Dozens of terrified campers have been left stranded in the Arizona mountains after raging floodwaters swallowed the only bridge connecting their campsite to the outside world.
Around 65 people were left trapped as powerful currents carried trees and debris downstream.
The dramatic scenes unfolded at Cave Springs Campground, about 30 minutes north of Sedona, after heavy rainfall sent Oak Creek surging over its banks, transforming a normally picturesque mountain retreat into a dangerous flood zone.
Campers who had arrived expecting a peaceful getaway suddenly found themselves cut off from civilization, with the only road out blocked by fast-moving water and a growing pile of fallen trees.
The swollen creek overwhelmed the campground’s sole access bridge, leaving visitors unable to drive out and preventing emergency vehicles from reaching those stranded on the opposite bank.
Authorities confirmed approximately 65 people were trapped inside the campground as officials worked to arrange emergency food supplies while waiting for water levels to subside.
Among those caught up in the chaos was Steve Branch, a visitor from Denver who had arrived the previous evening expecting to spend just one night at the popular campsite.
Instead, he woke to discover that his planned departure had become impossible.
Dozens of campers have been left stranded in the Arizona mountains after raging floodwaters swallowed the only bridge connecting their campsite to the outside world
‘Well, it looks like we can’t get back across to where your side is,’ Branch told Fox 10 Phoenix during a telephone interview conducted across the flooded creek.
‘We came in about five o’clock last night and everything was fine,’ he explained. ‘We were leaving this morning.’
But overnight rainfall had dramatically changed the landscape, leaving the bridge submerged beneath rushing water and tangled debris.
‘It looks to me like we’ve got a couple of trees that have gotten stuck on the bridge and there’s not much way across that bridge,’ Branch said.
The blockage created a particularly dangerous situation as branches and fallen timber accumulated against the crossing, obstructing the flow of water.
Footage from the scene showed muddy water racing across the access route, with logs and other debris trapped around the bridge.
For campers on the wrong side of the creek, there was little choice but to remain where they were and wait.
And even longtime workers familiar with the area’s unpredictable weather were stunned by the speed and force of the flooding.
Seasonal worker Edgar Cano, who has spent years around the campground, said he had never witnessed conditions quite like those confronting visitors.
‘I pulled up to the bridge where we exit, and the water is running like I’ve never seen it in 25 years,’ Cano told the station.
He described how the combination of rising water and debris had effectively turned the bridge into an impassable barrier.
‘Branches, wood that is stuck at our bridge and is creating somewhat of a dam there,’ he explained. ‘And along with the water level being high, you can’t get over or across to the other side.’
The flooding also disrupted outdoor enthusiasts enjoying the creek, with kayakers forced to abandon their plans as conditions rapidly deteriorated.
Thomas Herring had been paddling along the waterway when he noticed the current growing increasingly powerful.
‘We’re just down here kayaking,’ Herring said. ‘The river came up very quickly. A lot of wood moving around. Things quickly got dangerous, so we decided to take out for the day.’
Another visitor, Justin Gallen, said the flooding was not necessarily at its most extreme level but was still powerful enough to cause significant disruption.
‘It’s not like super high flood stage, but it’s high enough to move a lot of debris around,’ he explained.
The incident unfolded in one of Arizona’s most scenic mountain destinations, where visitors are drawn to the cool waters of Oak Creek and the wooded surroundings of Oak Creek Canyon.
Cave Springs Campground sits along the creek north of Sedona, offering a popular escape for campers seeking a break from the desert heat.
But the same narrow canyon and waterways that make the area so attractive can also become hazardous when heavy rain sends water rushing through the landscape.
The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office confirmed it had established contact with the campground host and was monitoring the situation.
Officials said they were coordinating with several agencies to arrange a food drop for those stranded behind the flooded crossing.
The operation was intended to ensure campers had access to supplies while the water remained too high for vehicles to safely use the bridge.
There were no reports of anyone being injured.
