facebook-pixel

2 killed, 1 injured in fall near Delicate Arch

(Chris Detrick  |  Tribune file photo) Visitors take pictures and hike around Delicate Arch in Arches National Park Saturday March 5, 2016.

(Chris Detrick | Tribune file photo) Visitors take pictures and hike around Delicate Arch in Arches National Park Saturday March 5, 2016.

A man and a woman died Friday morning when they fell into the bowl-area near Delicate Arch in Arches National Park. A younger man also fell and was injured.

Park officials heard about the fall around 7:30 a.m. The trail was then closed and reopened Friday around 3 p.m., after officials cleared the area, Chief Ranger Scott Brown said.

It’s unclear if weather played a role in the accident — the first deaths not related to medical issues on the trail in years — although it had been raining and snowing in the park, Brown said. Those conditions can make the trail leading to the arch slippery.

The deceased were identified as a 65-year-old man and a 60-year-old female, and a 30-year-old man was injured. All were from California and appear to be related, Brown said.

Delicate Arch is a popular tourist attraction and is the largest free-standing arch in Arches National Park, with a light opening 46-feet high and 32-feet wide, according to the park website. Visitors can see it from a viewpoint within the park, or hike the 3-mile round trip trail to get a closer look.


Support free news for Utah

sltrib.com is now free to access — no subscription required. We made this decision because we believe access to trustworthy, independent news shouldn’t depend on what you can afford — especially as misinformation and AI-generated content continue to rise.

Free to read doesn’t mean free to produce. Our reporters show up every day to ask hard questions and hold powerful institutions to account. That work takes resources. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on support from people who believe it matters. Make a donation today to fund local news that serves Utah communities.

You can help us bring more local news to more communities today.