With over 21,000 miles of trails stretching across the country’s 63 national parks, visitors from across the country and around the world have traveled to different ones in order to experience ecosystems that, in many cases, cannot be found anywhere else.
The 3.2-mile loop between Precipice and North Ridge Trails at Acadia offers head-spinning views of cliffs and rock formations on one end and the Atlantic Ocean on the other, while Zion National Park attracts those looking for both deserts and numerous types of woodlands.
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A man is seen taking a photograph at a national park. A hiker fell to his death at Zion National Park in Utah on Feb. 2.
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Search and rescue ‘assisted with recovery efforts’, NPS says
But the further one ventures into nature and away from designated trails, the more one risks making a misstep that can lead to accident or even death arise.
According to National Park Service (NPS) data, slips and falls make up the third most-common cause of deaths at national parks while, not accounting for the motor vehicle crashes that can arise from driving, hiking is the activity with the most fatal death rate.
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Running counter to the general trend that accident numbers tend to spike in the warmer months, one hiker at Utah’s Zion National Park fell to his death on Feb. 2 after what was likely a misstep on a cliff at the park’s Canyon Overlook Trail.
According to the report from the NPS and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, responders received a call of a fall at approximately 7:15 a.m. on Sunday and arrived to find the 37-year-old man “beyond help” by 7:40 a.m.
“The Zion National Park Technical Search and Rescue Team assisted with recovery efforts, and the hiker’s remains were transferred to the Washington County Medical Examiner for further examination,” the NPS wrote in a statement. “The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the exact cause of the man’s death.”
These other national park falls have led to tragic outcomes
With the ongoing investigation, neither the man’s identity nor further details about how the fall occurred have been released.
In July 2024, a 20-year-old visitor to Grand Canyon from New Mexico fell to her death after accidentally getting too close to the edge at the Twin Overlooks viewing area.
A month later, in August, another college student died after falling 400 feet at the Grand Canyon’s Pipe Creek Overlook. The overpass has a steep ledge but is particularly popular among tourists for scenic views and photographs of the canyon.
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Due to its multiple cliffs, Zion also sees higher numbers of accidents caused by slips and falls. While staying on designated trails is always strongly recommended, going off when there is official “Stay On Trail” signage also violates the park’s policies and federal law.
On top of putting themselves at risk of accidents, parkgoers who have attempted this in the past found themselves facing park bans and in some cases even criminal charges.
“Falls from cliffs on trails have resulted in death. Loose sand or pebbles on stone are very slippery,” the NPS writes in its safety guide to the park. “Be careful of edges when using cameras or binoculars. Never throw or roll rocks. There may be hikers below you.”
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