Grand Canyon Facts: Here’s what you need to know
Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona is the second most visited national park each year. Discover more facts about the Grand Canyon.
republic
An 18-year-old hiker has died after experiencing heat-related symptoms while hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, park officials said.
According to a June 6 news release from the National Park Service, the hiker was below Havasupai Gardens when the Grand Canyon National Park Regional Communications Center received a report of the need for help around 1:40 p.m. June 3. Authorities have not said whether he was hiking alone or who called for help.
Rangers found him about 30 feet below a trail in a secluded area near Garden Creek, park officials said. They administered life-saving measures and coordinated a helicopter rescue, but the boy later died.
According to the release, the boy attempted a day hike from the South Rim to the Colorado River and planned to return along the Bright Angel Trail, the most popular hiking trail leading into the Grand Canyon. The Park Service recommends checking with a ranger before attempting such a trip, as all roads into the area are steep and difficult.
“Due to the long distances, extreme temperature changes, and approximately 5,000 feet (1,500 meters) of elevation gain each way, the destination below Havasupai Gardens is not recommended for day hikes,” the park service said.
The hiker’s name was not released pending notification of his family. The incident remains under investigation by the Coconino County Coroner’s Office, which will determine the official cause of death, park officials said.
Recent deaths at Grand Canyon
The death comes less than a month after the body of 26-year-old Arizona State University student Sundarsh Krishna, who had been missing for nearly two weeks, was found beneath the South Rim near the Verkamp visitor center.
Krishna’s family told The Arizona Republic that he took a last-minute trip to the Grand Canyon to celebrate his graduation and starting a new job.
“He is truly a gem of a human being,” said Dr. Pooja Sivananjappa, Krishna’s sister-in-law.
As of May 12, Krishna’s death was still under investigation by the Park Service and the Medical Examiner’s Office, and the cause of death had not been released.
There were 11 deaths in Grand Canyon National Park in 2025, according to park data, with common causes of death including falls, heatstroke and drowning. Park staff also responded to 848 medical emergencies, 444 hiker assistance cases and 232 search and rescue operations in 2025, according to the data.
Contributor: Sean Raymond, Arizona Republic
