Why Grand Canyon National Park Is Considered One Of The Deadliest In The US

As one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon is definitely a bucket list American national park, bringing in around 5 million visitors a year. However, one thing you may not know about the Grand Canyon is that it is also considered to be one of the most dangerous national parks in the United States. There are a few reasons for this, but the biggest one is the sheer number of people who have died or gone missing inside the park. In fact, the New York Post ranked the Grand Canyon as the deadliest in the country between 2018 and 2023. As a result of these dangers, an average of around 12 people die at this national park every year.

On top of this, when looking at various metrics including the number of total deaths, missing people, search and rescue missions, trail closures, park rangers, visitors per year, and the distance from the hospital, KÜHL ranked the Grand Canyon as the second most-dangerous national park in the United States below only the ultra-remote Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve in Alaska. So, what makes this beautiful geological wonder so deadly?

To dig deeper into the reasons behind so many deaths occurring at the Grand Canyon, it is important to look at the most common causes. Excluding deaths from helicopter and airplane accidents, the most common non-health-related cause of death in the Grand Canyon is falling from a ledge either inside the canyon or from the rim. It can be easy to miss how close to the edge you are — especially if you're too preoccupied with the view. Furthermore, some travelers tend not to take the ledge seriously and, excited by checking off one of their bucket list items, take bigger risks than they should when visiting. However, that being said, there have only been two confirmed deaths caused by risky selfies. The rest seems to be from accidental slips or death by suicide.

After falling, the next biggest cause of death at the Grand Canyon is a mixture of environmental reasons. Specifically, issues like dehydration, starvation, and heart attacks while hiking, as well as flash floods, lightning, and other inclement weather are to blame. As noted by National Park Service search and rescue agent Ken Phillips in an interview with the New York Post, "Peak visitation at Grand Canyon occurs in the summer months ... So, the highest number of visitors are coming to the park at the hottest time of year." 

Unfortunately, many people who visit the Grand Canyon to hike are simply unprepared for the extreme difficulty and environmental factors of hiking on what are basically steep and strenuous desert trails. It's partially for this reason that the NPS has to perform around 250 search and rescues for lost or struggling hikers each year. So, how can you make sure to stay safe while adventuring in this beautiful place?

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org

There are a few things that go into having a safe adventure at the Grand Canyon. The first is simply taking your safety seriously and avoiding walking along any ledges or venturing off trail. It is essential to know where the edge is at all times when on the canyon's rim and pay attention to the signs and symptoms of altitude sickness, since the South Rim of Grand Canyon is 7,000 feet above sea level and the North Rim is even higher at 8,000 feet. It's also important to refrain from throwing anything over the edge of the canyon as falling objects can injure hikers below and even start landslides.

Furthermore, instead of thinking of the Grand Canyon as, well, a canyon, it is more accurate to think of it like an inverted mountain. Similar to how you would have to research and prepare for summiting a mountain, you will need to research and prepare a detailed plan for hiking down into the canyon and back out again. As a general rule, you should always have around half a liter to one liter of water per hour you plan to spend walking. You will also want to stay on top of weather reports as extreme temperatures at the bottom of the canyon can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Furthermore, rain in any part of the canyon upriver can lead to dangerous flash floods downriver. If you are unsure of the conditions on the trail, it's a good idea to seek out a ranger at the visitors center and ask for more information before getting started.