The announcement comes just weeks after the death of an 18-year-old hiker on the Bright Angel Trail, and just days before a heat wave that could see temperatures reach 111 degrees at Phantom Ranch.
Grand Canyon National Park is facing another deadly heat wave this summer. (Photo: Barth Bailey via Unsplash)
Updated June 20, 2026 12:16 am
Three hikers have died from suspected heat illness in less than a week in Grand Canyon National Park, bringing the total number of heat-related deaths this June to four, the National Park Service said Friday.
In a news release on June 19, NPS said park personnel responded to two separate incidents in the Inner Canyon that resulted in three deaths.. On June 12, a 72-year-old male hiker died on the South Kaibab Trail after showing symptoms of heat illness. On June 16, two more hikers, a 67-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman, died on the North Kaibab Trail; While the investigation into that case is still ongoing, the Park Service said the deceased “appears to be suffering from symptoms of heat-related illness.” When first responders arrived they found all three passengers dead.
events occurred Just weeks after the death of an 18-year-old of the suspect Heat illness on the Bright Angel Trail. According to the park service, the visitor was attempting a day hike to the Colorado River and back, a common goal that the park nevertheless discourages.
Temperatures are going to rise in and around the Grand Canyon in the coming days. National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat watch for the park June 22 to 23, when temperatures at Phantom Ranch can reach 111 degrees. In its bulletin, the NWS said hikers should not descend more than 1.5 miles from the trailhead, and they should either hike out of the canyon or stay at Havasupai Gardens or Bright Angel Campground between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
According to NPS mortality data released through a Freedom of Information Act request, there were 16 confirmed deaths from hyperthermia in Grand Canyon National Park between 2007 and 2023.
In Press release of June 18 Citing a “recent spate of heat-related incidents”, the park urged heat-sensitive hikers – including “children under the age of eight, adults over the age of 65, and individuals with pre-existing medical conditions” – to consider rescheduling their hikes for a less summery time of year.
