Who would guess that the most fatal tourist activity at Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park in recent years has been park visitors taking photos? It’s true. The activity has contributed to a significant number of fatal falls at this iconic American landmark.
Between 2014 and 2019, the National Park Service reported 14 fatal falls at Grand Canyon National Park, with photography being the deadliest activity, accounting for four of those deaths.
As the popularity of smartphones and social media continues to grow, the risk of selfie-related accidents has become a concern, with falls from heights being the most common cause of injury and death.
The park remains one of America’s top natural attractions, drawing more than 4.7 million visitors in 2023 alone. Unfortunately, this year has already seen 11 fatalities, including three tragic deaths in just one week.
Maggie Peikon, a spokeswoman for the American Hiking Society, emphasized the importance of spatial awareness when navigating the park, particularly when taking photos. She advised visitors to stay on the trail and pause before snapping pictures to avoid accidents.
While falls when taking photos has been the leading cause of accidental deaths, cardiac arrest remains the most common overall cause of death in the park.
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Maybe it’s time for a mandatory buy back of smart phones? Possibly a national data base for background checks would helpful to determine if those wishing to purchase a smartphone have been involved in any injurious incident previously. A 3 day waiting period before buying a new smartphone would possibly let the excitement of a good backdrop, or some wildlife or even a rainbow disengage and prevent a death. If it just saved a single life, wouldn’t it be worth it?
Lockers at every entrance requiring you to leave your phone before entering the park. Every person with a smart phone now thinks they are a photographer. Right … ! (Still holding my tongue like Mom taught me.) I’ve got to move on to another article to get my mind off of this.
🤔😯😆😅😂😉 Safe travels, KellyR! 🙂
🤔😯😆😅😂😉 Safe travels, Cancelproof! 🙂
Great parallel!
Oh, I have so many comments.
LMAO Kelly….. 😂😆
Stupidly easy to do. I was at a cliff edge in Banff, and turned around (thankfully) to take a pic of my wife coming up the trail. Moved forward (away from the cliff edge) while watching the phone screen, to get a better shot. Stepped on a fallen tree branch that rolled underfoot. Gravel rash… Dumb case of distracted hiking.
How many times have you seen someone on their phone walk into a signpost?
Thank you, RV Travel! 🙂 Well. 🤔😯 Trying to get a selfie that has never appeared on social media is not a well considered undertaking when the setting is the Grand Canyon. Yet, somehow it happens, sometimes to the severe detriment of the photographer/subject. I cannot understand the fixation. Thanks again, have a great weekend, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
No one has been able to fix “stupid” so far.
Darwinian principals in ACTION!
If you want a pic of the Grand Canyon, then take a pic of the Grand Canyon. Why do you have to be in the picture? Never understood this.