John Cletheroe's
USA and Canada Holiday Hints

Safety Considerations for a US/Canadian Holiday - Walking Trails

Some walking trails in National Parks, State and Provincial Parks, National Forests and other similar areas can be dangerous. However, provided you act sensibly the dangers are minimal and you shouldn't let them put you off at all.

The most obvious danger is of a fall. Some trails have unguarded drops, in places of enormous heights. Many scenic overlooks in National Parks and similar areas are on the edges of precipitous drops. Always be sure to stay behind any safety walls or railings and to closely supervise children.

Some particularly dangerous walking trails are as follows:

There are unguarded drops of hundreds of feet into the canyon between some of the bus stops on the West Rim Drive/Hermits Rest Road on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The trails often run very close to these drops, which I would regard as potentially the most dangerous I have seen in any American or Canadian park. The overlooks at each bus stop have safety railings, however. Between bus stops, it is safest to stay on the road but look out for passing buses.
At one point there is a very dangerous unguarded drop over a cliff on the Emerald Pools Trail in Zion National Park in Utah. The danger is fairly obvious and there are warning signs.
The Cascade Canyon Trail on the west side of Jenny Lake in the Grand Teton National Park. Between the bottom of Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point a fairly narrow trail climbs up the side of a cliff but the danger is obvious and not that severe provided reasonable care is taken.

Some potentially dangerous overlooks are as follows:

There are drops of hundreds of feet below the overlooks at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone in Yellowstone National Park. Provided you are sensible and stay behind the safety walls and railings then there is no danger.
There are drops of hundreds of feet below the overlooks at Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park. Provided you stay behind the safety walls and railings there is no danger.
There are drops of hundreds of feet below the overlooks at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Provided you stay behind the safety walls and railings there is no danger.