With temperatures soaring in the Grand Canyon, the National Weather Service (NWS) is cautioning hikers against venturing into the big ditch.
On Monday morning, the NWS issued an extreme heat warning across parts of Arizona from today through Friday at 7 p.m.. Due to the temperature, the agency is discouraging hikers from partaking in physical activity in the Grand Canyon.
“Day hikers on Bright Angel Trail should descend no farther than 1 1/2 miles from the upper trailhead,” the NWS warned. “Between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 a.m., hikers should be out of the canyon or at Havasupai Gardens or Bright Angel campgrounds, physical activity is discouraged.”
While the state of Arizona isn’t unaccustomed to excessive heat warnings, this label is only used on the hottest days of the year and it describes conditions that will be 105 degrees or more for more than three hours per day for two consecutive days.
Daytime temperatures in the Grand Canyon are expected to range from 102 degrees Fahrenheit at Havasupai Gardens to 114 degrees at Phantom Ranch with sustained temperatures through Friday, making for dangerous conditions below 4,000 feet.
According to the NWS release, “Most individuals will be at risk for heat-related illnesses without effective cooling or adequate hydration, especially with prolonged outdoor exposure.”
The Grand Canyon has already seen a casualty this season. In May, 74-year-old Dennis Smith was hiking the Rim-to-Rim when he became unresponsive on the North Kaibab Trail. Smith was described as an avid, and experienced hiker. While an official cause of death wasn’t released, the national park’s news release highlighted the importance of taking precautions amidst the park’s notoriously hot conditions. Last year, the park also saw three deaths in three weeks amidst record-breaking temperatures.
While it can be challenging to determine whether heat played a role in any given incident, there’s little doubt that high temperatures cause deaths in the Grand Canyon every year. Over the past decade, about 17 people have died in the park, and the most common cause of death was cardiac arrest, which heat strokes can cause in extreme circumstances. Across the United States, heat related-deaths also increased by 117% between 1999 and 2023, and that trend is accelerating quickly.
This trend is also present in the Grand Canyon, which is getting hotter. A 2023 Plos One study found that heat related deaths are likely to climb as a consequence. Despite its astronomical temperatures, the Grand Canyon receives the majority of its visitor traffic during the summer when emergency response times may be hindered by the heat. Park service data show that when temperatures in the Grand Canyon hit 95 degrees Fahrenheit, the volume of distress calls increases by 71 percent.
Weather forecasters expect hot conditions in the Tucson metropolitan area, the Gila River Valley, western and central Pima County, cresting to highs of 112-degrees. Surrounding areas could reach 100 to 106 degrees. In 2024, Phoenix, Arizona recorded a record-breaking 113-day streak of 100-degree days.
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