Bryce Canyon's Inspiration Point area. Photo: National Park Service

BRYCE CANYON, Utah — Severe weather and a large rockfall disrupted visitors at two of southern Utah’s most popular national parks Monday, prompting multiple rescues at Bryce Canyon National Park and temporarily cutting off access to parts of Zion National Park.

View this post on Instagram

Similar Reads On TownLift
A post shared by Matthew Johnson (@ksl_matt)

At Bryce Canyon, flash flooding stranded 11 hikers from four separate groups Monday afternoon. Rescuers from the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, Garfield EMS, and Bryce Canyon National Park responded to incidents on the Fairyland, Navajo Loop, Peekaboo, and Queens Garden trails, according to FOX13.

Two of the hikers were taken to a hospital with symptoms of hypothermia, while the remaining nine were evaluated and released, according to the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office. The rescues began around 2:30 p.m. and involved an estimated 15 to 20 responders.

The National Weather Service had issued a Flash Flood Warning for parts of Garfield and Kane counties, warning of life-threatening flooding after thunderstorms dropped up to 1.5 inches of rain over portions of Bryce Canyon National Park. The flooding also temporarily closed state Route 12 and caused mudslides and rockslides in the area.

The incident came as southern Utah’s national parks navigate the hazards associated with late-summer monsoon conditions. Earlier this month, Bryce Canyon National Park warned visitors that August and September storms can quickly create flash floods, debris flows, trail washouts, and rockfall.

Visitors planning trips to southern Utah national parks are encouraged to check current conditions and weather forecasts, particularly during periods of thunderstorms, as closures and hazards can develop quickly.