Is this WA national park really the deadliest in the US? We checked the numbers
Is the most deadly national park is right here in Washington state?
Media outlets have named North Cascades National Park in northwest Washington the deadliest in the United States, based on National Park Service data about annual death rates among park visitors.
How accurate is this claim? What does the National Park Service say?
Here’s what you should know:
Why is North Cascades called the deadliest national park in America?
The National Park Service has a data dashboard tracking verified deaths in national parks each year.
The Park Service says the data helps it help identify leading causes of deaths as well as populations at greater risk of dying and factors that contribute to fatalities.
In addition to mortality data from 2007 and 2025, the Park Service offers more in-depth analysis of the most recently validated data. Currently, the most recently validated data is for 2014 through 2019.
For several years, Las Vegas law firm Panish Shea & Boyle LLP has analyzed this data to determine which national parks are “the most dangerous” to visit.
According to the law firm, Lake Mead National Recreation Area had the most deaths between 2007 and 2024, with 317 fatalities.
However, the national recreation area near the Arizona-Nevada border is also extremely popular, welcoming more than 120 million visitors during that time period.
To account for this, the law firm focuses on the total number of deaths per 10 million visits, as opposed to the total deaths at each park.
By this measure, North Cascades National Park has the highest deaths of any national park by far.
According to Panish Shea & Boyle, North Cascades had 601.7 deaths per 10 million visits in that 2007 to 2024 time period.
The national park with the second-most deaths was Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska.
It had 89.8 fatalities per 10 million visitors, the law firm found.
From 2007 to 2024, North Cascades National Park had only 448,708 visitors.
Every other park on Panish Shea & Boyle’s list of the 25 most dangerous national parks attracted more than three million visitors during the same time period.
North Cascades only reported 27 deaths from 2007 to 2024, but with the fewest visitors, the adjustment per 10 million visits skewed the final data.
How often do people die at national parks?
Based on National Park Service statistics, the likelihood of dying at a national park is relatively low.
Between 2007 and 2024, more than 5 billion people visited a national park.
In that time, a total of 4,213 people died at Parks Service sites.
According to Panish Shea & Boyle, that’s the equivalent of just eight deaths per 10 million visits.
“We feel that it is important to say that, based on our data, visiting U.S. national parks is very safe overall,” the law firm said in its most recent analysis.
“We want to note that mortality rates alone do not provide a full picture of the risks associated with recreating in a national park and provide zero insight into the hazards visitors may encounter in a park,” a spokesperson for the National Park Service wrote in an email to McClatchy Media.
“Further, characterizing parks as ‘most dangerous’ or ‘safest’ leads to a fundamental misunderstanding of the complexities of risk associated with the multitude of park experiences,” the spokesperson said.
How many people die at national parks each year?
According to the National Park Service, a total of 2,149 deaths occurred at national parks across the country between 2014 and 2019 — with 315 to 396 fatalities each year.
The most deaths occurred in 2018, when 396 people died.
Nearly 80% of people who died at National Park Service sites from 2014 and 2019 were male, while 19% of deaths were female. The agency did not disclose the sex in 2% of deaths.
Older park visitors were more likely to die than younger folks, according to Park Service data.
About 1,116 deaths involved visitors ages 45 and up, while 887 involved people 44 or younger.
Ages were not disclosed for 146 deaths.
Why are visitors dying at national parks?
The National Park Service said 50% of deaths at park sites from 2014 to 2019 were unintentional, while 19% were intentional and 20% involved medical causes. About 10% of deaths had “undetermined intent,” the federal agency said.
The most common unintentional cause of death was motor vehicle crashes, with 354 deaths.
During that time period, 314 park visitors died due to drowning and 205 by falling. Environmental causes killed 98 people, while poisoning killed 30 people and three were killed by wildlife.
Intentional deaths included 25 homicides and 381 deaths by suicide, according to data from the Park Service. Two people died due to “legal intervention,” the agency said.
What is the most dangerous U.S. national park?
“There is not a ‘most dangerous national park,’ “ the National Park Service said.
“Remember, safety is a shared responsibility between you and the park,” the Park Service said in an article addressing the commonly asked question.
The federal agency recommends reducing your risks by preparing before your park visit, and remaining safe and smart during your trip.
The Park Service recommends these steps for risk reduction:
- Familiarize yourself with any park you plan to visit
- Pick an activity that matches your experience, skills and fitness level
- Prepare for the activity and environment by checking the weather and bringing proper gear
- Fill out a trip plan and leave it with someone you trust that isn’t with you
- Follow all regulations, warning signs and safety recommendations from rangers
- Make informed decisions, check in with yourself during any activities and turn around if conditions change
“Rather than asking, ‘What is the most dangerous park,’ ” the Park Service said, “we think the better question you should ask is: ‘What hazards do I need to prepare for so I have a fun and injury-free national park visit?’ ”
What are best ways to prepare for a national park visit?
Planning ahead can greatly reduce risks during National Park Service visits.
The National Park Service has a planning guide, trip plan template and an outdoor emergency plan all visitors should review before arriving at a national park.
The Park Service instructs all visitors to bring 10 essentials for the safest experience.
“The 10 essentials are a collection of first aid and emergency items that can help you in the event of minor injuries, sudden weather changes, or unexpected delays,” the agency said on its website.
Here’s what to pack:
- Navigation: Map, compass and GPS system/
- Sun protection: Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat
- Insulation: Jacket, hat, gloves, rain shell, thermal underwear
- Illumination: Flashlight, lanterns or headlamp
- First-aid supplies
- Fire: Matches, lighter, fire starters
- Repair kit and tools: Knife, screwdriver, scissors and duct tape
- Nutrition
- Hydration: Water and water treatment supplies
- Emergency shelter: Tent, space blanket, tarp and bivy
Depending on your activity and location, you may need additional items before heading out.