GRAND CANYON, AZ — Flash flooding caused extensive damage in an area of Grand Canyon National Park on Saturday, leading to emergency evacuations and the closure of several popular trails.
The National Park Service said flooding began at around 2:30 p.m. and swept through the Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch areas of the park.
According to NPS officials, at least 62 people were evacuated from Phantom Ranch and lower North Kaibab Trail. NPS officials added more evacuations would take place Sunday at Phantom Ranch, Cottonwood Campground and other nearby areas.
Nearly all footbridges crossing Bright Angel Creek were destroyed by the flooding, NPS officials noted.
The following areas of the park are closed indefinitely, per the National Park Service:
- Phantom Ranch
- Bright Angel Campground
- North Kaibab Trail
- Black Bridge and Silver Bridge over Colorado River
More closure information https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/key-messages.htm
Due to the weekend flooding, the South Rim of the park will be under Stage 4 water restrictions starting at 12 p.m. local time Monday.
The restrictions were put in place due to “extensive damage to infrastructure in the inner canyon, including the Transcanyon Waterline, which supplies water from the canyon for use in the park. The waterline is currently not operational, leaving the park with limited water reserves and requiring significant water conservation measures to ensure available supplies can be maintained.”
National Park Service officials says the following measures will also take effect Monday:
Overnight Guest Lodging: Effective Monday, August 31, all park concessions will halt overnight accommodations. This includes hotel facilities operated by Xanterra, such as El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge, Maswik Lodge, and Phantom Ranch, as well as Delaware North’s Yavapai Lodge and Trailer Village. Overnight hotel accommodations located outside the park in the town of Tusayan will not be impacted by changes in park operations.
Dry Camping: Only dry camping will be permitted. Spigot access at campgrounds on the South Rim will be turned off, though faucets in bathrooms will remain operational. Water spigot access will be available at the Mather Campground check-in kiosk.
No fires will be allowed on the South Rim and inner canyon areas. Fire restrictions prohibit all wood burning and charcoal fires, including campfires, warming fires, and charcoal barbeques.
Operational Services: The park will remain open for day use. All South Rim food and beverage services, the Grand Canyon Clinic, and the Post Office will remain open. Some operations may have reduced hours.
Guests and residents are being urged to conserve water by “limiting showers to five minutes or less, turning off faucets while shaving or brushing teeth, flushing toilets selectively, washing laundry with full loads, and reporting leaks to the appropriate offices.”
Officials did not have a timeframe for when the impacted areas might reopen, and additional closures could still be necessary as damage assessments continue.
The Colorado River was also temporarily closed to river traffic because debris and metal structures had washed into the water.
In a press release, the National Park Service stated: “River parties already in the canyon are receiving direction through river operations rangers and the Grand Canyon River Alert system. Visitors with upcoming river trips should contact their commercial outfitter or NPS River Permits for trip-specific information.”
With more thunderstorms and heavy rain possible over the next several days, NPS officials are warning of additional flash flooding and other dangerous conditions in the canyon area.
