Two hikers die in 5 days at Zion National Park and rangers still don’t know why the canyon’s most popular trails are suddenly killing people
Fatal falls.
Two hikers have died within five days at Zion National Park, leaving rangers scrambling for answers about why two of the park’s most popular trails are suddenly claiming lives. The deaths, one on the infamous Angels Landing Trail and another in Spry Canyon, have reignited concerns about safety in a park already known for its deadly drop-offs and technical challenges.
According to Fox News, the first tragedy struck on April 17, when 68-year-old Gilberto Ramos of Laredo, Texas, fell to his death while hiking Angels Landing. The National Park Service confirmed that rangers and local law enforcement responded after visitors reported the incident.
Ramos was found on the north side of Angels Landing near Big Bend, a section of the trail notorious for its steep, chain-assisted ridge. Recovery efforts wrapped up that same evening, and his remains were turned over to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner.
Angels Landing is one of the most dangerous hikes in the U.S.
It has sheer drop-offs and narrow paths where hikers must grip chains to avoid plunging hundreds of feet. The trail at the popular national park had been closed for maintenance from April 20 to 23, but that shutdown was scheduled before Ramos’ death.
This was the first fatal fall on the route since the National Park Service introduced a permit system in 2022 to reduce overcrowding. Before that, at least 18 people had died on the trail, including falls and medical emergencies from the grueling climb.
The second death occurred just five days later, on April 22, when a 43-year-old man from Hillsborough, California, died while canyoneering in Spry Canyon. Unlike Angels Landing, Spry Canyon is considered a beginner-friendly route, though it still involves rappelling down cliffs as high as 165 feet.
First responders arrived around 5 p.m. but couldn’t revive the hiker, who was traveling alone. The National Park Service and Washington County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the incident, though officials have described it as a “low-level accidental fall,” meaning the victim didn’t fall from a great height.
The back-to-back deaths have raised many questions
Bill Wade, executive director of the Association of National Park Rangers, said hiking fatalities haven’t increased in recent years, attributing most incidents to human error. “Many of them are true accidents – the person making an error in judgment that results in them falling or being in a place of jeopardy,” he said.
Wade pointed to avalanches, rockfall, and getting “off route” as common hazards, though he didn’t rule out the possibility of infrastructure or staffing issues affecting emergency response times. Zion’s popularity has surged in recent years, with the park ranking as the second-most-visited national park in the U.S.
Angels Landing alone draws thousands of hiking enthusiasts annually, thanks to its jaw-dropping views of Zion Canyon and the Virgin River below. The 5.4-mile round-trip climb gains 1,488 feet in elevation, culminating in the infamous Hogsback — a razor-thin ridge where hikers must hold onto chains to avoid slipping. The permit system, introduced in 2022, was meant to curb overcrowding, but it hasn’t eliminated the risks.
According to Backpacker, before Ramos’ death, the last fatal fall on Angels Landing occurred in 2021, when 43-year-old Jason Hartwell plunged from the summit. In 2019, two hikers – Savannah McTague, 19, and Pradeep Beryl Solomon, 35 – died after falling from different points along the hiking trail.
Spry Canyon is less extreme but still demands caution
This route involves scrambling over rocks and rappelling down cliffs, which can be deceptively dangerous for inexperienced adventurers. Lucas Alfred, a spokesperson for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, said that the second victim’s fall was relatively short, but even minor missteps in canyoneering can turn deadly.
The National Park Service hasn’t released any details suggesting the two deaths are connected, and investigations are still ongoing. But the timing has left many wondering if there’s an underlying issue, whether it’s trail conditions, weather, or something else entirely. For now, rangers are urging visitors to stay alert, follow posted warnings, and recognize that even “easy” trails can turn hazardous in an instant.
Zion’s beauty is undeniable, but its dangers are just as real. With two deaths in less than a week, the takeaway is no matter how experienced you are, nature doesn’t always play by the rules. If you’re planning a trip to Zion, it’s worth brushing up on trail safety, checking weather conditions, and knowing your limits.
(Featured image: Jay Chung)
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