Rising floodwaters trap 11 visitors in iconic section of Utah national park

A severe monsoon swept across Bryce Canyon National Park on Monday, triggering flooding, mudslides and multiple rescues after visitors became trapped by rising waters in a popular area of the Utah park.

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The storm struck at around 2 p.m., bringing heavy rain, hail, lightning and a “significant temperature drop” across Bryce Canyon, the National Park Service told SFGATE on Tuesday. Eleven people suffering from hypothermia were found and helped to safety from the iconic Bryce Amphitheater, a bowl-shaped area where the world’s greatest concentration of hoodoos — irregular, multicolored rock spires — can be found.

One person was in critical condition when rescuers reached them.

Garfield County sheriff’s deputies and park staff conducted multiple search and rescue operations to help visitors off trails and out of the canyon. SFGATE reached out to the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office but did not hear back before the time of publication.

The Navajo Loop, a 1.3-mile trail famous for its towering slot canyons and dramatic switchbacks, closed during the storm for public safety and trail assessment but reopened on Tuesday. The Wall Street and Bryce Connector trails remained closed Tuesday for public safety and assessment, park officials said.

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The Park Service urged visitors to check the latest National Weather Service forecast and park alerts before heading out, particularly during the summer monsoon season.