falling where you're standing. Late summer, right in the middle of the American Southwest's monsoon season, is exactly when these events happen most often. If you'd booked a night at Phantom Ranch or a campsite at Cottonwood, contact the park before you go, since both are directly affected.

    For now, there's no sign that the rim overlooks, on the South and North Rims, have been touched. Those are what make up most of a first visit, and they're still the heart of the Grand Canyon park guide, where we lay out the access points and the best stops. Save the North Kaibab Trail and the descent to the river for a future trip, once the trails reopen and are safe again.

    If the Grand Canyon is just one stop on a bigger road trip out West, take a look at our road trip itinerary that runs through the park to rework your days without losing the thread.