Teen dies after falling 400 feet in Yellowstone

An 18-year-old woman died Thursday in an accidental fall near Inspiration Point in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, the park said Friday.

The woman, a Yellowstone concession employee on her first day in the park, was hiking the canyon’s North Rim Trail with three other acquaintances when she ventured out off the trail onto a loose rock promontory, which quickly gave way underneath her.

Yellowstone Rangers responded to a 911 cell phone call received at 5:44 p.m. Thursday, reporting a woman had fallen into the canyon. Rangers with the assistance of ground spotters and a Teton Interagency helicopter observed the woman’s body resting about 400 feet down the canyon wall. They concluded that she had sustained nonsurvivable njuries.

Despite the hazardous terrain, the body was successfully recovered from the
canyon by short-haul helicopter operation at about noon Friday.

The victim’s identity is being withheld until next of kin can be notified.

Visitors are reminded that hiking close to canyon rims in the park is extremely dangerous, according to a news release from the park. Staying on posted, designated canyon rim trails is a must due to the instability of loose dirt and rock near ledges.