The recent deaths of three hikers in Grand Canyon National Park has prompted the National Park Service to remind park-goers of safety precautions.
Park rangers and emergency personnel responded to three separate heat-related illness incidents on June 12 involving a 72-year-old male and on June 16 involving a 67-year-old male and 68-year-old female. In both incidents, the hikers were on trails in the Inner Canyon, where midday temperatures can surpass 109 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade. The hikers were found deceased when responders arrived.
“Hiking in Grand Canyon can be a challenge for anyone, especially during the heat of summer,” the National Park Service said in a June 19 news release. “The recent increase in heat-related incidents comes as summer temperatures in the Inner Canyon have reached dangerous levels, creating conditions that can quickly overwhelm hikers during the hottest parts of the day.”
How Dangerous Are National Parks?
Located in Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park is among the most visited national parks, and it’s considered the second-most dangerous, according to the U.S. National Parks Safety Index, a 2024 analysis of National Park Service data by outdoor clothing company Kühl.
While it’s important for visitors to keep safety in mind as they plan their visit, measuring the danger of a national park is not clear-cut, especially using death statistics. NPS’ own mortality data dashboard shows 103 deaths in the Grand Canyon between 2014 and 2019. However, some of those were unrelated to the parks themselves, and still represent just a tiny fraction of the millions of people who visit the parks annually.
In 2019, the NPS mortality rate across its more than 420 sites was 0.11 deaths per 100,000 recreational visits — “very low” compared to the overall U.S. rate of 715 deaths per 100,000 people annually, according to the dashboard. While park conditions can often be dangerous, from high heat to landslides, the key to a safe national park visit is being well-informed and prepared.
Most ‘Dangerous’ National Parks
Kühl’s analysis was based on seven criteria, including total deaths, missing people, search and rescue missions, park ranger presence, proximity to hospitals, trail alerts, and visitor data from National Park Service websites and Google Maps.
Here are the most “dangerous” national parks, according to the ranking:
- Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska
- Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
- Isle Royale National Park, Michigan
- Big Bend National Park, Texas
- Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska
But ultimately, what makes a national park more or less safe for your visit can’t be boiled down to a formula. Park conditions change constantly, and visitors’ choice of activities and level of preparedness are big factors in determining risk. An activity that may seem leisurely, such as swimming in a river, could turn dangerous if someone encounters an unexpected rip current.
“There’s risk everywhere,” Ina Hysi, an injury prevention specialist for the NPS, previously told USA TODAY. “What’s the most dangerous park? That’s the wrong question to ask. The question is, how can I plan and prepare a safe and amazing adventure to a national park?”
National Park Safety Tips
Planning ahead and being as prepared as possible are crucial to having a safe and enjoyable visit to a national park. The NPS offers various resources to help you plan.
“Visitor safety is a shared responsibility,” Jennifer Proctor, the branch chief for the NPS’s public risk management program, previously told USA TODAY. “We really want our visitors to have a fulfilling experience. … Each one of those experiences may come with hazards they have to prepare and manage while they’re recreating.”
Here are some tips for a safe national park visit:
- Do your research. Online resources like the NPS Trip Planning Guide, Outdoor Emergency Plan, and informative websites for each park can help you know what to expect and what gear to pack.
- Know your limits. Many incidents occur when people push past their limits or are under-prepared for activities considered “low risk.”
- Stay updated. As your visit gets closer, follow the park’s social media accounts for the latest conditions. When you arrive, stop by the visitor center or a park ranger station for current information.
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