Lake Mead National Recreation Area Named Deadliest National Park With 19 Deaths So Far This Year

The Lake Mead National Recreation Area, located in Nevada and Arizona, has emerged as the nation’s deadliest national park as a concerning surge in the number of fatalities has been reported within its boundaries. 

The recreation area is on track to surpass the total number of deaths from previous years. As of July 3, 2024, the area has already recorded 19 confirmed deaths, a number that matches the total number of fatalities reported for the years of 2016, 2018 and 2019 combined.

The Lake Mead National Recreation Area, which encompasses Lake Mead, Lake Mohave and their surrounding 1.5 million acres, has consistently been the nation’s deadliest national park, with 317 deaths reported from 2007 to the beginning of 2024, a number that significantly exceeds the figures for other popular destinations like the Grand Canyon National Park (198 deaths) and Yosemite National Park (179 deaths).

The spike in fatalities has raised serious concerns about the safety of the recreation area, and park officials have emphasized the importance of life jackets and avoiding alcohol when engaged in water-related activities. On average, about 18.5 people die inside the recreation area each year, data shows. The most common cause of unintentional death inside America’s national parks is motor vehicle crashes followed by drowning. Four in five deaths occur among men.

The decade with the highest number of drownings in Lake Mead was the 1990s, and the park service estimates that over 300 people have drowned in the lake since it was filled in the 1930s. The recreation area’s visitation numbers have fluctuated in recent years, with a reported high of over eight million visitors in 2020, followed by a decline in 2022 and 2023. 

Park authorities and local officials have urged others to take immediate action to address the underlying issues and implement comprehensive safety measures to protect visitors. This may involve increased signage, enhanced rescue capabilities, and targeted educational campaigns to raise awareness among the public.

In recent years, Lake Mead has become known for the large number of dead bodies found as the lake shrank due to global warming.