8 dead in 6 weeks: Why summer 2024 at the Grand Canyon was the deadliest in years (2024)

On any given summer day, Grand Canyon National Park draws 17,000 to 18,000 visitors — roughly 500,000 to 600,000 people in a month, according to National Park Service visitation data — intrigued by the geological marvel that spans 277 miles along the Colorado River.

How they experience this wonder varies by the adventures they choose.

Some attempt to hike to the bottom of the Canyon via the South Rim's Bright Angel and South Kaibab trails, strenuous endeavors that can take at least four hours down — and an even more challenging hike back up, which can take at least seven to eight hours. (The National Park Service does not recommend hiking from the rim to the river and back in a single day.)

Others boat along the Colorado River — its waters a tropical turquoise or a chocolate brown, depending on how much sediment is in the water — where they’ll encounter major rapids along the way.

A handful of visitors don’t survive their adventures.

How many people died at Grand Canyon National Park in 2024?

It felt like more people were dying at Grand Canyon National Park than usual in the summer of 2024, with eight fatalities recorded between July 31 and Sept. 10. National Park Service statistics show 16 deaths in 2024 to date, an increase from 11 deaths recorded in all of 2023 but one short of the 10-year average of 17 deaths.

Only a tiny fraction of visitors die at the Grand Canyon. The number of fatalities pales in comparison to the number of visitors, which ranged from 4.5 million to 4.8 million each year from 2021-23. (Comparable full-year visitation statistics for 2024 are not yet available.)

But so many fatalities occurring all at once and through seemingly unrelated circumstances is unusual, Grand Canyon National Park spokeswoman Joelle Baird told The Arizona Republic.

“It’s unusual for us to have falls in quick succession," she said. "These two most recent drownings, both accidental in nature, involved Havasu Creek and the Colorado River. None of these are related, but we can look at them individually or in clusters. (And) there’s no rhyme or reason with the heat."

Grand Canyon National Park deaths since July 31

The Arizona Republic counted eight deaths at Grand Canyon National Park since July 31:

July 31: Abel Joseph Mejia, 20, of North Carolina, accidentally fell 400 feet from the Canyon rim near the Pipe Creek overlook on the South Rim.

Aug. 1: A man died while trying to execute a BASE jump, which involved parachuting, from the Yavapai Point overlook on the South Rim. BASE jumping is prohibited in the park.

Aug. 6: Park rangers recovered the body of 20-year-old Leticia Castillo, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, below Twin Overlooks near Desert View Drive on the South Rim. Her body was found about 150 feet below the rim about three days after she entered the park. No cause of death was given.

Aug. 22: Chenoa Nickerson, 33, of Gilbert, was reported missing after she was swept away by a flash flood near Havasu Falls on the Havasupai Reservation in the Canyon. The flooding stranded hundreds of tribal members and tourists, prompting a rescue effort from the Arizona National Guard. Nickerson was found dead three days later.

Aug. 25: An 80-year-old man fell into the Colorado River and drowned after his boat flipped near Fossil Rapid. The man received CPR after his body was recovered, but attempts to revive him failed.

Aug. 28: National Park Service search and rescue workers found the body of a man who was attempting to backpack solo from Thunder River to Deer Creek on the North Rim. Workers conducted their search after a family member told authorities the man had failed to check in with them.

Sept. 7: Patrick Horton, 59, of Colorado, was found dead near an area of the Colorado River called Pancho's Kitchen. Horton was on a multiple-day, private boating trip along the river.

Sept. 10: A 71-year-old man was found dead in the Colorado River a day after he went missing from his campsite about 53.5 miles downriver from Lees Ferry, the main launch point for Grand Canyon whitewater rafting trips.

The National Park Service and the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office are investigating the deaths.

What is the leading cause of death at the Grand Canyon?

A National Park Service database compiling recorded deaths at national parks from 2014-19 showed these were the most common causes of unintentional deaths at Grand Canyon National Park:

• Falls.
• Drowning.
• Unspecified environmental causes, such as extreme heat.
• Motor vehicle crashes.
• Poisoning.

Most recorded deaths occurred while hiking, according to the National Park Service.

Is 2024 a record year for deaths at the Grand Canyon?

With eight deaths in six weeks, Grand Canyon had recorded 16 fatalities in 2024 so far. Thirteen of the 16 deaths occurred between June and September and one was ruled a suicide, according to data provided by Grand Canyon National Park.

And it’s not just August that was deadly. Three people died at Grand Canyon between late June and early July, prompting park rangers to warn the public of the dangers of hiking in excessive heat.

"As you can see, summer has the highest fatality incident rate (not necessarily true of August solely)," Baird told The Republic in an email.

The tally of summer deaths made 2024 the deadliest year at the Canyon since 2021, when 23 people died. Grand Canyon recorded 13 deaths in 2020, 12 deaths in 2022 and 11 deaths in 2023, Baird said.

Data provided by the park showed 14 people died between June and September 2021, with four deaths occurring in August and three deaths ruled as suicides. These were just a few of the summer deaths that were investigated, based on statements from the park published in 2021:

• Search and rescue workers recovered the body of a woman who died while on a boating trip on the Colorado River.
• A man died after collapsing during a hike out of the Canyon via the South Kaibab Trail.
• Another man collapsed and died hiking out of the Canyon via Bright Angel Trail.
• A woman with a rafting group died in a flash flood near Tatahatso Camp on the Colorado River.
• A man was found dead days after abandoning his vehicle near the South Rim visitor center.

'They don't realize how intense this hike is'

Some of the deaths highlight how dangerous hiking in the Canyon can be in the heat of summer. Besides the difficulty of hiking up versus hiking down, the bottom of the Canyon is at least 20 degrees hotter than the top because of the lower elevation.

“Down is optional, but up is mandatory,” said Mindy Riesenberg, of the Grand Canyon Conservancy. “A lot of people forget it’s all climbing out. They don’t realize how intense this hike is.”

Not everyone who visits the Grand Canyon is prepared for what awaits them. And it's not just underestimating the intensity of a hike. Unpreparedness can also take the form of not wearing the right footwear or having enough water and salty snacks to keep up their energy levels.

Riesenberg is conscious of this reality. Her organization coordinates a group of trained Preventive Search and Rescue volunteers who monitor Grand Canyon’s trails. These rangers talk to hikers, ask where they’re going, and check if they’re wearing the right shoes and have enough water and snacks.

She describes Preventive Search and Rescue as “the first line of defense” protecting visitors from dying on their visits.

Preventive Search and Rescue is different from standard search and rescue, which is deployed after an incident. The National Park Service handles search and rescue operations at Grand Canyon National Park.

“Every year we have rescues in the Canyon, and some people are extremely prepared," Riesenberg said.

"It’s not just because it’s hot. There's a lot of mitigating factors. But some people don’t realize you need water, you need certain snacks and electrolytes. They’re volunteer rangers on the trail just chatting with you and making sure you’re OK."

Here's how dangerously hot it gets inside Grand Canyon

Hiking the Grand Canyon during the hottest part of a summer day can be dangerous.

Average temperatures on the South Rim range from 81 to 84 degrees from June to August, according to the National Park Service.

But inner Canyon temperatures can range from 101 to 106 degrees. In July 2024, temperatures in the inner Canyon ranged from 106 degrees at Havasupai Gardens to 112 degrees at Phantom Ranch.

The "tremendously hot" weather, as state climatologist Erinanne Saffell phrased it, was part of a pattern of unusually high temperatures throughout the Southwest, including Phoenix experiencing a record-breaking number of days with temperatures above 110 degrees.

"This has been going on since last year, where we’re looking at these ridges of high pressure, these heat waves," Saffell told The Republic.

"In June 2023 it was so much colder than normal (in the Grand Canyon),I was concerned the delay of the monsoon would happen and that was the case. ... We’ve had above average temperatures reaching the top echelons for most of the year. We got some relief with the winter precipitation, but it’s been exceptionally hot."

Some people aren't able to cool themselves down effectively, putting them at risk for heat illness. Older adults and young children are most vulnerable, and people might not be aware there also are risks from abnormally high temperatures at night, when temperatures typically are cooler, Saffell said.

"You can be at risk even if you're used to the heat," she said.

Is it safe to go to the Grand Canyon?

Your odds of dying at Grand Canyon are extremely low. But the weather can affect your safety.

The summer is when Grand Canyon sees the most visitors and the hottest temperatures. Park rangers advise summer visitors to avoid hiking between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. because of extreme heat risks.

Winter weather can pose hazards as well. Cold-weather visitors should dress in layers, wear a hat and gloves and prepare for icy trails and walkways by wearing over-the-shoe traction devices and using hiking poles.

Driving conditions in the winter, including snowy and icy roads, increase the risk of accidents. Slow down and drive carefully. You can check for road condition updates by calling 928-628-7496.

How do you stay safe at the Grand Canyon?

Park rangers offer these tips for keeping safe at Grand Canyon:

• Wear sunblock and a hat, drink water and/or electrolyte drinks and take your time and rest often when hiking in summer.
• Check the weather ahead of time and be mindful of excess heat and the potential for rain or lightning. Grand Canyon's website provides updates on the daily heat risk.
• Carry as much water as you'll need for your trek. Potable water may not be available along your route. Bring a water filter or water treatment drops on extended trips. Do not drink untreated water.
• Call 911 in an emergency, but know that your phone may not work everywhere.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached atMichael.Salerno@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@salerno_phx.

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