North Carolina is home to two of America’s seven deadliest national parks, according to a just-released analysis by a company that specializes in protective railings and other safety features.
The Blue Ridge Parkway — with 252 of its 469 miles running through North Carolina — came in at No. 4 on list of parks reporting the most deaths since 2007, while Great Smoky Mountains National Park checked in at No. 7.
The Parkway averaged nearly 11 fatalities annually. Nearly half of 182 deaths since 2007 were caused by vehicle collisions. The National Park Service notes that the route “is beautiful but requires extra care while driving. Some of the wonderful things to observe along the way include the mountains, trees, wildflowers, the graceful curves ... and the speed limit, which is strictly enforced for your safety.â€
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The limit is 45 mph at its highest and drops as low as 25 mph along more perilous sections. “Law enforcement rangers investigate on average 200 accidents each year with half of those resulting in serious injury,†NPS says.
‘Unforgiving for a careless driver’
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has recorded about nine fatalities per year, most also caused by vehicle crashes. Sixty of the 150 deaths since 2007 were blamed on vehicle wrecks.
“The park’s mountainous roads are narrow, winding and heavily traveled,†NPS notes. “They are unforgiving for a careless driver; or worse, for a driver whose mental state is compromised by alcohol or drugs.â€
The park itself covers 816 square miles nearly evenly split between North Carolina and Tennessee.
A 43-year-old Illinois man camping in the park in 2020 was killed after being attacked by a bear.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area, which straddles the Nevada and Arizona state lines, is the deadliest of national parks with nearly 21 fatalities per year, according to EDGE. Most of the deaths are due to drowning in the 247-square-mile reservoir formed by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River. The lake reaches depths of more than 500 feet.
“Looking at which national parks are the deadliest can reveal the most common dangers in each park such as drowning, falling and motor vehicle crashes,†said EDGE Fall Protection Chief Safety Officer Michael McCarty. “Although half of all deaths are unintentional, pointing to the terrain and people being careless, it’s important to note that fatalities rise sharply among those aged 50 and over.
“Our national parks can use this data to implement safety protocols such as more visible ranger stations and information for visitors about the most common issues.â€
The full Top 10
1. Lake Mead
2. Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, 12.7 per year, most due to falls.
3. Yosemite National Park in California, 11.1 per year, most due to falls.
4. Blue Ridge Parkway
5. Natchez Trace Parkway in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee, 10.1 per year, most due to vehicle crashes.
6. Golden Gate National Recreation Area in California, 9.52, common cause “undetermined.â€
7. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
8. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Utah and Arizona, 8.17, most due to drowning.
9. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in California, 5.41, most due to falls.
10. Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, 4.94, most due to vehicle crashes.
