Three people died from heat-related illnesses within the span of a week, proving just how deadly it can be to hike in extreme heat. Grand Canyon National Park says the temperature below the canyon’s rim exceeds 100°F this time of year, even when the temperature above the rim is less brutal, which can throw people off as they prepare to go below the rim.
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“Grand Canyon National Park rangers and emergency personnel responded to two separate heat-related incidents on June 12 and June 16, resulting in three deaths,” wrote the National Park Service (NPS) in a press release. “In both cases, the deceased hikers were hiking trails in the Inner Canyon, where temperatures can exceed 109 F in the shade during midday hours.”
The victims included a 72-year-old male hiking the South Kaibab Trail on June 12, as well as a 67-year-old male and a 68-year-old female hiking the North Kaibab Trail on June 16. NPS says despite rapid response and aerial support, all three individuals were deceased when responders arrived.
Due to current conditions, NPS advises visitors to stay off Inner Canyon trails from 10 AM to 4 PM.
Header stock image by Patrick J. Endres/Getty Images
Read more facts about the national parks:
- Great Smoky Mountain National Park
- Rocky Mountain National Park
- Isle Royale National Park
- Big Bend National Park
- Zion National Park
- Voyageurs National Park
- Glacier National Park
- Joshua Tree National Park
- Grand Canyon National Park
- Dry Tortugas National Park
- Yosemite National Park
