Title: Flash Flood Closes Grand Canyon Areas, Search Continues for Missing Visitors

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Title: Flash Flood Closes Grand Canyon Areas, Search Continues for Missing Visit

A devastating flash flood swept through Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona over the weekend, prompting an active search-and-rescue operation and the closure of several areas. The National Park Service has announced that Phantom Ranch, its cabins and canteen, and Bright Angel Campground are shut until further notice due to extreme damage and flooding. The North Kaibab Trail, from the North Kaibab Trailhead to Phantom Ranch, is also closed indefinitely. The Silver and Black footbridges crossing the Colorado River have been affected.

Search efforts are ongoing, with visitors still unaccounted for. The NPS Investigative Services Branch is seeking public assistance. The flood severely impacted canyon infrastructure, including the Transcanyon Waterline, affecting South Rim visitor facilities.

While it's safe to visit parts of the park, restrictions apply. Bookmark the park's main page for updates and advisories. The South Rim hotels will close at noon on August 31 due to Transcanyon Waterline damage, with only dry camping permitted. Day use and food-and-beverage services will remain open, albeit with reduced hours in some cases.

The Transcanyon Waterline, dating back to the 1960s, is undergoing a multiyear $208 million rehabilitation project not expected to finish until 2027. The extent of flood damage to the infrastructure and hotel reopening timelines remain unclear.

Town of Tusayan hotels near the South Rim remain unaffected by these closures. For the latest trail and closure information, visit the park's Key Hiking Messages webpage.