Today, we created a chart that ranks the most dangerous U.S. national parks based on deaths per 10 million visitors. The data spans from 2007 to 2024 where available, highlighting national park deaths in significant numbers. These figures reflect per-capita risk, adjusted for visitation rates, and are derived from various expert analyses. These analyses highlight parks with elevated fatality rates relative to the number of visitors, pointing to national park deaths as a prevailing concern. The parks listed are those consistently noted for their high per-capita danger. The data reflects the best available estimates as of 12:29 PM EDT, July 16, 2025.
Summary of Fatality Numbers and Per-Capita Risk
It’s crucial to understand the context of deaths within national parks in these rankings.
The ranking by deaths per 10 million visitors from 2007 to 2024 reveals a striking hierarchy of risk. North Cascades in Washington State tops the list at 601 deaths per 10 million visitors, illustrating the enormity of national park deaths. This is over six times the national park system average of approximately 8 per 10 million. This rate, based on around 27 fatalities across its 500,000-acre wilderness, underscores its perilous reputation.
However, this figure reflects a nuanced reality. North Cascades is part of the North Cascades National Park Complex, which includes Ross Lake National Recreation Area and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, where national park deaths are considered in a broader scope. While the park itself sees minimal traffic—38,000 visitors in 2019—the Complex recorded 1,165,521 visits that year. Ross Lake’s accessibility via State Route 20 largely drives these numbers. This suggests the park’s “least visited” label may be misleading.
The Complex’s total visitation places it among the top 25 national parks. Yet the death rate is calculated on the park’s isolated core, amplifying per-capita risk and elevating the count of national park deaths.
Additional Interesting Information
- Hidden Dangers of Low Visitation: Parks like North Cascades prove that fewer visitors can mean higher per-capita risk. This emphasizes the need for specialized safety training for remote adventures.
- Seasonal Shifts in Risk: Winter conditions in Sequoia & Kings Canyon and summer drownings in the Virgin Islands highlight how seasonal changes can dramatically alter park dangers, causing national park deaths.
- Rescue Resource Allocation: The high SAR incidents in Lake Mead and Grand Canyon suggest that resource distribution could be key to reducing fatalities in heavily visited parks and tackling national park deaths.
The park’s danger stems from its rugged, glaciated terrain, featuring over 300 glaciers and peaks like Mount Shuksan. These features attract climbers and backcountry skiers to unstable granite prone to rockfalls. With limited access—only one unpaved road (Cascade River Road) enters the park—and no cell service, rescues are delayed. This contributes to 14 national park deaths from falls, drownings, and medical emergencies over 15 years. This contrasts with high-traffic parks like Grand Canyon (134 total deaths, 134 per 10 million) and Lake Mead (145 total deaths, 145 per 10 million). There, 77.8 million and 120 million visits since 2007 dilute the rate despite drownings and medical incidents. Denali, Alaska, follows with 100.5 deaths per 10 million. This rate is tied to its 20,310-foot peak’s 127 climbing fatalities since 1932. Meanwhile, Yosemite, California, sees falls from El Capitan with 126 per 10 million deaths.
The Complex’s structure adds context. Ross Lake’s popularity (905,418 visitors in 2016) and Lake Chelan’s 45,514 visitors skew total visitation. However, the park’s wilderness designation—covering 93% as Stephen Mather Wilderness—prioritizes preservation. This designation bans bolted anchors and limits infrastructure. This isolation, versus the recreation areas’ amenities, drives the high per-capita rate, with national park deaths being a notable result of such disparity. Virgin Islands National Park (39.94 per 10 million) leads in drownings. Mount Rainier, Washington (51 per 10 million) leads in climbing mishaps. Big Bend, Texas (32 per 10 million) leads in heat-related issues. Sequoia & Kings Canyon, California (12.19 per 10 million in winter) and Wrangell-St. Elias, Alaska (9 per 10 million) show seasonal or vastness-related risks.
The SAR chart from 2019-2024 complements this data. Lake Mead had 500 incidents with 7.5 million visitors, Grand Canyon had 450 with 4.9 million, and Yosemite had 300 with 4.12 million. These numbers reflect high-traffic rescues. North Cascades’ 150 incidents, despite low park-specific visitation, indicate frequent distress that can lead to national park deaths. Denali (120) and Mount Rainier (110) show severe climbing risks. This correlation suggests SAR frequency previews fatality trends. However, North Cascades’ rate may reflect underreported visits or Complex misattribution. Data varies (e.g., 652 per 10 million from 2007-2018). This urges caution, but the park’s remote allure to unprepared adventurers remains a key factor. Rapid weather shifts are also significant.
Per-capita metrics highlight how isolation amplifies risk, contrasting with busier parks’ raw totals. The Complex’s visitation disparity—park versus recreation areas—challenges the “least visited” narrative, contributing context to the figures on national park deaths. This suggests danger is tied to specific use rather than overall traffic, including the notable rate of deaths. This raises questions about safety education or access limits. As North Cascades’ reputation grows, more visitors are drawn to its wild heart as of July 16, 2025.
Related Chart: Search and Rescue Operations by Park (2019-2024)
This supplementary chart illustrates the number of search and rescue (SAR) incidents in the same parks from 2019 to 2024. It provides insight into the frequency of emergencies that often precede fatalities, contributing to national park deaths. Data is approximated from National Park Service reports and third-party analyses. This data reflects operational demands that correlate with per-capita risk.
