Oak Creek Canyon floodwater traps 65 people at campground in Sedona

Dozens of people are trapped by floodwater at an Oak Creek Canyon campground in Sedona, authorities said Tuesday morning.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office told KTAR News 92.3 FM that the creek is cutting off 65 campers from State Route 89A. No injuries or medical emergencies have been reported.

If access to the Cave Springs Campground remains blocked, deputies are on standby for a possible food drop, the sheriff’s office said.

Stranded camper describes scene at Oak Creek Canyon campground

Tanja Hooper told KTAR News that while supplies are running low, she and her fellow stranded campers are trying to stay positive.

“We’re doing OK, but there’s people with small children that are running out of food. We have lots of munchies but no more dinners left. Medications are getting low. … Spirits are high, but people are obviously getting a little frustrated,” she said during a phone interview.

Hooper said she has seen authorities across the creek discussing the situation.

“They’ll probably try and figure out the best way to clear out the debris and the water, but the way it’s flowing right now, it would be dangerous to do that,” she said.

Flooding extends last-minute Oak Creek Canyon camping trip

Hooper said she arrived at the campground Friday with plans to return home Monday.

“It was a last-minute trip idea. And we kind of monitored the rain and did some hiking in Sedona and never saw the creek rise,” she said.

When they woke up Monday morning to pack up, a camp worker told them to keep their tents up because the bridge over Oak Creek was blocked by floodwater and debris.

Hooper said the water started receding for a time Monday, but not enough to make the bridge passable.

“We would walk back up every hour or so, and we could see that it was receding and receding, and we got a lot of rain again last night. And so, when we came down this morning, it was back up again,” she said.

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