{"id":23853,"date":"2026-02-01T16:30:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-01T23:30:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.psbr.law\/nevada\/?p=23853"},"modified":"2026-03-03T14:35:50","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T21:35:50","slug":"deaths-in-us-national-parks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.panish.law\/nevada\/deaths-in-us-national-parks\/","title":{"rendered":"The Most Dangerous U.S. National Parks"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"nationalOn April 29, 2025, two people\u201445-year-old Matthew Nannen and 58-year-old Bailee Crane\u2014died after falling from a viewing area at Bryce Canyon National Park in southern Utah, authorities said.<\/p>\n

A seemingly ordinary hike in Death Valley National Park turned tragic on April 5th<\/a>. A 66-year-old Gig Harbor, Washington man lost his life about a mile up the Mosaic Canyon Trail, apparently struck down by a sudden medical emergency.<\/p>\n

There was a string of accidents in Grand Canyon National Park in 2019<\/a>, involving multiple people falling to their deaths.<\/p>\n

These reports – and others like them – led us to wonder:<\/p>\n

How and how often do people die in America\u2019s National Parks?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Which National Parks frequently have the most deaths?<\/strong><\/p>\n

We analyzed data from the National Parks Service (obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request) and found that thousands of people have died at U.S. National Parks since 2007.<\/p>\n

In conjunction with data visualization agency 1Point21 Interactive<\/a>, we analyzed the data and found the answer.<\/p>\n

How often do people die in National Parks?<\/h2>\n

From 2007 to 2024, there were a total of 4,213 deaths at a U.S. National Parks site<\/strong>.\u00a0 While nearly 4,500 deaths is a very high number, it is spread across 17 years and hundreds of sites in the U.S. National Park system.<\/p>\n

Additionally, there were over 5 billion recreation visits to National Parks during that time frame. That equates to just under 8 deaths per 10 million visits to park sites<\/strong> during that time frame.<\/p>\n

We feel that it is important to say that, based on our data, visiting U.S National Parks is very safe overall. However, this analysis is driven by curiosity, so we carry on.<\/p>\n

National Park Deaths: Who and How?<\/h2>\n

People of all ages and all walks of life visit our nation’s national parks. Yet men make up a disproportionate number of national park deaths, accounting for 83 percent of total fatalities.<\/p>\n

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\nHowever, deaths are relatively evenly distributed among adult age ranges, with adults age 65+ leading the way at 19 percent<\/strong>.\u00a0 Thankful, children make up a very small portion of fatalities, with 103 deaths among children age 14 and under (3 percent).
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\nDrowning (826 deaths) is the Leading Cause of Death at national parks and national recreation areas.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Drowning is followed by motor vehicle crashes<\/a> (725 deaths), medical events (643), suicide (563), undetermined (544), and falls and slips<\/a> (478).<\/p>\n

Interestingly, despite the abundance of wildlife at national parks, only ten people were killed by wild animals.<\/p>\n

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The number of car accidents<\/a> may seem fairly high, but it makes sense, given the rural and scenic nature of most of these sites. Rural locations may empower drivers to exhibit more reckless habits with driving, such as not wearing seatbelts, speeding, distracted driving, and even driving under the influence.<\/p>\n

Further, scenic national parks usually have twisting, winding roads through mountains that can be difficult to navigate even for the most competent drivers. The potential for a crash into a tree or another vehicle \u2013 or even to careen off the road \u2013 is very real.<\/p>\n

Which National Park Are you Most Likely to Die at?<\/h2>\n