The national park might be America’s greatest gift to the world. U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act in 1872, making Yellowstone the first of many.
Since then, the world has followed suit, making national parks some of the best-preserved wilderness areas in the world. World National Parks says that today, almost 100 countries support over 6,000 national parks worldwide. However, there is a catch — nature usually comes with a side order of danger.
The NPS Has Issues with Dangerous Parks
The National Park Service (NPS) doesn’t like the question, “What is the most dangerous park?” On its services webpage, the NPS instead refers to hazards all national park visitors should be aware of. The most common ones mentioned are:
- Severe weather events, such as lightning, blizzards, extreme heat, or cold temperatures.
- Forest or wildland fires.
- Geological risks like volcanoes, geysers, hot springs, or rock falls.
- Hazardous terrain, such as cliffs, waterfalls, or steep mountain slopes and cliffs.
- Water hazards include cold water, rapids, flash floods, and rip currents.
The last category plays a large role in fatality rates, the origins of which are more diverse than one might think. As much as we like to imagine grizzly bears, wolves, or wildcats are a threat, it is human error leading the way.
Drowning Is the Leading Cause of Mortality
Following a Freedom of Information Act request to the NPS, Backpacker’s Adam Roy and others explored data covering 3,985 fatalities in the 16 years up until 2023. It covered all 63 U.S. national parks, in addition to seashores, recreation areas, and monuments under the NPS’s jurisdiction.
The inquiry also covered age, gender, and the prime causes of fatalities at these sites. The results are startling. Drowning accounts for the highest individual percentage, with 20.9% of mortalities. Motor vehicle crashes are the next-highest cause of national park fatalities, with 17.3% of the share. The next two groups share a similar-sized portion of blame, including self-assisted departures and medical emergencies, such as heart attacks. Surprisingly, only 10% of American national park deaths come from falls.
Surely, It’s the Grand Canyon, Right?
On the subject of which national park is the most dangerous, Roy believes another publication was flawed in its selections. In 2021, the travel website Outforia concluded that Grand Canyon National Park was the most dangerous in the United States. Meanwhile, other national publications have printed similar headlines.
Roy argues that Outforia’s choice didn’t allow for the fact that Grand Canyon National Park “is among the most-visited national parks in America.” Backpacker’s 2023 list followed a different method, discarding any national park with fewer than 100,000 annual visits. Roy concluded that the following national parks are statistically the most dangerous:
- Denali National Park. The famous Alaskan super peak towers above the entire country. Being one of the least-developed and northernmost parks on the list, exposure to Arctic temperatures is its leading cause of death.
- Virgin Islands National Park in the Caribbean comes next with six deaths per one million visitors, thanks mostly to drowning but also medical causes. It is in this position because of a low visitor count.
- Big Bend National Park in Texas claimed 22 people between 2010 and 2020 due mostly to its searing heat during the summer.
- Redwood National Park in California comes with a risk to motorists. The danger here is likely down to the scenery. The U.S. 101 is a spectacular coastal road snaking through the territory, with no end to its amazing views.
- Sequoia and Kings Canyon are fifth, with 75 deaths between 2010 and 2020. The largest number came from falls off of its many ridges and exposed rock faces.
Among the remaining danger zones are Mt. Rainier, Death Valley, and Channel Islands National Parks. Of course, there are thousands of other national parks worldwide, all presenting dangers to visitors based on an array of factors.
Steps to Avoid National Park Dangers
One must use caution whenever visiting any national parks, especially in more remote areas. The NPS urges all national park lovers to follow certain protocols and avoid risks, such as familiarizing themselves with the park they will visit. Other steps include leaving a “trip plan” with a trusted friend who isn’t traveling.
Most importantly, the guide asks wanderers or adventurers to know their limits. “Pick an activity that is right for your experience, skills, and fitness level,” it reads. You never know: this advice may stop you from becoming another statistic on a list of dangerous national parks.
