Bright Angel Trail Reopens to Pedestrian Travel

Grand Canyon, AZ - Early this morning the National Park Service reopened the Bright Angel Trail to all pedestrian travel. The trail is currently being assessed by crews from Xanterra Parks and Resorts, LLC (Xanterra) for mule travel.

The Bright Angel Trail closed late July 14, 2004 following an afternoon storm that caused rock slides and other associated damage. Trail crews began working on the trails immediately following the storm to clear rock and debris on several sections of the Bright Angel Trail. Although some rock retaining walls were damaged, both National Park Service and Xanterra trail crews have been able to reconstruct most of the walls that were damaged as well as clear a significant amount of debris that resulted from flash flooding. Trail crews will continue to work in several of the areas damaged, including the day use area at Indian Garden.

Both one-day and overnight mule trips have been suspended until a complete assessment has been conducted by Xanterra crews. Visitors holding reservations for mule trips may contact Xanterra at (928) 638-2631.

For information on hiking in Grand Canyon National Park, contact the Park's Backcountry Information Center at (928) 638-7875 or visit the Park's website at www.nps.gov/grca.

Bright Angel Trail Flood, July 14, 2004. Facing 10 degrees. One of a number of actual drainages down to Indian Garden begins in upper Coconino formation and builds force moving down. Real flooding is below this point to and along Garden and Pipe Creeks to the river.

Bright Angel Trail Flood, July 14, 2004. Facing west. Jeff Dryer's crew began work today (7/16) clearing the path to 1.5 Mile toilet, then moving down. This is just below the resthouse.

Bright Angel Trail Flood, July 14, 2004. Facing 130 degrees. Major side drainage at the Bird Bath. It flooded across trail here. Some tread leveling required, but wall and trail are okay.

Bright Angel Trail Flood, July 14, 2004. Facing 210 degrees. Main drainage coming down to this trail section in lower Supai that was rebuilt in 2000. Flood cut in toward trail, but trail, which switchbacks left here, okay.

Bright Angel Trail Flood, July 14, 2004. Facing 60 degrees slide mostly cleared, 100 meters about 3-Mile Resthouse in the lower Supai.

Bright Angel Trail Flood, July 14, 2004. Facing 190 degrees down Tangent 4 from top of Jacobs Ladder. Some of the slide debris coming down to Tangent 6.

Bright Angel Trail Flood, July 14, 2004. Facing north before making the turn down to the Horseshoe before Jacobs Ladder. Small slide from minor drainage.

Bright Angel Trail Flood, July 14, 2004. Facing 80 degrees. Side drainage at switchback corner by pipeline aqueduct also flashed, burying about 35 meter of trail in breadbasket-sixed boulders and gravel.