The National Park Service has recovered the bodies of two hikers who were caught in a destructive flash flood Aug. 29 in Bright Angel Canyon. The hikers have been identified as John Guisti, 46, and Brent Rosenkranz, 42, both of Granbury, Texas. 

One member of the hiking group remains missing. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with teams continuing efforts to locate the missing hiker and account for anyone else who may have been in the affected area at the time of the flood. 

Grand Canyon National Park is coordinating the response with the NPS Investigative Services Branch, Coconino County Search and Rescue, and U.S. Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue. 

Officials stressed that Grand Canyon National Park will remain open.

Today, Grand Canyon National Park is partnering with the Coconino County Search and Rescue Team and BORSTAR on search operations, including work in debris-flow areas and the Box north of Phantom Ranch. River patrols are also continuing downstream of Phantom Ranch as teams work to locate the remaining missing person.

A 30% chance of monsoon moisture today (September 1)  could affect search and rescue operations and infrastructure damage assessments. The NPS Western Type 3 Incident Management Team is assuming command of the incident this morning.

The flooding followed heavy monsoon rain over the park’s North Rim. Officials said runoff moved quickly down steep canyon drainages and into Bright Angel Creek, where an alert system installed after the Dragon Bravo Fire warned of rising water before going offline as the flood intensified.

The flood hit one of the park’s busiest inner-canyon corridors, an area connecting Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, Cottonwood Campground and the North Kaibab Trail. Officials said the narrow terrain allowed water, sediment and debris to move quickly through the area, damaging bridges, trails, landing zones and utility systems.

Deputy Superintendent Bryant Dramho said the park remained open and accessible on both the North Rim and South Rim while crews continued search, rescue and recovery operations in the inner canyon.

Incident Commander Dave Black (pictured) said evacuations began shortly after 2:45 p.m. Saturday after rangers reported flash flooding near Phantom Ranch and in the Box, a narrow stretch between Phantom Ranch and the Cottonwood and Manzanita areas. National Park Service helicopters launched within about 90 minutes, and Arizona Department of Public Safety aircraft assisted through the night.

“Our thoughts are with the families of those who we know are lost,” Black said, adding that everyone in the canyon endured “a terrifying day.”

Officials initially knew of 82 people stranded in the canyon. By Saturday evening, 45 people had been evacuated by air, and the remaining 37 were evacuated by 2 p.m. Sunday. The Colorado River was temporarily closed to rafting because of a large debris field before reopening Sunday after aerial reconnaissance.

Search teams reduced the number of people unaccounted for from 30 to one, Black said. Two adult men were confirmed dead, including one recovered Sunday and another recovered Monday. Officials said they were withholding additional identifying information out of respect for the families.

Officials cautioned that the missing-person count is based on the park’s permitting system and may not account for unpermitted day hikers. Family members or friends who believe someone was in the Bright Angel Creek corridor, Phantom Ranch area, Cottonwood Campground, Bright Angel Campground, the Box or along the North Kaibab Trail during the flood were urged to contact the National Park Service tip line.

The flood caused extensive damage to inner-canyon infrastructure. Officials said numerous bridges were lost, trails and landing areas needed inspection, and the Transcanyon Waterline was battered and damaged in some areas. The park entered Stage 4 water restrictions Monday while crews prepared a full damage assessment.

Coconino County Emergency Management Director Tim Carter said the county had been embedded in the Park Service’s emergency operations center, helping coordinate local and state resources and requests for staff or equipment. Carter said the response reflected the close working relationship among county, federal, state and local partners in northern Arizona.

Carter also described a canyon emergency notification system created with the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Weather Service and the Park Service to send flash flood and river danger alerts to satellite devices used by people in the canyon, where cell service, sirens and other communications are limited. He said six messages were sent through the system beginning shortly after noon on the day of the flooding, followed by nine additional messages about continuing flood threats, river closures and reopening information.

Coconino County Sheriff Brett Axland said detectives were assisting the National Park Service by following up on names submitted through the tip line and confirming whether those people had safely left the canyon. Search-and-rescue support was expected to include a drone from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and technology capable of scanning for Bluetooth signals from nearby devices, which could help locate evidence or additional victims in the flood zone.

Tusayan Mayor Clarinda Vail told the Watchdog, "We are
heartbroken by the news of the devastating flash flood at Phantom Ranch. We are keeping the victims, the missing, their loved ones,  and the brave search and rescue teams in our thoughts and prayers."

Tusayan Town Manager Greg Clifton said, ""While the tragedy of the event in terms of human loss remains first and foremost in our thoughts, the amazing search and rescue efforts by so many dedicated individuals is so noteworthy here.  The air evacuation of 82 stranded individuals in such a short amount of time is simply heroic."

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs said state emergency officials are coordinating with federal and local partners as the response continues, “My heart is with the families and loved ones of every person unaccounted for after the flash flooding at the Grand Canyon. DEMA is coordinating with NPS and Coconino County Emergency Management to support search and recovery efforts. Thank you to the first responders on the ground working to keep our communities safe when disaster strikes.”

Lodging in Tusayan is not affected by the park closures, and all hotels in Tusayan remain open.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch Tip Line at 888-653-0009 or email nps_isb@nps.gov.