Grand Canyon trail reopens despite warnings

What happened? Months before the deadly flash flood of Aug. 29, 2026, several current and former National Park Service employees said they were pushing to keep the fire-damaged North Kaibab Trail closed. After the 2025 Dragon Bravo wildfire, the upper portion of the trail is a burned-out slope with unstable ground, rock falls, mudslides, and rapid runoff during storms. Park ranger Adam Gibson had assessed the risk as high “for several years” in the spring and, according to local media, recommended keeping the trail closed for the entire 2026 season.

What was decided? The trail was still opened in the spring, the North Rim of the canyon — before the peak season. Employees, quoted by the Washington Post and KJZZ, say that political and economic logic prevailed: pressure from Washington (review of the decision at the level of the US Department of the Interior) and bipartisan support of the Arizona delegation to bring back tourists and through-the-edge crossings. The official position of the department is different: the route was opened after assessments and repairs, "as safe as reasonably possible."

What happened? On August 29, a wave washed out bridges over Bright Angel Creek, closing Phantom Ranch and all of North Kaibab. There is no reopening date. Details of the flooding and evacuations are in our previous news story.