Tragedy struck Canyonlands National Park in Moab, Utah, when a 52-year-old father and his 23-year-old daughter were found dead on Friday. According to the National Park Service, the duo, from Green Bay, Wisconsin, had been hiking the challenging Syncline Trail when they became lost and exhausted, with no access to water.
The San Juan County Dispatch received a 911 text from an individual within the park’s Island in the Sky district, alerting authorities to the situation. At the time, the temperature in Moab was above 100 degrees, posing a significant risk to the hikers’ survival.
The Syncline Loop Trail, which the father and daughter were attempting to complete, is notorious for being the most challenging in the Island in the Sky district. The hike requires approximately seven hours to finish, with a total elevation change of 1,516 feet. National Park Service guidelines recommend bringing at least a gallon of water per person while hiking in the area.
In contrast, other trails within the district offer easier options for visitors. For example, the Mesa Arch hike is a short,.6-mile trek offering stunning views of the La Sal Mountains. The White Rim Overlook trail spans 1.8 miles, providing views of the Colorado River, while the Grand View Point and Murphy Point trails offer breathtaking vistas of the Green River and surrounding landscape.
