How Many People Died In National Parks Last Year?

Every year, millions of people visit America’s national parks and make memories that last a lifetime. While remarkable parks like the Grand Canyon and Yosemite offer countless opportunities for adventure, they also contain natural hazards and other risks that can lead to serious or fatal incidents. Such incidents may involve outdoor activities, medical emergencies, or other circumstances, underscoring the importance of preparation and caution. The provisional NPS file associates 86 deaths in 2025 with reporting units that include the 63 formally designated national parks, although the records do not establish that every decedent was a visitor or that every death occurred on national-park-designated land. Here is a closer look at the data.

2025 Deaths in National Parks: By the Numbers

The provisional NPS file lists 198 deaths in 2025 across the National Park System, including national parks, recreation areas, parkways, seashores, monuments, and other NPS sites. The dataset excludes people who were working on duty and includes incidents that began or ended within an NPS park boundary. Of the 198 records, 86 (roughly 43%) were associated specifically with reporting units that include the 63 sites formally designated as national parks. In that 86-record subset, every cause was listed as “Undetermined” and every activity as “Not Reported.” Among the 57 where a victim's sex was reported, men dramatically outnumbered women, 46 to 11.

The 86 national park deaths in 2025 work out to a little over seven per month, or 1.4 deaths per park across the 63 units. However, these tragedies weren't evenly distributed in either location or time.

National Parks With the Most Reported Deaths in 2025

Sadly, two of the National Park System's best-known parks were the sites of the most 2025 deaths: Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Yosemite National Park. Each saw nine fatalities in 2025. Great Smoky Mountains was the most visited of the 63 designated national parks in 2025, with 11,527,939 recreation visits, although it ranked third among all NPS units, and the data do not establish why it tied for the highest death count among national parks. Yosemite ranked fifth among designated national parks in 2025, with 4,278,413 recreation visits, but the provisional mortality file does not identify the causes or activities associated with its nine records.

Overall, 31 of the 62 reporting entries covering the 63 designated national parks recorded at least one death in 2025. The count of entries falls one short of the count of parks because NPS reports Sequoia and Kings Canyon together, two distinct parks jointly administered since 1943. That combined Sequoia-Kings Canyon unit saw the second-most deaths in 2025, with six, followed by Cuyahoga Valley National Park with five. Three parks (Glacier, Grand Canyon, and New River Gorge) had four deaths in 2025 within their boundaries, while the remaining parks saw three deaths or fewer.

The National Parks With No 2025 Deaths

Among the 31 reporting entries with no recorded 2025 death was Yellowstone National Park, although the provisional file does not establish the exact number of individual parks with zero deaths. Yellowstone ranked third among the designated national parks in 2025 recreation visits, and visitors there have perished in the past from risks such as scorching thermal pools and massive wildlife and traffic accidents. The file records three deaths for the combined Denali National Park and Preserve reporting unit and none for Alaska's other national parks. The provisional file also records no 2025 deaths for Hot Springs or Gateway Arch national parks.

The Deadliest Time of Year in National Parks

Much like the significant variation between parks, there is a big difference in national park deaths depending on the time of year. July was 2025's deadliest month, with 15 fatalities, followed closely by 14 in September. All of the warmer-weather months between May and September hit double digits, while no month outside that range reached that level. In contrast, January 2025 saw no national park deaths at all, while February had just one.

A Grim Reminder of the Dangers of National Park Adventures

Viewed alongside the tens of millions of recreation visits recorded at national parks each year, the 86 reported deaths represent a relatively small number. However, the available data cannot determine an individual visitor’s risk or show how many of these deaths were connected to outdoor recreation, since the cause and activity are unreported for all 86 records. The figures are therefore best understood as a limited snapshot rather than a ranking of which parks are safest or most dangerous. They also offer a general reminder that national parks contain natural hazards and changing conditions. By reviewing park-specific guidance, checking the weather, carrying appropriate equipment, and choosing activities suited to their abilities, visitors can be better prepared to enjoy these remarkable places safely.