One Dead, 15 Missing After “Significant” Flash Flood Rips Through Grand Canyon

The National Park Service said flash floods swept through a section of Arizona’s Grand Canyon, leaving one person dead and 15 others unaccounted for.

⚠️ UPDATE: Significant flash flooding in Bright Angel Canyon has closed Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, the entire North Kaibab Trail to Phantom Ranch, Black Bridge, Silver Bridge and the Colorado River to river traffic until further notice.

As of this morning, 62 people… pic.twitter.com/oohovKcax9

— Grand Canyon NPS (@GrandCanyonNPS) August 30, 2026

The flooding struck the Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch area at about 2:30 p.m. local time Saturday. Recovery crews found the body of a 46-year-old man near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River on Sunday evening.

“As of this evening, recovery operations have been completed for a 46-year-old male near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River. The Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office is currently onsite. There is no additional information to share at this time. We will provide updates as soon as available,” the National Park Service wrote on X late Sunday.

August 30 Update — 6:30 PM:

As of this evening, recovery operations have been completed for a 46-year-old male near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River. The Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office is currently onsite. There is no additional information to share at this…

— Grand Canyon NPS (@GrandCanyonNPS) August 31, 2026

Footage:

Hikers and campers scrambled for cover as a storm triggered heavy rain and flash flooding in the Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch regions of Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. The storm caused significant damage to nearby footbridges and trails, according to the National… pic.twitter.com/NRNmfdmmC1

— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 30, 2026

DRAMATIC NEW VIDEO!

Flash flooding led to a nightmare at Mooney Falls in the Grand Canyon on Friday resulting in a life-threatening situation. Waterfalls of rushing water forced hikers to take shelter in this cave until conditions improved.#azwx pic.twitter.com/ZY00ch2xv1

— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) August 25, 2024

The flooding also damaged the Transcanyon Waterline, forcing the National Park Service to implement strict water restrictions across the area. The outage could affect drinking water supplies for visitors, as well as operations at hotels, restaurants, campgrounds, and even emergency facilities.