Flooding at Bryce Canyon spurs rescue efforts

TROPIC, Garfield County — "Massive" flooding at Bryce Canyon prompted rescue efforts across the park on Monday.

Eleven people in four different groups were rescued amid the flooding, said Garfield County Sheriff's Office public information officer Wade Mathews. Two of the rescued people were taken to the hospital with hypothermia symptoms, while everyone else was evaluated and released on scene.

Mathews said the flood rescues took place on four different trails: Fairy Land, Navajo Loop, Peekaboo and Queens Gardens. Some residents said they'd never seen so much water coming out of Bryce Canyon, Mathews said.

The rescue group included Garfield EMS, Bryce Canyon Park rangers and the sheriff's office, Mathews said. About 15 to 20 rescuers responded between the different agencies.

Rescues started at 2:30 p.m. and ended at 5:30, Mathews said.

Lightning in the area caused rescuers to hold back in their efforts, but Mathews said everything turned out OK.

Meanwhile, state Route 12 was closed due to flooding — now open again — and Mathews said he was told some trails in Bryce Canyon were damaged.

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