A Zion National Park visitor has died in a tragic canyoneering accident. A report from Zion officials say the man perished in a fall near the exit of Heaps Canyon at Zion National Park on Saturday, October 5, 2024.
Canyoneer death—A technical decent ends in tragedy
Canyoneering is a sport that combines several outdoor sports like rock climbing, hiking, swimming, and rappelling. According to one source, non-technical descents such as hiking down a canyon are often referred to as canyoneering. This incident went beyond that level. It involved a technical descent. One that required ropework in climbing down from a height.
The man who died was was 40 years old. He was canyoneering with three others when he fell between 150 and 200 feet at approximately 6 p.m. The group of four were following their permitted itinerary through Heaps Canyon. The canyon is considered a major canyoneering hotspot by enthusiasts.
Technical canyoneering is no sport for the untrained. A video on YouTube.com captures just how exhilarating, while dangerous, a canyoneering adventure in Heaps Canyon can be. The photo above is a screen-capture from that video.
Many try to save a life
Zion National Park Technical Search and Rescue Team and members of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched. Once on scene, they rendered emergency medical care. A Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter extracted the man to a helispot near Watchman Campground. Hurricane Valley Fire and Rescue and Intermountain Life Flight gave additional aid there. The man was pronounced dead before he could be transported by air ambulance to a hospital.
“Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family and friends during this unimaginably difficult time,” said Zion National Park Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh.
On Sunday, a DPS helicopter safely extracted two of the three remaining canyoneers. Zion’s search and rescue team assisted the third with rappelling down the canyon, reaching the ground safely at approximately 2:00 p.m.
Zion National Park and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office are still investigating the exact cause of the man’s death.
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Unfortunately, deaths in National Parks are not uncommon. If you want to read some personally horrific stories, check out the book “Over the Edge, Death in Grand Canyon”
I couldn’t even make it past the first chapter.
Thank you for the reference, Nick! 🙂
I bought that book years ago when we visited the Grand Canyon. It’s an amazing collection of how, and how many die while visiting the park. We won’t be back.
Thank you, Russ and Tina, for the news! Have a great week and safe travels! 🙂
This is not RVing news!
RVers do canyoneer! – and many do it in Zion NP. We did!
Might not be RV news to you but it definitely is to me.
Stay safe, Joe