The Grand Canyon is known for its breathtaking vistas and being one of the seven natural wonders of the world. A New York Post investigation recently found it is also the deadliest national park in the country, with the most number of missing persons in the nation.
According to the reporting, there have been at least six people found dead and 56 missing persons at Grand Canyon National Park from 2018 through February 2023. Visitors filed about 1,100 missing persons reports in that time as well. Most of those people were found.
A retired chief of emergency services at the Arizona park told the Post that people die from heat stroke, lightning, drowning on the river, suicides, accidental falls, air crashes and more. He estimated that during his time at the park, about 12 people died in the canyon every year. This number is vastly different from the numbers provided to the Post by the Department of the Interior.
“Park Rangers at Grand Canyon National Park strongly urge visitors, especially inner canyon hikers and backpackers, to be prepared for excessively hot days in the coming weeks,” read the statement. “In the summer months, temperatures on exposed parts of the trail can reach over 120 degrees in the shade. Park rangers do not advise hiking in the inner canyon between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. as most heat-related illnesses are from hikers on trail between these hours.”
“Park Rangers at Grand Canyon National Park strongly urge visitors, especially inner canyon hikers and backpackers, to be prepared for excessively hot days in the coming weeks,” read the statement. “In the summer months, temperatures on exposed parts of the trail can reach over 120 degrees in the shade. Park rangers do not advise hiking in the inner canyon between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. as most heat-related illnesses are from hikers on trail between these hours.”