11 people rescued after flash flooding at Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Thunderstorms producing up to an estimated 51 mm (2 inches) of rain triggered flash flooding at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah on August 24, 2026, prompting four rescue operations involving 11 hikers. Two people were taken to a hospital with signs of hypothermia, State Route 12 was temporarily closed, and a downstream USGS gauge on the Paria River rose from near-zero flow to 79 m³/s (2 780 feet³/s) in about 20 minutes.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Salt Lake City issued a Flash Flood Warning at 14:43 MDT (20:43 UTC) after Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across portions of Bryce Canyon National Park.

NWS estimated that up to 38 mm (1.5 inches) had fallen and said life-threatening flash flooding was ongoing or expected to begin shortly, with flows likely extending down Sheep Creek and the Paria River.

At 16:14 MDT (22:14 UTC), National Park Service personnel reported mudslides and rockfalls from the earlier thunderstorms. NWS estimated that up to 51 mm (2 inches) had fallen primarily over Bryce Canyon National Park and said flash flooding was occurring as high flows on the Paria River south of Tropic moved downstream.

A NWS Local Storm Report placed the estimated onset of flash flooding near Bryce Canyon at 14:15 MDT (20:15 UTC). Law enforcement reported flash flooding, mudslides and rockslides affecting Fairyland Loop, Navajo Loop, Queen’s Garden and Peekaboo Loop, requiring at least four rescue operations. NWS said two people were hospitalized due to hypothermia.

Garfield County Sheriff’s Office public information officer Wade Mathews reported that 11 people in four groups were rescued. Two were taken to a hospital with signs of hypothermia, while the remaining nine were evaluated and released at the scene.

Mathews said the response ran from approximately 14:30 to 17:30 MDT (20:30–23:30 UTC) and involved Garfield EMS, Bryce Canyon National Park rangers and Sheriff’s Office personnel. Lightning in the area temporarily delayed rescuers.

Bryce Canyon National Park said that all 11 visitors showed signs of hypothermia when rescuers reached them and that one was initially in critical condition.

Floodwater reached the transportation corridor southeast of the park at approximately 14:45 MDT (20:45 UTC). An NWS Local Storm Report said the Paria River/Bryce Creek had overflowed near Tropic, crossed State Route 12 and deposited heavy debris on the roadway, temporarily closing SR-12. Video provided to law enforcement also showed large trees moving in the floodwater near Tropic.

The flood wave continued downstream through the Paria River drainage during the evening. At approximately 22:25 MDT on August 24 (04:25 UTC on August 25), provisional data from USGS station 09381800, 22.5 km (14 miles) west-northwest of Big Water, showed discharge rising from near zero to 78.7 m3/s (2 780 ft3/s) in about 20 minutes as gage height increased by approximately 1.68 m (5.5 feet).

At 22:22 MDT on August 24 (04:22 UTC on August 25), NWS extended a Flash Flood Warning for south-central Kane County after gauges indicated that a large flood wave had crossed beneath US-89 and was moving south toward the Arizona border.

The agency classified the flash-flood damage threat as Considerable and warned of life-threatening flooding along the Paria River, including the Lower Paria River Canyon.

References:

¹ Flash Flood Warning – NWS Salt Lake City – Accessed on August 27, 2026

² Local Storm Report – NWS Salt Lake City – Accessed on August 27, 2026

³ Rising floodwaters trap 11 visitors in iconic section of Utah national park – SFGATE – August 25, 2026

Featured image: Flooding in Missouri on July 10, 2026, used for representational pupose only. Credit: Missouri State Highway Patrol