Zion, Utah
Utah’s beauty also has hidden dangers inside that extraordinary magnificence. There are dozens of beautiful trails in Zion National Park, each with a spectacular view.
But, while many easy or modest trails are ideal for families with children or first-time hikers, many are tough, with cliff faces and drop-offs that can become dangerous at any moment. Before embarking on a hike, it’s vital to understand the risks associated with the trail you choose.
This is why you see Zion National Park on our list of the most dangerous National Parks in the US, with incidents ranging from drownings and accidental falls. Over the years, there have been quite a few accidental deaths, but cliffs are the primary cause.
In fact, cliffs were responsible for 22 of the 43 deaths over the last decade. Despite covering about 220 square miles, most of this national park’s trails are vertical, not horizontal. Several trails leave climbers climbing almost straight up, with some cliffs rising over 2,000 feet.
At the summit, you’ll find yourself cramming through narrow moves above the valley below. But even a simple trail can become highly hazardous to rolled ankles or journeys on rocky surfaces. Add some height to that, and you’re unexpectedly in a life-or-death situation.
Analysis Point, in particular, will leave you exhausted by the end of the hike, which has a 2,000-foot altitude. The sandstone ground is also often wet, especially near the edges. The Slot Canyons are also treacherous due to the possibility of unexpected flash floods.
…This makes us believe that this truly is one of the most dangerous national parks in the US!
32 Responses
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Thank you, your articles (statistics) are timely and very helpful. ❤
thank you this was very informative. this proves that research should be done before any type of adventure into the wilderness.
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This was a great, informative article. I have visited all of the listed parks, except Denali. I was lucky enough to have visited before they got so crowded…about 65 yrs ago.
I could walk out the front door and be struck by lightning or have a tree fall on me not very likely though.
Stupi stupid stupid
I don’t need it
Hrnpft! Having been to each of the mentioned parks i would only say that the addition of a bit of common sense to the visit would reduce the probability of accident, injury or fatality to near zero.
You didn’t say anything about Mt Hood as there have been several deaths over the years. It’s the most popular mountain in the US.
Seems the biggest problem is the crowd. We are planning our trip in the spring before schools let out.
We’re planning an RV trip from California to DC. Our main concern is the weather going across the southern states in the spring.
Don’t forget the flesh-eating flying rattlesnakes!
Wow!! What’s the point of calling it an adventure then!? Hike daylight hours and “listen” to nature, keep your eyes open- in nature you should already be on alert of your surroundings and ALWAYS tell someone where you are, even just a general idea!! Nature is dangerous but so is walking out your front door every single day- you never know if someone is gonna shoot you snipe you stab you punch you kick you or if you’re going to be attacked by a racoon opposed cat or feral cat dog(s)- you just never know what’s going to happen- DON’T BE SCARED TO LIVE! We’re gonna die how we’re gonna die so I’m gonna go live my best life!!!
While living in Tacoma at Ft Lewis with my army involved husband, I decided to go to Mt. Rainier. Actually rode around the mountain. Sigh!
Yes all of this information was good to know especially if you love to go hiking and camping.
Over 46,000 people died from falls in the US in 2022. You don’t have to visit the Grand Canyon to die from a fall. This is banal clickbait.
Big Bend National Park, TX should be in this list. The extreme heat in the spring, summer and fall and the lack of humidity, cause a lot of deaths, search and rescue missions, and lots of needed assistance from the trails. There are black bears, mountain lions, bobcats, havelin’s, rattlesnakes and is right on the Rio Grande River with lots of illegal activities happening. When the river is high, there are river hazards. The landscape goes from the desert floor to the wooded Chiso’s mountains that have steep cliffs along the hiking trails. The lack of humidity and the failure to hydrate THE DAY BEFORE hiking in this over 800,000 acre park, has caused many deaths. Beautiful park, but very dangerous to those who do not prepare for the intense heat and lack of water and shade in a lot of the landscape.
The only way to view this article seems to be to download a junk program. Sorry, but I do not want to download something off a website. I can do without you.
I am interested in seeing
if I qualify for some
Food Stamps
Carolyn Reed–
l
Great information to know while traveling to the parks
Thanks
How can you have an undertow in a lake (Great Smoky Mountains National Park)?
This article discourages me from going to any of the parks mentioned here. I have been to a few of them but didn’t realize the dangers it was possible to encounter while enjoying these parks.
I can’t believe that the Grand Canyon piece didn’t mention that several people that camped there, on getting up at night walked over the rim and fell to their deaths.
what about the 411 guy?
BS “click-bait.”
A.J. from FL
Why in hell do you recommend Amazon? Don’t you know it is one of the reason we have inflation?
The problem; people! Thoroughly unprepared people. I live in South central Utah. There, because the area is all National Park, National Monument, National Forest, there are NO cell towers. That thing most ghetto people stair at constantly doesn’t work here. If you have car trouble you could die before being found. A satellite Locater is an absolute necessity here.
Long ago I noticed that great beauty and great danger can go together. Mountains, for example.
What about MT Lassen, in California? It, too, is a hibernating volcano. And it has hot ponds of sulfur, in some sections,
This was originally in my spam folder. I loved the article. I am glad that I read it and learned a lot. My worst fear about these national parks are coming into co tact with a bear or mountain lion. The trip and falls too. You def have to be careful when you venture out into one of these parks and do research before going , and have every sought if survival equipment in case anything bad should arise.
I loved reading this article. Thank you for sending it to me