Three hikers have died during separate trips this month inside Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, park officials reported Friday.
In a statement, officials said there were two separate “heat-related incidents” on June 12 and June 16, resulting in three deaths. The hikers were hiking trails in the Inner Canyon, where temperatures can exceed 109 degrees in the shade during midday hours.
— On June 12, a 72-year-old male died after experiencing symptoms of heat-related illness along the South Kaibab Trail.
— On June 16, a 67-year-old male and a 68-year-old female “appeared to have succumbed to symptoms of heat-related illness” on the North Kaibab Trail, officials said.
All three hikers were found dead when responders arrived.
NPS officials are encouraging visitors to stay off Inner Canyon trails from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. because of summertime heat.
The NPS says “hiking in Grand Canyon can be a challenge for anyone, especially during the heat of summer. The recent increase in heat-related incidents comes as summer temperatures in the Inner Canyon have reached dangerous levels, creating conditions that can quickly overwhelm hikers during the hottest parts of the day.”
Contact Mark Davis at mdavis@reviewjournal.com.
Recent deaths at Grand Canyon
— Grand Canyon hiker dies trying to walk from rim to rim in same day (2023)
— Grand Canyon hiker dies on popular trail, only 100 feet from finishing (2024)
— Grand Canyon sees 3rd death in last 2 weeks; 11 deaths in 2024 (August 2024)
