The top ten DEADLIEST national parks in the US and the terrifying risks they pose

A recent study shows that more than 300 million Americans will visit a national park in 2023.

Some visitors to national parks can be seen doing activities such as hiking or rock climbing, while others may be taking photos of scenic views.

However, several things can go wrong when visiting a national park, resulting in serious injury or even death.

Outdoor clothing brand KUHL released a list of the top 10 deadliest national parks on January 23 after examining data on things like deaths, missing people and search and rescue missions.

So, what are the 10 Deadliest National Parks and the terrifying risks individuals face when visiting these locations?

10. Mount Rainer National Park

Mount Rainer National Park in Ashford, Washington has huge glaciers, wildflowers in the subalpine meadows and a mortality rate of one in 317,000.

According to KÜHL data, 69 people died between 2007 and 2023. National Park Service (NPS) found that more than 400 people have died in the park since the government started keeping records.

One of the things Mount Rainer is also known for is its enormous and active volcano.

The last eruptive period of the volcano took place around 1000 years agobut it is still a risky area for people who enjoy rock climbing.

In fact, the NPS concluded that 25 percent of deaths in Mount Rainer National Park occurred due to rock climbing incidents.

Interestingly, KÜHL found that 20.3 percent of deaths are due to falls, while 0.9 percent of deaths are due to falling rocks.

9. Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Salt Flat, Texas is home to the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, an area with over 80 miles of land hiking trails.

It also has a mortality rate of one in 514,000, which is slightly worse than Mount Rainer National Park.

Although the park is a popular tourist attraction, it poses a variety of risks that individuals should be aware of, especially hikers.

Things that are important to remember when you are in the park are that sudden weather changes are common avoid exposure in open areas during storms.

The area is also full of cacti, rattlesnakes, scorpions and desert centipedes, which can lead to a variety of injuries.

8. Kings Canyon National Park

Kings Canyon National Park, located in California, has a mortality rate of one in 220,000.

Between 2007 and 2023, 45 deaths have occurred in the park so far.

Things that may be important for visitors to remember are the park's extreme climatic conditions and its high altitudes reaching nearly 15,000 feet.

Because of these conditions, it is not uncommon for hikers to go missing or need help in the mountains.

7. Denali National Park

Denali is one of two national parks in Alaska that makes the top 10 on this list.

The park receives approximately 600,000 visitors annually, despite a mortality rate of one in 119,000.

Denali National Park has already reported 64 fatalities in the park between 2007 and 2023.

The area is relatively safe, but some of the greatest dangers in the park include steep cliffs, deep gorges and unstable rocks.

These conditions, combined with freezing temperatures, can make hiking and rock climbing potentially extremely dangerous.

6. Big Bend National Park

Big Bend National Park in Panther Junction, Texas, receives more than 500,000 visitors annually and is full of rivers, dirt roads and a 1 in 218,000 mortality rate.

Big Bend National Park is a risky place to go because of the extreme heat and flash flooding.

Between 2007 and 2023, this national park saw only 31 deaths, which is fewer than several parks on this list.

However, cell phone service is spotty throughout the park and hikers have noticed poisonous creatures such as scorpions and rattlesnakes.

5. Dry Tortugas National Park

This national park in Homestead, Florida has a wide variety of ocean life, but visitors also have a one in 184,000 chance of dying there.

The park is located off the coast of Key West and can only be reached by boat or seaplane.

Although it has an abundance of water, the land itself poses a threat to hikers or anyone visiting the island.

In addition to the incredibly hot and humid weather, there are risks of lightning strikes, poisonous snakes and spiders.

People on land or in the water should also be on the lookout for alligators.

4. North Cascades National Park

Washing's North Cascades National Park offers beautiful views and a high mortality rate of one in 18,000.

Like Mount Rainer National Park, hikers and mountain climbers face deadly risks when visiting the park.

Major issues to be aware of when visiting the park include terrible weather and an unstable landscape that is magnified climate change.

This Washington park witnessed 24 deaths in the park between 2007 and 2023, but it is still important for individuals to remember the risks.

3. Isle Royale National Park

This remote island cluster in Michigan has a one in 163,000 mortality rate and is home to a variety of animals that pose a fatality risk.

Moose, wolves and foxes have occasionally been spotted in this park and all can be vicious if they feel a human is a risk to their safety.

However, the area is a popular place to visit in Michigan, and there are quite a few ranger stations in case anyone needs help.

Besides animals, individuals should look out for the island's rocky and hilly terrain, which can be difficult for hikers.

2. Wrangell St. Elias National Park

Located in south-central Alaska, this national park had nearly 65,000 visitors in 2022 and a one in 126,000 mortality rate in the area.

Not only does it have large glaciers, but the park is also home to… Wrangell Volcanic Field which covers more than 2,000 square kilometers of the park.

A major risk for hikers who go to this park is the poor visibilityespecially for people who prefer walking at night.

Suggestions for a much lower risk of fatality in the park at night are for visitors to stay on the trails, stay in groups and carry bear spray.

According to KÜHL, nine people died between 2007 and 2023.

1. Grand Canyon National Park

Arizona's Grand Canyon National Park is a popular tourist destination worldwide that receives millions of visitors every year.

One in 503,000 people is likely to die in the park and 165 people died between 2007 and 2023 alone.

Some of the biggest things that can happen if visitors aren't too careful are dehydration and heat stroke due to the extremely hot weather.

Other things to look out for include wildlife, flash flooding and positions.

According to Grand Canyon National Park Trips, visitors fall to their deaths in the Grand Canyon every year.