Deadly flooding compounds difficult season at Grand Canyon National Park

A week of destructive monsoon weather has left two hikers dead, another missing and major infrastructure damaged at Grand Canyon National Park, adding another setback to a region already struggling through a difficult tourism season.

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Left to right:

• Debris and mud cover the area near the Phantom Ranger Station following flash flooding in Bright Angel Canyon at Grand Canyon National Park on August 29. The flooding killed two hikers, left another missing and caused extensive damage to trails and infrastructure. Photo courtesy of Parth Desai.

• Remnants of stone bridge pylons remain along Bright Angel Creek following a fl ash fl ood that destroyed the footbridge on August 29. The flooding caused significant damage to infrastructure throughout the canyon. NPS Photo / J. Thompson.

The National Park Service identified the hikers killed in an Aug. 29 flash flood in Bright Angel Canyon as John Giusti, 46, and Brent Rosenkranz, 42, both of Granbury, Texas. Timothy Allen Smith, 53, who was hiking with the two men, remained missing at press time as search and rescue operations continued.

As many as 30 people were initially believed to be unaccounted for following the flood. Officials have since accounted for all but Smith, while acknowledging others may have been in the backcountry without permits. Eighty-two people were rescued, most by helicopter.

The flooding swept through Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area following heavy rainfall Saturday, carrying mud, rocks and debris and causing extensive damage to trails, bridges and other infrastructure.

Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, both pedestrian bridges across the Colorado River and the entire North Kaibab Trail remain closed with no estimated reopening date.

The flooding also damaged the Transcanyon Waterline, the 12.5-mile system that supplies water to the South Rim and inner canyon facilities. The line is inoperable, prompting Stage 4 water restrictions and the suspension of overnight hotel accommodations on the South Rim. The park remains open for day use.

The aging pipeline is being replaced through a $208 million project currently projected for completion in October.

The effects are also being felt outside the park.

Jacob Lake Inn has lost about 70 reservations since Sunday night, co-owner Melinda Rich Marshall told KSL. The inn was at less than half occupancy heading into Labor Day weekend, when it would normally be full.

The cancellations are another blow for businesses around the North Rim following the 2025 Dragon Bravo Fire, which disrupted tourism throughout the area.

Bright Angel Creek is among the watersheds affected by the Dragon Bravo Fire. NPS has warned that affected watersheds face increased risk of flash flooding and debris flows during heavy rain, although officials have not attributed Saturday’s flood specifically to the burn scar.

Search operations and damage assessments remained underway at press time.