Grand Canyon: North Kaibab Trail and Phantom Ranch Closed After Flash Flooding
The North Kaibab Trail and the Phantom Ranch area are closed until further notice after flash flooding. Here's what to know before you go.
By Jocelyn Pion,
If your Grand Canyon plans include a hike down into the gorge, there's something you need to factor in. After flash flooding, the Park Service has closed the entire North Kaibab Trail along with the Phantom Ranch area at the bottom of the canyon. The closure is in effect right now and runs until further notice.
In plain terms, these areas are off-limits, and that's not just a suggestion. Park crews are currently running an air evacuation of about 50 people in the Phantom Ranch area. So don't try to reach the closed areas. You'd get in the way of the rescue effort, and you'd put yourself in real danger.
An episode like this says a lot about the canyon. Down at the bottom, water can tear down the walls within minutes of a thunderstorm, and a quiet riverbed can turn into a torrent. Flash floods rank among the most serious hazards for anyone heading below the rim, far more than the drop-offs at the overlooks.
On the practical side, keep two things in mind. If you had a night booked at Phantom Ranch, the concessioner Xanterra is the one who'll reach out to affected guests about the status of their reservations, so watch your inbox instead of trying your luck on-site. And if you're eyeing the canyon in the next few weeks, build some flexibility into your plans, because there's no set date for the closure to lift.
To plan your trip with peace of mind and find the other ways into the canyon during this period, lean on the Grand Canyon park guide, which pulls together trails, overlooks, and seasonal tips. And if you're putting together a bigger western trip, our road trip route that runs through this park will help you fit the Grand Canyon into a full journey, without pinning everything on a single day.