Zion Canyon Safety

Zion Canyon is a beautiful park that can become a place of danger if safety rules are not followed closely. Winters can be extremely cold, so hypothermia is a great risk in the backcountry. During the summer and wetter months, heavy rainfalls and storms can result in sudden flash floods; falling is also another problem.

Though Zion Canyon is a very safe place to visit, most people do not consider the safety aspects needed to ensure accidents or worse things do not befall them. Dangers include winter hypothermia, sudden storms and flash floods which can wash even the strongest person into rivers or cause them to fall off ledges. In fact, falling is one of the most common risks in the area.

In winter, it is not the mild temperatures that can kill, but exposure to the elements, improper clothing, lack of shelter, and insufficient planning that can lead to becoming lost or isolated and slowly suffering the effects of hypothermia. It should be noted that eventually hypothermia can kill.

Spring and summer weather can become unpredictable. Sudden thunderstorms can erupt without warning, sending torrents of water cascading off the canyon rim and plateau, flooding savagely through crevices and over edges, creating short-lived, but raging rivers of raging waters. Checking the weather forecast is recommended before departure.

Most trails narrow at certain points, ledges may erode, rocky outcrops can become slippery when wet, and hard to manage. It is all too easy to fall hundreds of feet to one's death on the canyon floor below. Local rangers keep up to date information on all park hazards – consult with them!

Guests using the park must adhere to safety guidelines for their own sakes. Do not let children wander off. Take sufficient water, a first aid kit, extra clothing and food when hiking. Create an itinery with departure and return times to give to family and the local ranger station.