The ground below is steep rock formations covered with bushes, and it’s considered impossible that anyone will survive the fall. Could you survive a fall from Pulpit Rock?įor anyone who’s unlucky enough to fall down, you’re in for a 250 meter fall straight down. This means that the fatality rate per 100,000 is far lower than it is for driving or most other activities really. While a handful of deaths might sound terrifying, keep in mind that there are over 300,000 people visiting Pulpit Rock per year. There have been found at least 4 additional bodies in the area below the plateau, but no context is given. What we do know for sure is that there have been 2 confirmed accidental falls in the last two decades. The reason is simply that the Norwegian media does not report on suspected suicides, so researching this article is next to impossible. It’s also a bit difficult to know for sure about the exact numbers. Please remember the Leave No Trace Principles so this park’s natural beauty can be enjoyed for years to come.Person alone at Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen).

Cell service is minimal throughout the park, and it is very easy to get turned around in this vast desert when trails are not clearly clearly marked. Anytime you visit Death Valley, I highly recommend bringing a GPS device or smartphone equipped with a GPS app and pre-loaded maps (I recommend and use Gaia).

Plan ahead with knowledgeable navigation, tell others where you’re going, and use mountain peaks or other landmarks to remember the location of your car when hiking away from the road. You can lose direction easily in the desert and cell service is nonexistent here. When hiking across rugged terrain or in twisting canyons, stay on established routes, and avoid climbing on unstable cliffs.During thunderstorms, flash flood danger is especially high in areas like this, so make sure to exit and avoid washes, narrows, and canyons during rainstorms.In fact, hiking after 10 AM in Death Valley on hot days is not advised. To prevent dehydration and heat exhaustion, bring 1 gallon of water per day minimum and keep hikes short on hot days. In the desert your body is subjected to heat from direct sunlight, harsh winds, and high temperatures. In recent years several hikers have died of heat stroke out on the trails. Pack plenty of water for this hike, more than you think you’ll need.One careless person could bring it all down. As you walk under it, you can see cracks forming along the Natural Bridge. This formation is fragile and took hundreds of years to form. Even though the natural arch bridge looks sturdy, please do not climb up it to take photos.Most sedans can handle it, although I’d recommend a higher clearance vehicle like my Kia Sportage (pictured above). The Natural Bridge Road is an unpaved gravel road.Always check the official Death Valley NPS website for current weather and road conditions prior to visiting.You can turn around here, but I recommend continuing under the bridge and up the canyon to encounter more examples of Death Valley’s varied geology. As the largest natural arch in Death Valley National Park, the incredible bridge formation is the highlight for most hikers. Unlike the smooth sandstone arches found in Utah, this bridge is made of jagged rock, gravel, and sediment washed and cemented together long ago. The deepening of the canyon left the alcove on the north side and the bridge high and exposed above the canyon floor. It’s believed roaring floods pushed a hole through the fin, creating a shorter route down the slope. Long ago while this area was being carved out by flowing water, the stream followed the path of least resistance and formed a sharp bend that eventually eroded into a fin of rock.

At over 20 feet thick and hanging about 35 feet above the canyon floor, this perfectly formed arch connects the walls of this canyon. Just over a half mile into this hike, the impressive natural bridge looms overhead.

Arch rock death