The past several weeks have been difficult for Grand Canyon National Park and the communities that depend on it.
On August 29, a powerful flash flood tore through Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area, damaging trails, bridges, utilities, and other infrastructure deep within the canyon. The damage was significant, and recovery efforts continue today.
With images of the flooding circulating online and news of trail closures reaching travelers around the world, we’ve also heard an understandable question:
Is it still safe to hike at the Grand Canyon?
The short answer is yes — many areas of the Grand Canyon remain open and accessible for hiking.
What Is Actually Open?
As of October 2, 2026, the National Park Service currently lists several major South Rim hiking routes as open, including:
- Bright Angel Trail down to River Resthouse
- South Kaibab Trail from the trailhead to Tip-Off
- Plateau Point Trail
- Tonto Trail between Tip-Off and Havasupai Gardens
- All out of corridor trails
The South Rim itself remains open to visitors, and the park’s fall shuttle system continues to provide access to areas including the South Kaibab Trailhead, Yaki Point, Hermit Road, and numerous overlooks.
That means there are still tremendous opportunities to experience Grand Canyon on foot.
Where Did the Flooding Occur?
The most severe damage from the August 29 flood occurred deep within the canyon, particularly around Bright Angel Canyon, Phantom Ranch, and the lower corridor trail system.
Those areas are not currently open to visitors.
Closures include the North Kaibab Trail, Phantom Ranch, South Kaibab below Tip-Off, river-level bridges and portions of the River Trail. The National Park Service continues to assess damage and repair affected infrastructure.
These closures are important — and we take them seriously.
But they also shouldn’t be confused with a closure of the entire Grand Canyon or the South Rim trail system.
The Trails We Guide Are Chosen With Safety in Mind
At The Desert Hiking Company, safety has always been at the center of how we operate.
We don’t simply choose a trail because it’s popular or because it was part of someone’s original itinerary. We consider current National Park Service closures, weather, trail conditions, temperatures, water availability, mileage, elevation change, and — most importantly — the abilities of the people we’re hiking with.
Grand Canyon is a wild place. There is no such thing as a completely risk-free hike here, and conditions can change quickly.
That’s exactly why local knowledge matters.
If a section of trail is closed or conditions aren’t appropriate, we don’t hike it. We adjust the route and find the best experience available under the current conditions.
The canyon is enormous, and there is much more to experience here than any single trail.
Don’t Let the Headlines Keep You Away
The flooding at Grand Canyon was serious. We don’t want to minimize what happened or the enormous amount of work ahead for National Park Service employees, trail crews, concession employees, residents, and everyone involved in the recovery.
But we also don’t want visitors to walk away believing that Grand Canyon is closed.
It isn’t.
The South Rim remains open. Visitors are still standing at the overlooks, riding the shuttles, exploring the Rim Trail and hiking below the rim on trails and sections that the National Park Service has determined can remain open.
And fall is one of our favorite times of year to hike here.
Cooler temperatures begin returning to the canyon, the summer crowds start thinning out, and the changing light brings an entirely different character to the landscape.
Visiting Now Also Supports the Grand Canyon Community
There’s another reason we’re encouraging people not to cancel a Grand Canyon trip simply because they’ve heard about the flooding.
Small businesses and local workers need visitors right now
Guiding companies, restaurants, hotels, shops, artists, outfitters and countless local families throughout the Grand Canyon region depend heavily on tourism.
Natural disasters don’t only affect trails and buildings. Their effects ripple through entire communities.
When visitors cancel trips because they believe the entire park is closed, those effects become even greater.
If you’ve been planning a Grand Canyon trip, consider keeping it.
Come see the canyon. Take a hike. Eat at a local restaurant. Stay an extra night. Visit a locally owned shop. Hire a local guide.
Your visit matters.
We’re Still Hiking
The Grand Canyon has always demanded respect.
Floods, wildfire, extreme heat, winter storms, rockfall and changing trail conditions are part of traveling through a landscape this wild. Our responsibility as guides isn’t to pretend those hazards don’t exist. It’s to understand them, stay informed and make responsible decisions about where and when we hike.
That’s what we’ve always done.
And right now, there are still beautiful, rewarding and appropriate places to hike at Grand Canyon.
The Desert Hiking Company is continuing to guide trips on open trails while closely following National Park Service conditions and adjusting our routes whenever necessary.
If you’ve been hesitant about visiting because of what you’ve seen in the news, reach out to us. We’re happy to talk about current conditions, what trails are available and what kind of hike makes sense for you.
Grand Canyon is still here.
And we’re still hiking.
