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Here are the top 10 deadliest national parks, according to research

From falls, to drowning, to attacks by wild animals – these are some of the world’s most deadly national parks.

Bison Slips on Ice at Yellowstone National Park

National parks like the Grand Canyon, Yosemite and Kings Canyon may be on millions of bucket lists, but beneath their awe-inspiring beauty lies danger.

While the serene landscapes of national parks feature a plethora of mountainous landscapes, pristine beaches and lush forests, there are some deadly risks associated with visiting.

Recently, outdoor clothing brand KÜHL looked at different criteria and came up with a list of the top 10 deadliest national parks.

The company said it looked into data associated with the total number of deaths, missing people, search and rescue missions, the presence of park rangers, the proximity to hospitals, trail alerts and visitor data to come up with the list.

KÜHL said some of the factors that made the national parks rank higher on the list were due to the higher number of deaths and search and rescue missions or hospital inaccessibility.

Here are the top 10 deadliest national parks according to KÜHL.

The top 10 deadliest national parks

1. Grand Canyon National Park

KÜHL says Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona took the top spot, with 1 in 503,000 people being at risk of dying there. Since 2007, 165 people have died in the Grand Canyon, according to the company.

Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona took the top spot, with 1 in 503,000 people being at risk of dying there. Picture: iStock
Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona took the top spot, with 1 in 503,000 people being at risk of dying there. Picture: iStock

2. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Tied for first place is Wrangell-St. Elias National Park in Alaska. KÜHL said the probability of dying there is 1 in 126,000 due to the national park having some of the largest volcanoes and glaciers.

Tied for first place is Wrangell-St. Elias National Park in Alaska, which is dangerous due to it having some of the largest volcanoes and glaciers. Picture: iStock
Tied for first place is Wrangell-St. Elias National Park in Alaska, which is dangerous due to it having some of the largest volcanoes and glaciers. Picture: iStock

3. Isle Royale National Park

Isle Royale National Park in Michigan is a remote island cluster and came in third on KÜHL’s list of the most unsafe national parks. The company said it has a probability of 1 in 163,000 of people dying there.

Looking out over the shoreline and pure waters of Lake Superior on the Northern island of Isle Royale. Picture: iStock
Looking out over the shoreline and pure waters of Lake Superior on the Northern island of Isle Royale. Picture: iStock

4. North Cascades National Park

North Cascades National Park in Washington State is America’s fourth most dangerous national park for hiking or camping. Despite its pristine beauty, the deep forested valleys, waterfalls and glaciers, there is a 1 in 18,000 chance of dying there.

North Cascades National Park in Washington State is America’s fourth most dangerous national park for hiking or camping. Picture: iStock
North Cascades National Park in Washington State is America’s fourth most dangerous national park for hiking or camping. Picture: iStock

5. Dry Tortugas National Park

Coming in fifth place was Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida. The national park offers crystal clear blue water and abundant ocean life, but safety precautions need to be taken when visiting. KÜHL says people visiting the national park have a 1 in 184,000 chance of dying there.

Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida offers crystal clear blue water and abundant ocean life, but safety precautions need to be taken when visiting. Picture: iStock
Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida offers crystal clear blue water and abundant ocean life, but safety precautions need to be taken when visiting. Picture: iStock

6. Big Bend National Park

KÜHL placed Big Bend National Park in Texas in the sixth spot. The death probably there is 1 in 218,000.

Big Bend's Iconic Mule Ears mountain formation at sunset. Picture: iStock
Big Bend's Iconic Mule Ears mountain formation at sunset. Picture: iStock

7. Denali National Park

Another national park in Alaska, Denali National Park, ranks seventh on the list. KÜHL says the death probability there is 1 in 119,000.

Byers Lake, Alaska is the closest view to Mount McKinley without being on the mountain in Denali National Park. Picture: iStock
Byers Lake, Alaska is the closest view to Mount McKinley without being on the mountain in Denali National Park. Picture: iStock

8. Kings Canyon National Park

Kings Canyon National Park in California is number eight on the list. According to the data from KÜHL, 1 in 220,000 may lose their life inside the park.

The vast and impressive wall of Kings Canyon. Picture: iStock
The vast and impressive wall of Kings Canyon. Picture: iStock

9. Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas is in ninth place. The national park has the world’s most extensive Permian fossil reef and forests. Guadalupe Mountains National Park has a death probability of 1 in 514,000, according to KÜHL.

Autumn colours along Pine Canyon, Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Picture: iStock
Autumn colours along Pine Canyon, Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Picture: iStock

10. Mount Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State came in at the bottom of the list in tenth place. The mountain has amazing views of the surrounding areas, but the national park has a death probability of 1 in 317,000.

Mount Rainier make be breathtaking but also has a death probability of 1 in 317,000. Picture: iStock
Mount Rainier make be breathtaking but also has a death probability of 1 in 317,000. Picture: iStock

KÜHL stresses that even though the list suggests these parks are dangerous, the “danger” is only indicative of higher risk exposure rather than inherent safety.

The company said that the average odds of a fatal incident in a national park is about 1 in 664,099 people, which is lower than walking down the street, as the chances of dying in a traffic crash are 1 in 485.

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission.

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/travel/destinations/north-america/here-are-the-top-10-deadliest-national-parks-according-to-research/news-story/9f7ee0d034738dc1025a1be2f35297ff