Hikers Survive Sudden Flash Flood in Grand Canyon's Bright Angel Canyon
Three hikers were caught in a rapidly rising flash flood while traversing a narrow section of the Rim-to-Rim trail on Aug. 29 and escaped by abandoning heavy packs and reaching a rock ledge.
Three hikers on a Rim-to-Rim trek in Grand Canyon's Bright Angel Canyon were overtaken by a fast-developing thunderstorm on Aug. 29. The storm caused Bright Angel Creek to swell quickly, turning a narrow four-mile stretch known as "The Box" into a hazardous flood zone. The group, which had obtained a permit, reviewed conditions and spoken with a ranger the night before, had been warned of a "10% chance of thunderstorms."
At about 2:14 p.m., the creek rose sharply, washing away a section of trail and forcing the hikers to choose between continuing on a damaged path or seeking higher ground. They abandoned their 45-pound backpacks and climbed roughly 10 feet onto a rock ledge, where they remained safe as the water surged past. One of the hikers said that had they been a short distance farther down the trail, the outcome could have been different.
The incident highlights the increased flood risk in areas affected by recent wildfire burn scars, which leave terrain more vulnerable to debris and rapid water flow.