Slip and Fall Accidents in Zion National Park

Zion National Park draws millions of visitors each year, all eager to experience its towering sandstone cliffs, narrow canyons, and iconic trails. But the same rugged terrain that makes Zion so breathtaking also makes it one of the most hazardous national parks in the country. Slip and fall accidents occur with alarming frequency here, leaving hikers with serious injuries: broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, and worse.

Why Slip and Fall Injuries Are Common in Zion National Park

Zion’s landscape is unforgiving. Many of the park’s most popular trails involve steep elevation gains, narrow ridgelines, and sections of exposed sandstone that become slick when wet. Loose gravel, uneven rock surfaces, and sudden weather changes, particularly flash floods and winter ice, are also common. Crowded trail conditions can also force hikers into precarious positions, especially on narrow paths where there is little room to maneuver safely.

The Most Dangerous Areas in Zion National Park

Slip and fall fatalities represent nearly half of all deaths recorded in Zion between 2007 and 2025, making them the single deadliest threat visitors face. Much of that risk is concentrated on the park’s most exposed trails.

Angels Landing is particularly hazardous. The route climbs through a series of steep switchbacks before reaching a narrow sandstone ridge flanked by sheer drops on either side. At least 18 hikers have lost their lives on or near this trail over the years, with most fatalities occurring along the exposed final stretch where chains are anchored into the rock. In 2022, the National Park Service began requiring permits for the summit to reduce crowding and reduce the chance of serious accidents.

Other trails carry significant risks as well. In early 2025, a 28-year-old hiker died after falling on a difficult portion of the West Rim Trail during the winter, when icy and unpredictable conditions made the terrain even more treacherous. The Emerald Pools Trails have also seen their share of accidents due to wet, rocky surfaces near the waterfalls and steep drop-offs along the upper pool route.

Who Is Responsible for Maintaining Safe Conditions at Zion?

No one bears legal responsibility for the natural hazards inherent to a national park. Steep cliffs, loose rock, and weather-related dangers are part of the landscape, and accidents caused purely by those natural conditions generally do not give rise to a legal claim.

However, the federal government does have a duty to maintain the infrastructure it builds within Zion National Park, such as railings, boardwalks, signage, and constructed trail features. Under the Federal Tort Claims Act, you may have a valid claim if your injury resulted from negligence by park employees or administrators.

Examples might include a broken or missing safety railing, a failure to post warnings about a known hazard, or neglected maintenance on constructed walkways and facilities. The key question is whether the government knew, or reasonably should have known, about a dangerous condition and failed to take action to address it.

Injured at Zion? Talk to an Attorney About Your Options

If you have suffered a slip and fall injury at Zion National Park and believe negligence played a role, We Win Injury Law can help you determine whether you have a viable claim. Our attorneys have extensive experience handling personal injury claims on federal lands, and we will guide you through every step of the legal process. Schedule your free consultation by calling our office or filling out our online contact form today.