Hiker Found Dead on Bright Angel Trail After Camping Overnight at Grand Canyon
A 41-year-old hiker was found dead on the Bright Angel Trail in the Grand Canyon after camping overnight at the Bright Angel Campground near Phantom Ranch, according to the National Park Service (NPS).
The hiker was discovered unresponsive on Sunday morning. Despite efforts from bystanders and NPS personnel to revive him, they were unsuccessful, the NPS reported. The incident is currently under investigation by the NPS and the Coconino County Medical Examiner.
The NPS emphasizes the difficulty of the trails leading into the canyon, noting that the Bright Angel Trail, known for its expansive views, can deceptively lead hikers farther than they realize. The return hike is significantly more challenging and time-consuming, requiring at least twice as much effort and time as the descent.
The Grand Canyon National Park attracts nearly five million visitors annually, and tragically, between 10 and 20 people die there each year. In the previous year alone, at least 10 fatalities were recorded, including two on the Bright Angel Trail. One such incident involved 65-year-old James Handschy, who died in November while attempting to hike from the South Rim to the Colorado River and back. Additionally, in September, 55-year-old Ranjith Varma from Virginia died while trying to hike 21 miles from the South Rim to the North Rim in a single day.
A study released in February named the Grand Canyon as the “most dangerous national park” in the US, with 165 deaths recorded between 2007 and 2023. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park ranked as the second most dangerous, with 127 deaths during the same period.
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