The National Park Service (NPS) conducted an aerial evacuation of approximately 50 individuals from the Phantom Ranch area of Grand Canyon National Park on Saturday after flash flooding struck Bright Angel Canyon, according to an official statement. No injuries were reported in the incident, but the NPS announced that the entirety of the North Kaibab Trail and Phantom Ranch are closed until further notice.
The closure affects one of the park’s most popular destinations, Phantom Ranch, a historic lodge near the canyon’s bottom by Bright Angel Creek. The NPS confirmed that the lodge operator will notify guests about the status of their reservations, which are typically booked months in advance. Park officials urged the public to avoid the closed areas while the situation is assessed.
Grand Canyon National Park, which ranked as the fourth-most visited national park in the United States with 4,430,653 recreational visits in 2025, has not provided an estimated timeline for reopening the affected trails or facilities. The NPS did not specify the cause of the flash flooding but noted that sudden weather changes in the region can lead to rapid water level rises in canyon tributaries.
Flash floods in the Grand Canyon are not uncommon, particularly during monsoon season, when intense rainfall can overwhelm dry washes and side canyons. The North Kaibab Trail, a steep and challenging route descending from the North Rim to the Colorado River, is a primary access point for Phantom Ranch and is frequently used by hikers and mule riders. The closure disrupts a key route for both recreational and commercial activities within the park.
Park rangers are conducting ongoing assessments of the damage, though no further details on structural impacts or environmental consequences have been released. The NPS has not indicated whether additional evacuations or rescues may be necessary as conditions evolve.