A view of Heaps Canyon along the Emerald Pools Trail, Zion National Park / NPS - Sarah Stio

A canyoneer fell to his death near the exit of Heaps Canyon at Zion National Park, in Utah. Three other canyoneers were rescued in a joint operation with the Utah Department of Public Safety.   

The deceased, a 40-year-old man, was canyoneering with the other three when he fell between 150 and 200 feet (45.7 – 61 m) at approximately 6 p.m. on October 5, 2024. The group of four were following their permitted itinerary through Heaps Canyon when the incident occurred.  

After receiving the report of the fall, Zion National Park Technical Search and Rescue Team and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office arrived on scene and rendered emergency medical care. The man was extracted by a Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter to a helispot near Watchman Campground, where he received additional aid from Hurricane Valley Fire and Rescue and Intermountain Life Flight. The man was pronounced dead before he could be transported by air ambulance to a hospital.   

“Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family and friends during this unimaginably difficult time,” said Zion National Park Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh.    

The morning of October 6, two of the three remaining canyoneers were extracted safely by DPS helicopter. Zion’s search and rescue team assisted the third with rappelling down the canyon, reaching the ground safely at approximately 2:00 p.m.  

Zion National Park and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office are still investigating the exact cause of the man’s death.  

The park’s response involved more than 50 rescuers from Zion’s search and rescue team, Springdale Police Department, Hurricane Valley Fire and Rescue, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and Intermountain Life Flight.