Woman falls to death in Grand Canyon while hiking, park says

An Arizona woman died while hiking in the Grand Canyon on Friday. (Luiz C. Ribeiro)

An Arizona woman hiking in the Grand Canyon fell to her death Friday afternoon, park officials said.

Maria Salgado Lopez, 59, was hiking off-trail and taking photographs along the canyon’s south rim when she accidentally stepped off the edge, according to a press release from the park.

An average of 12 people die in the park each year. (Luiz C. Ribeiro)

Lopez fell about 100 feet to her death, the release said. Park rangers recovered her body later that afternoon.

The National Parks Service and the local county medical examiner are investigating the incident.

It’s the second death in the Canyon in the past two weeks. On June 24, 49-year-old Catherine Houe died from heat exposure.

The release warned visitors to stay on designated trails and keep a safe distance from the edge of the canyon.

About 12 people die each year within Grand Canyon National Park, a park spokeswoman said in 2019.