Flash floods wipe out Grand Canyon bridges and trails as 62 visitors are airlifted to safety

Trails were wiped out entirely by the flash floods, leaving sections of the Grand Canyon inaccessible despite no injuries being reported.

A quarter to three-quarters of an inch of rain fell in just 30 minutes on Saturday, triggering the Bright Angel Creek Basin flooding that stranded the evacuated hikers.

A surge of chocolate-brown floodwater ripped through Bright Angel Canyon at 2:30pm Saturday, taking out most of the footbridges over Bright Angel Creek and triggering a mass helicopter evacuation. The National Park Service has confirmed 62 people were airlifted from Phantom Ranch and the lower North Kaibab Trail, with additional evacuees brought out from Cottonwood Campground on Sunday morning. No injuries have been reported. The American Red Cross has opened a shelter at Grand Canyon High School in Grand Canyon Village.

The entire North Kaibab Trail, Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, and both Colorado River bridges are closed until further notice, with no reopening date set.

The flooding was triggered by monsoonal rains dumping up to three-quarters of an inch in just 30 minutes, worsened by the Dragon Bravo Fire scar in the Bright Angel Creek Basin.

nps.govSignificant Flash Flooding Closes Phantom Ranch and North Kaibab Trail - Grand Canyon National Park (U.S. National Park Service)The IndependentDozens of people evacuated from parts of the Grand Canyon after flash floods NY PostDozens evacuated as flash floods hit Grand Canyon, wall of water wipes out trails CBS NewsDozens of people evacuated from parts of the Grand Canyon after flash floods - CBS News azcentral.com and The Arizona Republic50 people evacuated from Grand Canyon after flash flood, weather service says - azcentral.com and The Arizona Republic

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