Hiker Dies After Falling from Angels Landing at Zion National Park

A Texas man has died after plunging from one of the most iconic and dangerous trails in the U.S. national park system, prompting a temporary closure and renewed calls for hiker vigilance.

What Happened on Angels Landing

Gilberto Ramos, 68, of Laredo, Texas, died on Friday, April 17, after falling from the chained section of Angels Landing at Zion National Park in Utah. The incident occurred at approximately 2 p.m. local time when fellow hikers reported seeing a person fall from the trail's narrow ridgeline.

Park rangers and local law enforcement responded quickly. Ramos was located on the north side of Angels Landing in Zion Canyon, near an area known as Big Bend. Recovery operations were completed by Friday evening, and his remains were transferred to the Washington County Sheriff's Office and the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner, according to the National Park Service.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office and the state medical examiner publicly identified Ramos on Monday.