We left the gorge minutes before you began filming. We were the last ones to get out before the road washed away. We have been wondering for weeks what it looked like where we had been. Thank you for sharing.

"we didn't get a chance to check the weather report" is really another way of saying "we were not responsible enough to take the 3 minutes it takes to check the weather report"

😳 you had plenty of time to get out instead of staying under the awning. I’ve been in flash floods in a Corolla, van and patriot. User error. Even with no cell service. First rain drop in back country desert you leave fast. Like NASCAR fast. Glad y’all made it out and kids have awesome stories to tell

Telling that couple in the car that's floating by. " Hey! it's gonna get worse" was really comforting 😮

So glad you all got out safely! However, its sounds like at 6:40 your son says: "That's why they said don't hike when there are storms. But dad 's like this will be an adventure". If that is correct, then you were warned and chose to ignore the warning.

“Didn’t get a chance to check the weather report” - a great lesson to learn for all. There is always time to check the weather first.

As a long time Arizona resident who routinely makes use of the beautiful mountains and canyons of the southwest, this Utah resident knew better. I admire him shamelessly providing this video as a warning to others as he bears so much responsibility for that day’s situation having has endangered the wellbeing of his entire family.

Feels like the dude knew the weather forecast but wanted to test his vehicle while giving his sprogs the memory of a lifetime. Played a dangerous game.

This is a great video showing people just how dangerous flash floods in places like this really are. The one thing I would like to highlight to viewers though is one of the most important facts a visitor should know in an area like this one. Flash floods come from rain, but that _DOESN’T_ mean that they come from rain that you can see or that you even think could affect you. They can happen so far away from where you are that you can’t even tell there are storm clouds in the sky. I live in Arizona, and they’re so common around here that the state actually has a “stupid driver” law that states that if you cross a wash in a road and get yourself into trouble, you have to pay 100% of the rescue costs yourself because people constantly underestimate how dangerous flash flooding can be and what even a couple inches of water can do to you or a vehicle. Around here, we can get flash flooding across the desert from rain storms that happened 50-100 miles away in some cases. When it’s monsoon season in places where it’s normally very dry like this, pay attention to local alerts and warnings and do exactly what the authorities tell you to do. Bad weather in these places is extremely deadly if you do the wrong thing.

As a dad who drove my kids out through the camp fire, you did exactly what your kids needed. Be smart, improvise as needed, and remain calm. Yes the kids become a handful, and trying to manage their emotions is next to impossible, but showing them that you are calm and making wise decisions is what they need in getting through a “storm”. That’s being a leader! Thanks for sharing

You NEVER go hiking in the gorges WITHOUT checking for rain…. You sir are damn lucky you and your kids survived.

Sightseeing while on low-ground during intense rain. What a DA!

I was in the Gorge a couple weeks prior. For folks who may not be familiar with this territory and flash floods: 1) The first mistake was ignoring the rain and not immediately checking weather; 2) Second mistake after going through rain, not paying attention to the large sign at the top of the gorge warning folks about the weather, impassible road conditions,, not getting out ASAP; 4) At the first sign of water falling off cliffs...getting out at full speed. The entire emergency could have been avoided by following common travel rules in the desert canyons.

I've always been told that the moment it starts to rain in an area like this, you turn around and get out as soon as you can for this exact reason. This is crazy.

Multiple Darwin Award contenders right here.

What??? This is so stupid in so many ways?? Maybe it's an infomercial for the rescue services, because your family sure needed them!! Thanks to you! And they saved the day ❤️

Being Utahn, my husband and I are familiar with deserts and flash foods. He used to say, "you can stop fire with water but water is hard to stop. It finds it way through the path of least resistance." Our state is beautiful, with high mountains, lakes, valleys, deserts. Such diversity in our topography. Canyonlands, Zions, Bryce, Arches....all are amazing places into explore. I'm sure glad everyone made it out safely.

You and your wife staying calm had a huge influence on your children. Well done. So glad everyone was ok. Watching from New Zealand 🙂

What an amazing video. My mom and I went to Capitol Reef as part of a 10-day road trip across Utah and back in 2017. We had originally planned to stay much longer in the park, but then we got a rainy weather update. We changed our plans _real_ quick. I'm glad you and your family got out safely!

“Flash floods help rejuvenate the landscape, but it’s best done without people present” had me cackling lmao

I was in Sri Lanka in the middle of the 2004 tsunami. 5 friends and I swam out, got onto a roof and survived. I know all too well what that crashing sound of a wall of water is, like a Boeing jet engine coming at you. Great filming and so glad you and your family made it out safely.

When I was a child growing up in Las Vegas, I witnessed an entire family attempt to cross a wash, and all 3 lost their lives. We had some major storms move through the Vegas valley earlier that afternoon. The water looked scary, and I remember my mom and Grandmother screaming for them to stop. What I witnessed was something that will forever remain in my mind. I cannot say it enough to anyone reading this... Never ever underestimate the power of water on a road. A few inches is all it takes to sweep your vehicle off the road. The man in this video did everything right and definitely kept his family safe. Make no mistake about it, one wrong move could have been fatal. On a side note, those kids got an incredible helicopter ride! Kudos to the pilot!

This footage is incredible! I drove through here a few months back (October 2022) and you can just tell looking at the geography that this is what would happen and that this is how these incredible mountains and gorges were formed. It's so cool to see it actually happening.

I try to warn tourists that even if it’s not raining where you are, those canyons can fill with water instantly… There really needs to be a program or psa to visitors or non-natives of Utah/Arizona because every year I read about some family disappearing in floods like these.

It’s amazing how the Dad stayed so calm and positive which kept the kids calm and knowing Dad has got this! I’m so glad you all are safe. Great job narrating and documenting this event!

Wow!!! I found this video while I’m preparing to take a trip to the area by myself for my 60th birthday.. I think I’ll be nervous every time it rains now! Thank you for sharing this experience. And thank you for letting us know everyone made it out safely. Your family doesn’t have any idea how fortunate they are to have your fast reactions! Thank you for your service as well.

Sorry for my bad english; I come from Germany and we visited this Canyon 5 days after your visit. We knew nothing from this flood and we drove to the upper parking place. The street was closed, we parked our car on this place and we hiked the tour. All of the time we heard and later seen the big work-cars, which clean the street. And we asked us - what happend here? Okay - we thot: May be it has rain the last day..... And now - after over 6 month, I found your movie here on YT and I was speechless.... Thanks for this movie and thanks for this information and warning. I wich your and your family all the best

This dude is quite possibly the biggest dork on KZfaq.

The waterfalls over the gorge would have concerned me, but not living in this type of geography I never would have expected this. If I ever find myself in this type of area I’ll remember this. Thank you for uploading this and I’m glad your family is safe. Also I’m buying a winch.

Glad everyone was ok. It was definitely best case scenario for you guys. The truck isn't any worse for wear, the family got a helicopter ride, and you have an amazing story with video to go with it

Literally learn these lessons as a teenager myself not a grown man I would never take my family into a situation like this.

This is the second time watching. What an abnormal experience. I would not have been as calm as you. You & the other survivors are blessed.

So glad you were all okay. Your kids will never forget this, and they will tell it to their own children. I love how excited they were to see you.

As an Australian looking at this, I had a similar experience on the MacDonald River near Woolbrook NSW. We were down camping near the river and thought as we saw some weather in the south east of my camp site I should check up on my weather apps. I found a very dense local system over the ranges. I made the decision then and there to pack up and move to higher ground. Making the move with only minutes to spare, because as we got my vehicle and trailer back up onto the dirt road above my site, a wall of water came through our camp site. A close call and a look between my girl and I said it all. Note, there wasn’t any rain where I was, later, however the rain came.

This is absolutely terrifying- thank God you and your family were ok 🙏 Thank you for sharing this as I certainly had no idea how quickly flash flood could happen where you wouldn’t think and with not ‘that much’ rain.. hopefully everyone made it ok.. the people in the car floating by.. omg 😔

This is better than any movie. So glad to see the joy in the kids to have you back.

"Hey honey, lets take the kids to the canyon today! It'll be fun!" The contrast between living through what happened and the joy of the kids seeing their Dad was huge. So glad everyone made it out of that safely! Excellent job filming when you could have been falling apart!

I lived in the Southwest for over 25 years, you never go into the mountains or gorges without checking the weather first. Also, it may not be raining where you are, but further up the mountain it is raining. Flash floods happen often and people need to be more aware. My family was on their way camping in 1976 in the mountains and if it had not been for the 2 hitchhikers I insisted my husband pick up we would not be alive today. We dropped them off at their campsite on the opposite side of the mountain we were headed to and while visiting with them it started to rain. It was raining hard and I told my husband, forget camping, let's go home, and we did. That was the night of the Big Thompson Flood that killed over 144 people. Never mess with the mountains in the Southwest, always know what the weather will be. We were new to the area and never thought to check the weather.

Volcanic and, like here, eroded landscapes are the most beautiful ones. However, beauty always comes at a price sooner or later. It was nice to see how calm you were and how fast and effective the rescuers were even in these remote areas.

17:36 - The realization that you almost killed your family by not preparing ahead of time. No satellite comms, no radio, no jack, no traction boards, no weather info. I'm glad your and your family are alive. This is a good learning opportunity for everyone.

Most people don't realize that the ground around gorges, and places like that, are extremely hard from baking in the sun for weeks and months. When a rainstorm comes in it's like rain falling on concrete. It will not soak in. I am glad to hear you and your family are safe. Hope everyone was as well.

This should be a lesson to everyone: pay attention to weather forecasts and, more importantly, the weather you can see when you’re out. Especially in places like this. Dark storm clouds aren’t “normal” here. You’re incredibly lucky you and your family is safe.

I was there grey journey..we stayed thankfully..great video I got quite a few myself..went back last year..both our Kids got one hell of a story

I used to live in Red Rock Canyon, CA off of Hwy 14, flash floods were a common occurrence. So glad y’all are safe and show others how dangerous the desert can be. Love the fact we had lots of heavy equipment, road graders, front end loaders, tractors, etc. made the desert so much fun to explore. Especially anything with hydraulic suspension. LOL

Most men wouldn't share such a story of their mistakes. It takes humility and a willingness to share. Thanks for choosing to do so. I could spout truisms about safety in the desert but that isn't needed here. Your video sends the message loud and clear! I'm grateful you all made it out safely. Your calmness and love for your family stand out through the whole ordeal.

When that couple in their car came washing down I nearly cried. Im so glad theyre ok! That was a harrowing experience. Im sure it was gut wrenching for you guys.

What a nice family! Being raised by smart, good hearted parents. Congratulations on keeping cool everybody, and lucky to have a dad who has military experience! God blessed you big time! I have driven past Capital Reef, but never had a chance to go in. Beautiful scenery!

Great video! But wow what a great dad! So wholesome! Love that you documented everything even in a stressful situation. Glad everyone had some adventure and got out safe.

This is the greatest video ever showing the incredible incompetence of many many people who think they know what they are doing but lack the skill to critical thinking about dangerous situation . This video is one of the best to show what not to do by the book … Starting with not checking the weather , not having proper equipment for truck emergency’s ,Not having knowledge of local conditions during weather and the best is having A COMPLETE LACK IF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS …. A Darwin Award for this person and every other person who travelled with no critical thinking …thank God his family is safe and not lost because of his demonstrated lack of awareness …

I cannot believe how unprepared people ate going into the wild. Know before you go pack for worst case scenario, glad you put this up to show people how mistakes can have very deadly consequences

Am glad you and your family came out safe and sound. Kids are so happy to see you at the end. Great video.

I’m in this area now August 2023 and so glad I saw your video ahead of the flood warnings & Hilary. I’m not from this area and was researching. Thank you!

From my experiences as both hiking and climbing in Colorado,you even see any water coming over the cliffs you get out as fast as you can. Because it's not only water coming down,it could be the whole cliff following next. Rockfalls are enough of a horror,but with a storm you don't see it coming sometimes until it's too late and it kills you. So happy you got out alive,and thank you for showing this adventure!

The smiles on your kid's faces when they saw you at the hotel were simply beautiful. The love you kids have for you definitely showed there! Great video and I'm glad your family made it out safely!

Thank you for sharing! So glad you and your family made it out safely! What an experience your kids had!

UHP Star 9 has some of the best pilots in the state. They pull off some amazing rescues in the canyons out here. Glad they got you guys.

In 2013 my wife and I were caught in a flash flood while hiking the Grand Canyon north rim to south rim in a day. Fortuitously, we took a break at the bottom of the Bright Angel trail at the Pipe Creek Rest Shelter to wait out some rain only to have a large flash flood come roaring down the canyon that the trail goes through. We were stranded in the shelter for several hours before waters began to subside and we could “safely” ford the numerous remaining water crossings as we headed up trail. We could’ve easily been killed if we had kept hiking and happened to be in tight side canyon up-trail when the flood came through. That ended up being a 20-hour day with a death-defying experience thrown in.

Wow, I've heard about flash floods and seen some on YT, but yours is outstanding. Your editing and articulate speech are quality parts of this story. The family got a once in a life time experience (including helo ride) and thank God everyone was ok; the kids have a memory that will be a part of them forever. Thanks for the front row seat. God Blessed you all.

Unbelievable. Thank you for sharing. So blessed to be safe as a family.

The moment when your kids saw you at the motel brought back so many memories from when my two sons were that age. Y ou have a great family, enjoy these years when they are still kids because they grow up so fast. Glad yall got out safe and with such an exciting story to remember.

Glad y'all made it out fine. I can't imagine how helpless you felt when the car floated by you and crashed into the canyon wall. Also, thanks for letting us know that they were rescued. I'm sorry that your family had to experience this but I thank you for sharing your video.

Just watched this for a second time. Here in New Zealand most tramping/hiking deaths occur from drowning. We don't have flash floods in the same was as Arizona does, but rivers can rise very quickly, and have incredible power. The rule is if you can hear the rocks rumbling, you don't cross. The rivers subside as quickly as they rise, and waiting sure beats drowning.

Wow! The canyons and the flooding and the cars going downstream and the helicopter!!! What an adventure! Utah is amazing!

My wife and I were there about 10 days later and heard the tale from the rangers. It was amazing to see your video. I am glad you were all safe.

Glad you posted this and showed the importance of safety and flash flood warnings. Great dad! Beautiful family! They will surely remember this forever!

2/2/2024 ...sir, you and your beautiful family are SO blessed. Thank you for sharing your experience. Lessons from your experience may very well save lives.

The west is stunningly beautiful and it doesn't take long for things to turn innocently dangerous VERY QUICKLY. Your quick decisions made the difference for you & your family. It'll be a experience your family will remember the rest of ur lives. There's truth in the statement "you dont mess with mother nature" but you only realize that after experiencing a situation like that. I've lived thru some knarly unbelievable situations caused by mother nature on both coasts of the US. That's definitely an experience your family will remember! Thank you for sharing this, just telling the story wouldn't have as much impact as showing it. It's a beautifully dangerous land out here.

You guys will never forget this trip, your cool head and quick thinking really made the difference for all of you. You could not script this video ! Thank you for your military service to America !

I'm in New Zealand and found myself watching every moment on the edge of my seat, I've never seen a flash flood in real life and watching you with your family on that buitiful day laughing and injoying life . To see how quickly things like this can happen and through the grace of God your driveing skills saved your lives . There's no doubt that if you had gotten deeper into the narrow part you mentioned your family and yourself may well be telling a very different story . That bush and your reverseing skills saved your family !!! I have no doubt . The way that car was floating down ... My friend , You saved your kids lives !!! My father and friend resently tryed a simple river crossing going gold prospecting . A Toyota Hilux ,. It just started floating down stream , my dad's friend left it in gear and running got out and tryed to get quite big rocks under the wheels. His idea worked !!! Dad was 76 and unable to help other than reach over and turn the steering.. It would be the most terrible sorrow to lose any family member on a special day . Your a real hero . You definitely saved your family's lives. GOD bless you and your loved ones and thank you for the reminder of how important family are .

Happy that your family's safe. Thanks for the anxiety warning, that was intense. Here's to staying dry! Cheers

I saw this a year ago, and just had to see it again. Having been to Capital Gorge, it made it all the more heart stopping. Also, I'm a sucker for a happy ending. Even though it was a close shave, you have to praise God for higher ground, and the good sense to use it.

Traumatic, especially seeing that poor lady float by in that car. Really admire dad's calm approach and knowhow of getting out of that situation. I would probably have panicked. Beautiful family. Congratulations on saving everyone in your family. I know you are proud of all of them.

I used to take my ford focus wagon into unbelievable places here in Alberta and I found that if you take an incline on a diagonal you always have one tire or two pushing and you don't get high centered. Driving on the high spots between the ruts helps too. Glad you made it out unscathed (and all the other people too). SAR people are amazing and deserve all the praise they get.

Rain or shine, wet or dry, the beauty of this place is ASTOUNDING. Capitol Reef National Park and Natural Bridges National Monument are two sparsely-visited, beautiful parks to visit to escape the crowds of Zion and Bryce!! 💥

You are very blessed as it was no accident that you stopped when you did. I do believe that there is divine intervention. Safe travels to you and your family.

God bless the park staff for always giving everything they have. Those are incredible people!!

That was incredible. Those poor people floating down the river of mud. I felt so bad for them I can only imagine how they felt. Thank God everyone made it out. You have a wonderful family sir. Thank God you backed up that berm and didn’t try to go on. Again what an incredible video and experience for you all.

What a memorable trip for family! Thank goodness everyone made it out!

Glad you made it out safely! We were in capital reef about a week after you (different area than you were at) and we got stuck in a rainstorm and had to find high ground. We ended up on the burr trail switchbacks with waterfalls all around us. I have a few videos on my channel.

I'm glad you and your family were OK. A cautionary tale for people like us who have explored these areas over the years--without even 4-W drive. Kudos for managing that maneuver and saving your family. I had doubts about that "island" during the video.

I lived in that area as a child, and have been coming back on a regular basis for decades since. I've been through numerous of those flash floods and had to wait a day or two to get back out a couple times. Remember they come on fast, sometimes when you aren't even where it's raining. When you see the water coming off the cliffs like that it's time to immediately find high ground and just give it time. You might not get a flash flood, but if you do!!!! The other thing people don't think of is how much erosion takes place at an amazingly fast rate. I've seen the washes deepen by over 10 feet with a single event, and rockfalls and mudslides coming down off the high ground happens a lot too. There's all sorts of stuff you have to watch out for. It's amazing everyone made it out okay, especially the folks floating downstream in the car. That almost ended badly right in front of you. I can only imagine what it was like to watch that and not be able to help. Great job on the video, well done, and hopefully people heading to the area will know what to watch out for enabling them to make as good of choices as possible should they get in a similar situation. Well done

In my late teens I got to see a flash flood in the desert and I never lost my respect for how fast and powerfully a dry bed can change

Wowza! Probably one of the best videos I’ve watched so far this year..I’m glad everyone made it out safe..blessings

To see the face of your daughter as she hugged you when you returned was priceless. A great video and you managed it with out a swear word !

I'm just glad that those people lived. If the last thing they saw on this earth was someone standing there recording them in their final moments then that would have been truly awful.

Capitol Reef is a gorgeous jewel of the US. I'm glad you were able to have an adventure that you survived.

Thank you for sharing your experience. Glad your family made it out safely and hope you learned from the experience. Loved your adventurous and optimistic outlook.

This is one of the most raw and real videos I have ever seen. Two weeks ago we got a flat tire on a remote mountain pass. After changing the trailer tire we decided returning the way we came was safer instead of risking another flat because it was shortest distance to pavement. Making choices for family safety on these cases is the way to go. This video should be played at the visitor center.

My heart goes out to those workers and volunteers who were "Johnny on the spot" for your family! They cared not for their own safety and rescued EVERYONE from what could have been a disaster of life loss!

I had to make my family watch this, so I appreciate you uploading it. Now they understand why I spend so much time and money preparing our Jeep Wrangler for things exactly like this! I never go anywhere without my Hi-Lift Jack... RLTW

OMG a day you will never ever forget! Thank god you all are safe!

10/10 for the way you handled this. Very calm, kept kids calm, everything under control.

Great to hear that you are all safe. I live in Utah and I have been told so many times in southern Utah it can rain miles away but still flash flood where you are with no clouds that are visible. Thank you for sharing your story so maybe others will be aware of what could happen.

Even getting stuck, you did the right thing pulling onto high ground. After seeing this, I will check the weather report locally and upstream every time I visit the canyons.

Thank you for sharing this! So glad you guys are ok.

This is like a short movie. I think you should get an awards for this footage.

I was there three weeks prior to this event taking place. Walking in such a narrow space, having nowhere to escape in a flash flood terrified me as I walked in the dried up riverbed. Three weeks later, that exact thought became reality. Thankfully you guys made it out ok, stay safe out there.

Beautiful family So happy to see you all united back again

Thank you for taking the time to make this video! Such a great warning as to what can happen in a very short time when exploring in the south west. Grateful that you and your darling family made it out !

So much respect to the people that put themselves in harm's way to save people. So thankful no lives were lost.