Harrowing and Fascinating First-Hand Account of June’s Capitol Gorge Flood

On June 23rd, parts of Utah’s Capitol Reef National Park received an inch of rain in an hour as a massive summer storm pummeled the area. At Capitol Gorge, tourists fled for their lives when rising waters consumed the dirt road to the trailhead.

One visitor recorded his experience and it’s a must-watch. From a dry day to waterfalls shooting out and over the cliff walls hundreds of feet above their heads like water cannons. The man who filmed this barely got his family to high ground in time to escape the worst of the flood — at one point he filmed a car floating down the muddy rapids with occupants still inside.

That part is tough to watch, but they lived. No fatalities were recorded in the flood, shocking when you watch the video.