Two hikers have died at Zion National Park in the span of one week, renewing questions about risk, preparedness and safety in one of the country’s most dramatic and heavily visited national parks.
KUTV reporter Samantha Hoffman said the most recent death involved a 43-year-old man from California who died in the Spry Canyon area on April 22 after CPR efforts were unsuccessful, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s department said the man had taken what was described as a low-level fall and was later found unresponsive in the canyon. His family told officials he had been hiking alone, though they said he knew the area and came there often.
The death came just days after another fatal incident at Angel’s Landing, where 68-year-old Texas hiker and former firefighter Gilberto Ramos died on the permitted, chained portion of the trail on April 17.
Two Fatal Incidents In One Week
Hoffman reported that the two deaths happened in very different areas of Zion, but both have put attention back on the dangers that can come with hiking in terrain where one mistake, one bad footing choice or one unexpected event can turn serious quickly.
Spry Canyon, where the California man died, is known for rock scrambling and rappelling, according to Hoffman’s report. It is not the same kind of crowded, exposed destination as Angel’s Landing, but it still requires careful movement through uneven canyon terrain and, depending on the route, the kind of technical knowledge that can be unforgiving if something goes wrong.
Zion hiker Bob Samson, who told KUTV he has rappelled in Spry Canyon before and has also done the permitted section of Angel’s Landing, said the area can become dangerous for anyone who does not know how to handle the equipment and conditions.
“If you set up your rigging incorrectly to rappel down or if you are not sure how to specifically do rappelling, then you can definitely get in trouble,” Samson said.
That warning is not just about beginners. Even experienced hikers and canyoneers can encounter trouble in steep, remote places, especially when they are alone and there is no immediate help nearby.
Angel’s Landing And The Risk Of Exposure
The other death that week happened at Angel’s Landing, one of Zion’s most famous and most exposed hikes, where visitors climb along a narrow ridge with chains and steep drop-offs on either side.
Hoffman reported that Angel’s Landing has cliff edges of about 1,800 feet, and the permitted section is where hikers rely on chains, balance and patience as they move through tight spaces with other people nearby.
Hiker Shane Moore, who told KUTV he has been coming to Zion since he was too small to hike, said the area becomes especially challenging where the cables begin.
“You’re right on the tip of the mountain,” Moore said, explaining that a small step in the wrong place, or trying to squeeze around someone else, can create a dangerous moment.
That is one of the difficult realities at places like Angel’s Landing. The trail is famous because it is spectacular, but it is spectacular partly because it is exposed, narrow and physically demanding in a way that can surprise people who have mostly seen it in photos or social media clips.
The permit system helps limit crowding on the chained section, but it cannot eliminate the basic risk of heights, weather, fatigue, loose footing or human error.
Park Reviews Serious Incidents
Zion National Park told Hoffman that staff review every serious incident to understand what occurred and whether any safety changes could help.
“Zion National Park staff review every serious incident to understand what occurred and whether any adjustments could improve visitor safety,” a National Park Service spokesperson said, adding that those reviews are conducted carefully.
The park also said that any operational or infrastructure changes are evaluated case by case, taking into account visitor safety, Zion’s unique terrain, engineering feasibility, resource protection requirements and operational constraints.
That means adding a fence, rail, sign or chain is not always as simple as it might seem from the outside. Zion’s trails cut through protected landscapes, steep rock formations and narrow canyon systems where construction can be difficult, costly and environmentally sensitive.
At the same time, these deaths show why visitors often ask whether more should be done. The tension is understandable: people want wild landscapes to remain wild, but they also want popular routes to be as safe as reasonably possible.
More Safety Features, Or Less Human Footprint?
Hoffman noted that some hikes in Zion already include handrails, fencing or chains, while other areas remain much more natural and exposed.
Some visitors told KUTV they would welcome more safety measures, especially in places where inexperienced hikers may not fully understand the consequences of stepping too close to an edge. Others said too much infrastructure can change the experience of being in a national park.
Moore described that concern, saying visitors can begin to see “the human footprint” a little more instead of feeling like they are away from it all.
That balance is difficult for park officials because Zion is both a wilderness landscape and a global tourist destination. It attracts highly prepared hikers, casual visitors, families, thrill seekers and people who may not fully grasp how different desert canyon terrain can be from the parks, hills or trails they know back home.
There is room for reasonable debate over whether certain locations need more signs or barriers, but no amount of infrastructure can turn Zion into a risk-free environment.
Record Visitation Brings More Emergency Calls
The National Park Service told KUTV that more emergency responses have come with record visitation, and Hoffman reported that accidents occur both on heavily traveled trails and in remote backcountry areas.
The park said terrain, weather, trail conditions and visitor preparedness can all influence risk.
That point is important because the dangers at Zion are not limited to high cliffs. Heat, dehydration, flash flood potential, slick rock, falling rocks, poor footwear, darkness, route-finding mistakes and overconfidence can all create problems, even for people who begin the day thinking they are taking a manageable hike.
Samson told Hoffman that hikers need to think about training and self-rescue skills, especially in canyon environments. He said the feeling of safety comes less from park infrastructure and more from knowing how to handle the route.
“What’s going to make me feel safe is if I have the proper training to go into the canyon and then to develop self-rescue skills,” Samson said.
That is a practical point, not a harsh one. Many serious outdoor accidents begin with a person simply underestimating what a route demands.
Knowing The Limit Before The Trail
Hoffman’s report also focused on a common concern among hikers who know Zion well: visitors sometimes push into terrain they are not ready for because the danger is part of the appeal.
Moore said some people are drawn by the adrenaline of being “right on the edge” and feeling that their skills are the only thing between them and serious danger.
For some experienced hikers, that feeling is part of why they love the outdoors. For less prepared visitors, it can be a trap, especially when social media makes difficult routes look more like attractions than wilderness challenges.
Samson said people can also get into trouble by following “herd mentality,” assuming that if many others are doing something, it must be safe enough.
“When you see an increased risk, you want to continually be telling yourself in your head, ‘What is the increased prevention? How am I going to mitigate that risk?’” Samson said.
That is the kind of mindset that matters at Zion, where the same trail can feel very different depending on weather, crowding, fatigue, footwear, experience and personal judgment.
Qualities That Become Dangerous
Hoffman reported that Zion staff regularly monitor trail conditions, complete maintenance when terrain, weather and staffing allow, and provide current safety information so visitors can make informed decisions before and during hikes.
Those efforts are useful, but hikers still have to meet the park halfway by reading warnings, checking conditions, carrying proper supplies, understanding the route and being honest about their own limits.
The deaths of the California hiker in Spry Canyon and Gilberto Ramos on Angel’s Landing are separate tragedies, and the full circumstances of each incident are not the same. Together, though, they underscore the same basic truth about Zion: the park is beautiful because it is rugged, steep and wild, and those qualities can become dangerous very quickly.
There are things that can be prevented with planning, training and caution, as Samson told KUTV, but there are also hazards that come with the environment itself.
That does not mean people should avoid Zion’s trails. It does mean they should treat them with the seriousness they deserve.
Mark grew up in the heart of Texas, where tornadoes and extreme weather were a part of life. His early experiences sparked a fascination with emergency preparedness and homesteading. A father of three, Mark is dedicated to teaching families how to be self-sufficient, with a focus on food storage, DIY projects, and energy independence. His writing empowers everyday people to take small steps toward greater self-reliance without feeling overwhelmed.
