Overview

More than 600 tourists have died in the park during its history.

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Overview Details

More than 600 people have died in Grand Canyon National Park since the first tourists began arriving in the 1880s. Falls and the intense heat conditions in the canyon are responsible for most deaths, although flash floods, drowning, crashing aircraft, murders, and suicides also add to the toll. Each year, more than 250 people -- including experienced hikers -- need to be rescued from the canyon. A surprising number of people have died over the years because they got too close to the edge of the canyon and fell off, frequently while trying to take photographs. Interestingly, such deaths are less common among children, who perhaps instinctively recognize the danger of such maneuvers better than adults. The Grand Canyon is a desert, where water and shade are scarce and inner-canyon temperatures can reach 120 degrees. Too many people try to hike down into the canyon without sufficient water or respect for the steepness of the trail or the harshness of the environment, despite frequent warnings from park rangers. Heat stroke and dehydration can be rapid and fatal in the canyon, but it's not just the sun you need to prepare for: hypothermia also is a threat to those who don't fail to anticipate rapid temperature changes in the desert, especially at night and in the winter. Even reaching the waters of the Colorado River is no guarantee of safety: the river runs swift and cold, and park visitors who fail to heed warnings to stay out of the water can easily drown. Sudden storms can bring flash floods to normally dry areas, with sometimes fatal consequences.

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