Search crews are still looking for Timothy Allen Smith after an Aug. 29 flash flood devastated Bright Angel Canyon.
GRAND CANYON, Ariz. — Two Texas hikers died and a third member of their group remains missing nearly two weeks after a destructive flash flood swept through Bright Angel Canyon, forcing dozens of evacuations and damaging trails, bridges and the park’s water system.
The National Park Service identified the two hikers whose bodies were recovered as John Giusti, 46, and Brent Rosenkranz, 42, both of Granbury, Texas. Timothy Allen Smith, 53, who was hiking with the men, remains missing. Smith grew up in Granbury and has been living in Star Valley, Wyoming, according to family information reported by Arizona’s Family. The National Park Service said Sept. 8 that one person remained unaccounted for and that search operations were continuing.
The flash flood began at about 2:30 p.m. Aug. 29 in Bright Angel Canyon and around Phantom Ranch, deep inside Grand Canyon National Park. Heavy rain sent water, mud and debris through the canyon, damaging trails and facilities and trapping visitors in the inner canyon. More than 80 people were ultimately evacuated from affected areas, according to officials. Rangers and other emergency crews used helicopters and ground teams as they worked to move people from Phantom Ranch, the North Kaibab Trail and nearby campgrounds.
Giusti’s body was recovered near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River on Aug. 30. Rosenkranz was recovered the following day, according to officials and local reporting. The National Park Service formally identified both men Sept. 1. Smith had been traveling with them when the flood struck, and his family later confirmed that he was the remaining member of the group who had not been located.
Search crews have continued working through areas filled with flood debris. The National Park Service said teams were searching the delta near Phantom Ranch while river patrol crews examined areas downstream along the Colorado River where debris could have been carried. The operation has involved park personnel and partner agencies including Coconino County Search and Rescue and the U.S. Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue Unit. Dog teams and other specialized resources also have been used during the search.
The number of people initially feared missing was much higher. The Park Service asked for public help Aug. 30 in accounting for about 15 people believed to have been in the affected corridor. Rangers checked permits and other information while survivors were evacuated. Officials later accounted for those people until the search narrowed to a single missing hiker. Park officials have continued to investigate whether anyone else might have been in the area without being reflected in reservation or permit records.
The flood also caused extensive damage throughout Bright Angel Canyon. The National Park Service said nearly all footbridges crossing Bright Angel Creek were destroyed in the initial flooding, cutting off normal hiker access across the waterway. Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, Cottonwood Campground, the North Kaibab Trail and bridges across the Colorado River were among the areas closed after the disaster. Additional portions of the Bright Angel and South Kaibab trails were later closed as crews assessed hazards and began stabilization work.
The storm also severely damaged the park’s water infrastructure. About 40% of the legacy pipeline was damaged or destroyed, according to reporting on the park’s recovery effort. The flooding destroyed the water intake at Bright Angel Creek, leading to strict conservation measures and disruptions to overnight lodging. By Sept. 8, the Park Service said engineers were moving ahead with a temporary intake and expected restoration work to take weeks rather than months. South Rim tap water remained safe to use, officials said.
Weather conditions and the landscape contributed to the severity of the flooding. Rain fell across areas affected by the 2025 Dragon Bravo wildfire, leaving a burn scar that was more vulnerable to rapid runoff and debris movement. Rain gauges that remained operational recorded more than an inch of rain in parts of the drainage before some equipment failed, while intense rainfall sent runoff into the narrow canyon system. Officials continued assessing the storm and the damage after the flood.
The disaster also forced major changes for visitors. Phantom Ranch and several inner-canyon trails remained closed with no announced reopening date as repair and stabilization work continued. The North and South rims remained open, but access to damaged areas was restricted. Park officials said the closures were necessary both because of damaged infrastructure and to keep visitors away from hazardous areas while search and recovery crews worked below the rim.
As of Sept. 12, Smith had not been publicly reported found. Search teams remained focused on areas around Phantom Ranch, the Colorado River and locations where flood debris may have traveled, while crews separately continued repairs to the park’s damaged infrastructure. Giusti and Rosenkranz remain the two confirmed deaths from the Aug. 29 flood.
Author note: Last updated September 12, 2026.