Man dies after slipping, falling 130 feet at Grand Canyon West

Authorities in Arizona confirmed that a man died after slipping and falling over the edge at a popular tourist area at Grand Canyon West last week.

Deputies with the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office responded to a search and rescue at Guano Point on Thursday around 2 p.m. local time, per a press release.

The team found the victim, identified as a 65-year-old man, “about 130 feet down a scree pile,” the sheriff’s office stated.

According to the Grand Canyon West website, the area is spearheaded by the Hualapai Tribe and is not associated with Grand Canyon National Park, which is about five hours away.

USA Today reached out to the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office for more information on Nov. 10.

Authorities used a rope system to recover the victim

According to the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, the technical rope team executed the mission by using a “lowering and raising system” to recover the victim.

The man’s body was taken to the local county medical examiner’s office. Bureau of Indian Affairs Police, Hualapai Nation Fire, and Grand Canyon West security assisted in the recovery.

The Guano Point is a site at Grand Canyon West with 360-degree views. Located on the Hualapai Reservation, the attraction has a hiking trail, a cafe with outdoor seating and a souvenir shop.

Deadly falls happen occasionally at the Grand Canyon and Grand Canyon West, according to the Arizona Republic, part of the USA Today Network.

Earlier this year, in July, a hiker died on the South Kaibab Trail at Grand Canyon National Park.

In 2023, a 33-year-old man fell about 4,000 feet from the Grand Canyon Skywalk. That incident was ruled a suicide by Mohave County authorities.

In 2019, a tourist from Hong Kong fell and died at Grand Canyon West while trying to take a photo.