A group of tourists is facing harsh criticism after ignoring safety warnings at the Grand Canyon’s North Rim by venturing beyond a “do not enter” sign and performing yoga poses on a dangerous ledge. Park ranger Sarah Anderson, who witnessed the incident, shared footage of the reckless behavior on social media through the group “Tourons of National Parks,” which mocks irresponsible and dangerous actions by visitors in national parks.
In the video, Anderson captured the group bypassing the clearly posted warning sign before moving toward the ledge to enjoy the sunset. Anderson explained that the group consisted of young adults, and one woman was seen doing yoga poses perilously close to the canyon’s edge. She later clarified that the woman was not alone, as the group had gathered to watch the sunset.
“It’s frustrating to see people blatantly ignore safety warnings,” Anderson said, adding that the young women crossed into a restricted area despite the clear danger. Online viewers expressed outrage at the group’s disregard for the rules, with one user commenting, “When I visited the South Rim, most of my anxiety came from seeing people doing stuff like this. I thought for sure there was going to be a death.”
The dangers of venturing too close to the canyon’s edge are well-documented. According to the Grand Canyon’s official website, falling is the second-leading cause of death at the park. Between 2007 and 2023, there were 40 fatalities resulting from falls, averaging about 2.4 deaths per year. Despite these stark statistics, some visitors continue to take unnecessary risks.
One particularly tragic example occurred just two months ago when 20-year-old Abel Joseph Mejia, a college student from Hickory, North Carolina, fell 400 feet to his death after hiking off-trail at the Grand Canyon. Mejia’s body was discovered by National Park Service workers beneath the Pipe Creek Overlook, and it was determined that he had been near the edge when he accidentally fell.
Grand Canyon National Park spokesperson Joelle Baird reminded visitors that hiking off-trail is a common but dangerous occurrence at the park. She emphasized the importance of staying behind railings and fences and maintaining a safe distance of at least six feet from the edge.
The National Park Service continues to investigate incidents like Mejia’s, issuing regular reminders to park visitors to respect the safety precautions in place. “These areas are closed for a reason,” Anderson stated, urging visitors to think twice before putting themselves in harm’s way.
This kind of thing is serious: tourists die at the Grand Canyon all the time, and it’s usually because they refuse to follow instructions
See:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t5xt4AfBZU
Make sure to follow the rules next time you’re there!
