Grand Canyon National Park Expands Inner Canyon Closures Following August 29 Flash Flood

News Release Date: September 3, 2026
Contact:Grand Canyon Office of Communications

Grand Canyon National Park continues response and recovery operations following the destructive August 29 flash flood that caused significant damage in Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area.

Park staff and partner agencies are conducting damage assessments and beginning repair and stabilization work in areas where trails, bridges, utilities and other infrastructure were damaged or destroyed. Maintaining safe access for response personnel and keeping visitors out of hazardous areas is critical as this work continues.

To support these operations and protect visitor safety, the park is expanding temporary closures in portions of the inner canyon. Effective immediately, the following areas are closed to visitor use:

• South Kaibab Trail below the Tip-Off
• Bright Angel Trail below the intersection with the Tonto Trail

Commercial and non-commercial river trips may continue to conduct exchanges at Pipe Creek Beach along the Bright Angel Trail.

The North Kaibab Trail, Cottonwood Campground, Phantom Ranch, the Bright Angel Campground, and the Black Bridge and Silver Bridge were previously closed following the August 29 flash flood.

There is currently no estimated date for reopening these areas. Reopening decisions will be based on conditions on the ground and the park's ability to safely restore access. Park staff will continue evaluating damaged areas as response, recovery, assessment and stabilization work progresses.

-NPS-

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