Three California national parks rank among the nation's deadliest, according to a new analysis.
Outforia, an outdoor and wildlife publication, analyzed National Park Service death records and park visitor numbers from 2014 to 2022 to identify the nation's deadliest parks.
Yosemite National Park topped Outforia's analysis, while Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks ranked fourth and Death Valley National Park ranked sixth.
Outforia limited the death counts to those considered accidental, such as falls, drownings, vehicle crashes and heat or cold exposure, to determine which parks carry the most risk to visitors. Medical deaths, such as heart attacks, suicides, or homicides, were not included in the analysis.
Here's what to know about the California
parks included in the analysis, along with the full list of top 10 deadliest national parks.
3 California national parks rank among nation's deadliest, report finds
Yosemite National Park led the nation with 61 accidental deaths, the most of any national park from 2014 to 2022, according to Outforia's analysis. Falls were the leading cause of death. With 1.7 deaths per 1 million visitors, Yosemite ranked as the nation's ninth-riskiest national park.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks ranked second among California parks with 42 deaths during the nine-year period. Falls were also the leading cause of death, according to Outforia. The parks recorded 2.7 deaths per 1 million visitors, ranking them as the fifth-riskiest national parks in the analysis.
Death Valley National Park ranked sixth on Outforia's list with 27 deaths. Unlike the other California parks, vehicle crashes were the leading cause of death in Death Valley. The park recorded 2.4 deaths per 1 million visitors, making it the nation's sixth-riskiest national park.
National Parks with the most accidental deaths
According to Outforia, here are the 10 parks with the most deaths between 2014 and 2022, along with the number of accidental deaths during that span:
- No.1: Yosemite National Park, California | 61 deaths
- No. 2: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee | 58 deaths
- No. 3: Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona | 53 deaths
- No. 4: Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, California | 42 deaths
- No. 5: Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming | 31 deaths
- No. 6: Death Valley National Park, California | 27 deaths
- No. 7: Mount Rainier National Park, Washington | 27 deaths
- No. 8: Zion National Park, Utah | 26 deaths
- No. 9: Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming | 22 deaths
- No. 10: Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado | 21 deaths
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: 3 California national parks rank among nation's deadliest, report finds
