Deaths in Yosemite National Park

Deaths in Yosemite National Park

Yosemite is the poster child of California’s national parks. Serving breathtaking views and offering a variety of recreational activities for visitors, it’s no surprise that the park has hosted an average of over 4 million visitors per year since 2013. The park’s unique terrain of steep cliff sides, roaring waterfalls, and a host of wildlife make it a must-see destination. However, these same features also contribute to the large number of deaths that occur within Yosemite’s grounds. In this study, we take a closer look at the deaths and fatal accidents that have taken place in the national park.

Deaths in Yosemite National Park

Table of Contents

How Many People Die at Yosemite National Park?

There have been about 1,300 deaths at Yosemite since the park was established in 1890. There is no complete data set that tracks fatalities within the park, but this is the best estimation given the available data. On average, there are 12 to 15 deaths per year in Yosemite.

According to data released by the National Parks Service covering fatalities between 2007 and 2023, there were 163 deaths in that time period. The top 3 common causes of death were:

  • Slips/falls: 53
  • Natural death: 33
  • Drowning: 21

Common Causes of Yosemite Deaths

Cause of Death (2007-2023) Count of Deaths
Slips/Falls 53
Natural Death 33
Drowning 21
Undetermined 15
Motor Vehicle Crash 10
Suicide 9
Environmental 6
Natural/Environmental 5
Other 3
Medical 2
Not Reported 2
Poisoning 2
Other Specified 1
Other Transport Crash 1
Total 163

Falls

Falls are the leading cause of death in Yosemite. Climbers and hikers alike succumb to the arduous journey to the top of Yosemite’s famous peaks. Between 2007 and 2023, there have been 53 fall deaths out of a total 163 deaths during the same time period. These deaths can be attributed to slips and trips, as well as those who fell to their death while trying to take photos for social media. Here are some notable deaths in Yosemite as a result of a fall.

Notable Deaths

Location: Nevada Falls

Date: September 4, 2018

Situation: An 18 year-old visiting Yosemite plunged nearly 600 feet to his death from the top of Nevada Falls. Witnesses say the teen was attempting to duplicate a photo he saw on Instagram.

Location: Taft Point

Date: October 25, 2018

Situation: While taking a selfie at a popular overlook spot, a married couple fell about 800 feet to their deaths. It was later reported that intoxication may have contributed to the tragic accident.

Location: Half Dome

Date: September 5, 2019

Situation: While ascending the steepest portion of the hike to Half Dome’s peak, a 29-year-old woman lost her footing on the cables section of the climb and fell over 500 feet to her death.

Drowning/Swept Away

Yosemite is home to more than 2,000 lakes and over 25 waterfalls. Fueled by fast flowing rivers and streams, tourists must respect the danger presented by this beautiful park feature. Visitors should think twice before swimming or crossing bodies of water. Fallen trees, boulders, and other dangers could lurk just below the surface of streams. Additionally, the ice cold water in Yosemite’s rivers and lakes elevates the risk for hypothermia. The risks for drowning exist year round but danger is elevated by melting snow and spring rainfall.

Notable Deaths

Location: Lake Yosemite

Date: March 27, 2022

Situation: Two 23-year-olds of Merced jumped into Lake Yosemite. Shortly after, bystanders noticed one of the men began struggling while the other went underwater and never surfaced. Rescuers were able to pull the struggling swimmer out of the water and perform CPR, however, both men eventually succumbed to drowning.

Location: Merced River

Date: August 15, 2012

Situation: A 10-year-old and 6-year-old boy were swimming near a footbridge on the Mist Trail to Vernal Fall when tragedy struck. The strong current swept away the boys. The 10 year old boy was pulled 150 yards downstream where a visitor pulled the boy to shore, and administered CPR to no avail. He was pronounced dead by park rangers after further resuscitation efforts. The 6 year old boy was missing for over a week when rescuers found his body and recovered it from the stream.

Location: Vernal Fall

Date: July 19, 2011

Situation: At the top of Vernal Fall, 3 guests crossed over the barricade for a closer look at the 317 foot waterfall, ignoring posted signs to stay back. Two victims clung to each other as they slipped and were swept away towards the waterfall. In an attempt to rescue the two from the falls, a man followed them over the edge after reaching for them and slipping himself. One of the three bodies was recovered two weeks after the accident. The other two were found months later near the falls in August and December.

Rock Slides

Rockfalls are a common occurrence in Yosemite. In this study, many fatalities due to rockslide were categorized under “undetermined.” The causes of rockfalls can be attributed to a variety of natural processes that essentially loosen unstable rocks. In 2022, there were 52 total rockfalls with a cumulative volume of about 6,250 tons. The park is actively addressing rockfall risks by using the latest technologies to map potential rockfalls and take preventative action. Their efforts lead to a 95% reduced risk in rockfalls.

Notable Deaths

Location: El Portal Road

Date: December 27, 2022

Situation: Two park visitors were killed in a “significant rockslide” near the entrance of Yosemite park between Arch Rock Entrance Gate and Yosemite Park Boulder. The rockfall resulted in a 6 hour road closure.

Location: Mist Trail

Date: February 24, 2019

Situation: Ignoring trail closure signs, a 56-year-old woman was killed by falling rocks and ice while hiking the Mist Trail toward Vernal Fall with a friend.

Location: ​​El Capitan

Date: September 27, 2017

Situation: A 32-year-old man and his wife were hit by over 1,000 tons of falling rock while they were scouting their route on the El Capitan rock face. A sheet of granite fell from about 660 feet, striking the couple. According to the coroner, the man used his body as a shield to protect his wife. His wife survived with critical injuries and he unfortunately passed from his injuries.

Yosemite Climbing Fatalities and Injuries

On average:

  • There are 2.5 climbing deaths per year.
  • There are over 100 climbing accidents per year.
  • Climbers break at least 50 bones per year.
  • Most injuries are to the feet, ankles, or lower legs.

Between 25,000 and 50,000 climbers flock to Yosemite per year. Despite the high number of climbing visitors, the park sees a relatively low rate of accidents and deaths.

Leading Causes of Death and Injury for Climbers in Yosemite:

  • 25% leader falls
  • 10% rock falls
  • 25% free solo/unroped falls
  • 40% gear mistakes

BASE Jumping Deaths

Though BASE jumping is illegal in the park, it doesn’t prevent adrenaline junkies from diving from the vertical peaks throughout Yosemite. Between the years of 2014 and 2019, there were three deaths attributed to BASE jumping.

One of the more widely covered incidents occurred on May 16, 2015, when two male BASE jumpers aged 43 and 29 crashed into the valley’s rock walls. Equipped with wingsuits, the jumpers began their descent from Taft Point with the goal of reaching Yosemite Valley. Despite completing the jump on previous attempts, the men crashed around the Lost Brother landmark.

Yosemite Deaths by Location

While deaths may occur anywhere in the park, visitors are more likely to die in these areas:

Half Dome

Over 20 deaths have been documented on Half Dome. There have been 9 deaths on the infamous cable section of the Half Dome trail since it was installed in 1919, five of which occurred due to slipping in wet weather. If deaths on the trail leading to Half Dome are included, the number of fatalities jumps to 60.

El Capitan

There have been over 30 recorded climbing deaths on El Capitan between 1905 and 2023. In the last decade, there have been 7 climbing deaths on the prolific rock face. It’s speculated that death rates have increased for climbers due to heightened popularity around timed climbing, gaining social media clout, and perusal of sponsorship deals. 

Yosemite Deaths by Month (2007-2023)

Average Yosemite Deaths by Month

Looking at fatality statistics from 2007-2023, the most deadly months in Yosemite are between May and September. This coincides with the national park’s busiest 6 month timeframe when 75% of the park’s annual visitors come to Yosemite; May through October.

Yosemite Deaths by Gender (2007-2023)

Yosemite deaths by sex 2007-2023

  • Males are significantly more likely to die in Yosemite. 
  • During this study, males were 4 times more likely to die than females with a total of 128 deaths.

Deaths by Age Range (2007-2023)

Age Range Deaths
0-14 3
15-24 24
25-34 30
35-44 22
45-54 25
55-64 23
65+ 27
Undetermined 9
  • In this 16 year span, the 25-34 age group is most likely to die at Yosemite.
  • The number one cause of death for the age groups 55-64 and 65+ are natural causes, accounting for more than half of the age group’s deaths.

Data Sources, Takeaways, and Methodology

Data was collected through the National Park Service website and various news articles. There is no complete record of deaths in Yosemite, totals were calculated using available data. Though many deaths have occurred within the park, Yosemite is a relatively safe national park with a death rate of 28.01 deaths per 10 million visitors. For more information on wrongful deaths, speak with our experienced Fresno personal injury lawyers.

Update on 2023 Data

This research was conducted before the end of 2023. By the end of the year, there were at least 2 additional deaths in the park due to:

  • Drowning (24-year-old male. Occured July 2023.)
  • Climbing incident (Male.  Occurred September 2023.)

2024 Yosemite Deaths

  • A suicide was reported in the park on February 9, 2024. The deceased was a male between the age of 25-34.
  • The death of a female over the age of 65 was reported on May 20, 2024. No other information is known.
  • On July 13, 2024, a college student and her father were descending the infamous Cables section of Half Dome when a heavy thunderstorm rolled in. During their descent, the daughter lost her footing on the wooden planks and slid off the side of the mountain. Her father stayed at the scene until first responders arrived where the victim was pronounced dead, likely on impact.
  • The body of a 61-year-old male was discovered in September 2024 after more than 20 days passed his expected return date. The experienced hiker was on a solo backpacking trip to the Ostrander Lake Area, an 11.4 mile-loop on the southern end of the park. The cause of his death has not been released.
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