America's national parks are becoming a death trap as red-hot temperatures have caused more heat-related fatalities in these protected places already than in an average year. Since 1 June 2023, five people have lost their lives through extreme heat, with the deadliest month – August – still to come. Three main parks are responsible for more than half of the 68 heat-related deaths reported since 2007. Pictured is California's Death Valley National Park, the hottest and driest place in America.
The epicentre for extreme heat is the Southwest, namely Death Valley, Texas' Big Bend (pictured) and Arizona's Grand Canyon. A 14-year-old boy and his 31-year-old father died on a trail in Bend Bend in 48°C (119°F) temperatures, while a 65-year-old hiker also lost his life. In the Grand Canyon, a 57-year-old woman was attempting an eight-mile (13km) hike in the remote Tuweep area of the park when she became unconscious in 38°C (100°F) heat and eventually died. In Death Valley, a 71-year-old man collapsed and died outside a restroom, and a 65-year-old was found dead in his vehicle by park rangers who believe he succumbed to the heat while driving as temperatures hit an unfathomable 52°C (126°F).
While the Southwest is used to brutal conditions, the longevity and intensity of this year's heatwave is not normal. Here, two park rangers pose next to the extreme temperature readings outside the Furnace Creek Visitor Center in Death Valley in mid July. A report from research group Climate Change found this heatwave was made at least five times more likely by human-caused climate change, with national parks being ground zero for such warming. It's so hot in Death Valley that there are now signs warning people to stay off hiking trails after 10am.
Now take a look at the most dangerous attractions across the US, from national parks to beaches...
While Volusia County’s New Smyrna and Daytona beaches are blessed with year-round sunshine and balmy temperatures, they’re also some of Florida’s most dangerous. Sun-seekers flock to the area for pristine stretches of sand and great surf, but it’s what’s lurking in the water that you need to be wary of…
The so-called 'shark bite capital of the world', Volusia County recorded 16 shark bites in 2021. Although statistically getting bitten by a shark is unlikely, New Smyrna Beach sees more shark attacks than any other place in the US. In 2022 Florida accounted for 28% of unprovoked shark bites worldwide, and in July a man was taken to hospital after a six-foot (1.8m) shark bit his foot.
Love this? Follow our Facebook page for more travel inspiration
Huntington Beach in Orange County is another popular spot for beach-goers and surfers. So much so it's dubbed Surf City USA, offering miles of sandy shoreline as well as one of the Pacific coast's longest piers at 1,850 feet (564m) long. It also hosts the world's largest surf competition, Vans US Open of Surfing, every summer.
But in October 2019, a record 176 people were stung by stingrays in just one day. The flat fish descended into the shallow waters and gave paddlers a nasty shock, sometimes puncturing their skin with their sting.
Offering over 200 miles (322km) of trails, pretty wildflowers and photogenic lakes, Mount St Helens is a popular hiking area, and most visitors climb to the peak's summit and survey its mile-wide crater. It's even been dubbed the Mount Fuji of America. However, this natural tourist attraction has erupted twice in the past few decades, with the worst event killing nearly 60 people in 1980.
The fatal eruption has been described as the most destructive in US history, and the site did not reopen until 1986. The active stratovolcano is closely monitored today, and it’s expected to erupt again. Pictured here is volcanic activity from 2004, when plumes of steam and ash billowed from the crater alongside minor earthquakes.
No US travel wish list is complete without the Grand Canyon, one of the world’s most revered natural wonders and most popular attractions. The North Rim (open seasonally) has fewer crowds, while Grand Canyon West is home to the teeth-chattering Skywalk (pictured). But although the National Park Service recorded 4.5 million visitors here in 2021, the site comes with some dangers.
Between 2018 and 2020, the Grand Canyon was responsible for the most search and rescue (SAR) efforts of any national park, accounting for 785 SARs out of the 3,926 total. In August 2022, one hiker also fell 200 feet (60m) to his death from Bright Angel Point trail, while in January 2023 another hiker had to be airlifted to hospital.
You might recognise this lonely stretch from the TV show Ice Road Truckers. As well as being one of the world’s most isolated roads, the James Dalton Highway is also among the most dangerous. The two-lane gravel road starts just north of Fairbanks and ends at the Prudhoe Bay oil fields (and the Arctic ocean), spanning 414 miles (666km).
There are only three opportunities to stop for fuel, plus there's freezing Arctic weather, giant potholes and sometimes reduced-to-zero visibility to contend with. In September 2021, one man died following a head-on collision with another vehicle.
Denali stands head and shoulders above all of Alaska’s outdoor attractions – literally. You can head along Denali Park Road for fabulous views of the massive mountain (it's serviced by a shuttle bus in the summer months). However, some people are determined to go further and scale the peak which can be exceedingly perilous.
It's impossible to deny the mountain's dizzying beauty, but it can be extremely challenging to climb. There’s only a 50% success rate for reaching the summit – mainly due to its far north location and extreme weather – and more than 100 people have died during their attempts.
Yellowstone was the very first US national park (established on 1 March 1872) and visitors still flock to its natural wonder-filled 2.2 million acres. Travellers share the sprawling park with more than 10,000 geothermal sites, like the Grand Prismatic Spring (pictured), Old Faithful Geyser and Mammoth Hot Springs, while bears, wolves, bison and white-tailed eagles are best viewed from the Lamar Valley.
That doesn’t mean Yellowstone is completely visitor-friendly, though. Close encounters with the geysers risk third-degree burns or even death, and there have been more than 20 related fatalities since 2000. Some unfortunate (or in some cases misbehaving) visitors have also been the target of bison and bear attacks. The national park advises keeping a distance of 75 feet (23m) from these animals, and there are plenty of signs warning visitors to steer clear of wildlife and refrain from entering geothermal sites.
Silverton Mountain is the highest and steepest ski area in North America. All 69 of its trails are rated for experts only – meaning there’s little room for error. The peak elevation is 13,487 feet (4,110m), and there’s no easy way down from such great heights.
With an average total snowfall of more than 400 inches and steep terrain, there’s always a risk from avalanches. In February 2021, three skiers were tragically killed in the ‘The Nose’ area near Ophir Pass.
Spanning more than 50,000 acres, the Lake of the Ozarks attracts millions of visitors each year. There are a couple of sandy beaches tucked along this manmade reservoir – although there aren’t any lifeguards – with plenty of family-friendly activities, from fishing to watersports. So why is it considered one of the most dangerous lakes in the US?
Boating accidents are unfortunately common. In July 2022, one boater was killed when they were thrown overboard after hitting a wake, while in November 2022, two swimmers drowned near the Bagnell Dam area.
As its name suggests, this stirring national park on the island of Hawaii is all about volcanoes; in fact, it's home to two of the most active on Earth, Kilauea and Mauna Loa. Day and backcountry hikes are popular here, as are scenic drives like the Crater Rim Drive. But a trip comes with inherent risk.
Mount Kilauea erupted in late 2020, creating new lava flows and rippling smoke plumes, while the United States Geological Survey describes the volcano as the deadliest in the country since it's killed four visitors in this century alone. Remarkably, though, the 2020 eruption actually led to a rise in visitors to the park. Pictured here is a dangerous lava boat tour.
Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico is home to the 'Big Room', which is 4,000 feet (1,219m) long, 625 feet (191m) wide and 350 feet (107m) high. Whether you choose to explore by following one of the self-guided routes or on a ranger-led tour, you’ll see rock formations and areas with mystical names such as the Devil’s Spring, the Whale’s Mouth, the King’s Palace and the Hall of the White Giant.
Two species of bat roost in the cavern and it’s a remarkable experience to watch them flood out of the cave's entrance between summer and autumn. However, the park's greatest danger is invisible. Dangerous levels of radon – a gas linked with lung cancer – were discovered in the cave in 2019, causing the National Park Service to introduce an action plan to keep visitors and staff as safe as possible.
The hike to Angels Landing is popular for a reason: it promises vistas sweeping across the gaping canyon and ethereal scorched landscape. The first section of the route is fairly tame, but it’s once you reach Walter’s Wiggles – 21 steep switchbacks that will leave you panting – that it quickly becomes one of the USA’s most dangerous tourist attractions.
When you reach the final, exposed ridge, beware of human traffic jams. Between 2000 and 2021, it’s estimated that at least 13 people have died on this trail, even though there are chains installed along the route. In April 2022, the National Park Service responded to growing concerns about crowding and congestion on the trail by introducing a permit requirement to reach the top.
These beloved American national parks are in danger – here's why