Samantha MoilanenA 16-year-old boy died Wednesday after falling several hundred feet while scrambling along the ridgeline of Devil’s Castle, a popular hiking area at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon.
The teen was with three other people on “extremely difficult terrain” near Alta when he fell, according to the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Another hiker witnessed the fall and called 911.
First responders found the teen dead at the scene, the sheriff’s office said in a statement late Wednesday.
Up on the ridgeline, first responders separately helped the three other hikers who had been with the boy safely climb down, the sheriff’s office said.
Authorities did not immediately identify the teen Thursday. The sheriff’s office described the three others he was with as “companions” but shared no other details.
The Devil’s Castle area remained temporarily closed Thursday as law enforcement continued working the scene, the sheriff’s office said. It’s expected to reopen Friday.
Multiple agencies participated in the initial search-and-rescue effort, including the Alta Marshal’s Office, Unified Fire Authority, emergency medical transport service AirLife, and the Utah Department of Public Safety’s aero bureau, which performs technical rescues from the air.
(Salt Lake County Search and Rescue via Facebook) A helicopter responds to a 16-year-old boy who died Wednesday after falling while scrambling along the ridgeline of Devil’s Castle.
In a statement, the sheriff’s office said it “extends its deepest condolences to the hiker’s family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
“Our thoughts are with this young man’s family, friends, and everyone who was with him during this tragic incident,” said Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera in a statement Thursday afternoon.
Devil’s Castle is a high-alpine area in the Wasatch Mountains above Alta, known for its steep, exposed terrain.
The Devil’s Castle Loop is about 4 miles long and climbs nearly 1,500 feet, according to AllTrails. The hiking app rates it as a strenuous route, with rock scrambling near the ridge making it “best for those with experience.”
The trail passes Cecret Lake before climbing toward Devil’s Castle through Albion Basin, an area known for its summer wildflowers.
In 1973, an 18-year-old from Sandy died after he fell about 100 feet from a cliff while hiking down from Devil’s Castle, according to a Salt Lake Tribune report published at the time.
