Two die in national park accident becoming more common

Emergency workers responded to an accident near Inspiration Point on April 29.

Apr 30, 2025 - 23:23

Two die in national park accident becoming more common

While the 63 national parks dotted throughout the U.S. have continued to enthral generations of visitors, remote nature also poses a multitude of dangers to those who overestimate their capabilities or simply run into a stroke of bad luck.

Common causes of injury at national parks include everything from animal attacks and heat exposure to drownings and cliff falls.

The latter is particularly common in parks known for their caverns and caves. In 2024, some of the most horrific accidents at Arizona’s Grand Canyon included 20-year-old Abel Joseph Mejia’s fall from Pipe Creek Overlook — many visitors come to the overlook for scenic views of the canyon — and Missouri resident Justin Guthrie, who attempted a BASE jump from Yavapai Point and plummeted to his death.

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Couple visiting Bryce Canyon falls to death from cliff overpass

“Falls from cliffs on trails have resulted in death,“ park authorities for Zion, another national park known for its cave and cliff formations, writes on its warning page. “Loose sand or pebbles on stone are very slippery. Be careful when using cameras or binoculars. Never throw or roll rocks. There may be hikers below you.”

A recent accident occurred at some point on April 28 or 29; on Tuesday afternoon, park authorities for Bryce Canyon in Utah reported that they found two bodies below the Inspiration Point overpass on the northwestern side of the park shortly before 2 p.m. local time.

The national park is known for hoodoos, spiral-like rock formations in orange, yellow, and white colors and the natural amphitheaters created in the Paunsaugunt Plateau.

An investigation into the death of the couple is currently ongoing while a spokesperson for Garfield County Sheriff’s Office said that the fall of approximately 380 feet from a cliff edge likely occurred on Monday night or Tuesday morning.

The office also said that the couple, a man and a woman, were “currently unhoused.” With their last recorded residence in Florida, they were traveling through Utah in a U-Haul truck.

Grand Canyon is another national park that sees regular accidents from cliff falls.
Image source: Shutterstock

‘Use caution, don’t exceed your skill level,’ NPS warns

While the report is scant on further details amid the investigation, the spokesperson said that they likely crossed over the safety railing by the overpass.

Upon discovering the couple’s bodies after being alerted about them by parkgoers, emergency response workers lifted them out of the canyon by helicopter.

More on national parks:

Between 2007 and 2024, the NPS reported 4,213 deaths at national parks across the country. Parks with cliffs and canyons saw a larger percentage of this number than those without them, as slipping and falling occurs much more frequently compared to other dangers. While in other parks, a slip could result at worst in a minor injury, but the presence of cliffs creates the potential for a much more serious outcome.

Grand Canyon and Yosemite saw the highest number of fatalities during the same time period.

“Use caution, don’t exceed your skill level, and always observe and obey signs and safety measures like railings,” the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office statement further says. “We want everyone to return home safely.”