A Hickory, North Carolina, man fell 400 feet to his death at the Grand Canyon on Wednesday.
Abel Joseph Mejia, 20, was recovered by Grand Canyon National Park rangers after falling from the rim of the canyon. Mejia fell to his death a little after 10:30 a.m., the National Park Service said in a statement.
Responders use a high angle technical rescue system to recover the body of Abel Mejia on Wednesday.
Mejia’s body was located 400 feet below the canyon’s rim. Mejia’s fall is considered an accident. The National Park Service and the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office in Arizona are investigating, the National Park Service said.
The area where Mejia fell is located a quarter mile west of the Pipe Creek Vista in the Grand Canyon Village in Arizona, the National Park Service said.
National Park Service said Grand Canyon visitors are asked to stay on designated trails and walkways. Visitors should keep a safe distance of at least six feet from the edge of the rim and stay behind railings and fences.
One-Star Grand Canyon Reviews
Grand Canyon one-star review - Wi Fi
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No Wi-Fi
-Gabriel Fender
Grand Canyon one star reviews - No Taco Truck
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"What a huge pain in the butt! If you ever find yourself in a situation where you have to make a quick escape twards Canada.... DO NOT GO THIS WAY!! There is a huge crack in the ground and a ton of people staring into it. And it takes miles and miles to go around!! They should put up a sign or something telling people this is there. Also there was no taco truck."
- Ken P.
Grand Canyon one star review - Not as Deep
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"Not as deep as I expected."
-Jon Goodman
Grand Canyon one-star review, "ooh" "aah"
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Once you have been to Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon is a joke, and I'm an Arizona native. There are no animals, no greenery, no clear blue streams... just a muddy river, rock, and sheer cliffs. You'll go "ooh" and "ahh" for 30 seconds, and then feel guilty that you're ready to leave after that.
Ken B.
Tucson, AZ
Grand Canyon one star reviews, solitary confinement
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This is a great place for solitary confinement.
Sara L.
Mars, PA
Grand Canyon one star review, daytime visitors
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Daytime visitors to Grand Canyon National Park get to take pictures from the rim, which all end up looking the same after a while, and maybe hike a small way down into the Canyon just to have to turn around and head back before getting anywhere near any of the really different and spectacular views.
So much potential, yet offers so little to the vast majority of the park's visitors. What a waste of one of the greatest natural features on Earth.
Jon W.
Milpitas, CA
Grand Canyon one star review, politely decline
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"Whenever we get out-of-town guests who want to see the Canyon, I politely decline."
sflbib
Sedona, Ariz.
Colorado Plateau Explorer
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"Whoopity do, Grand Canyon. You were caused by erosion. You don't have roller coasters or dippin' dots. Jeeesh, can you say 'overrated?'"
Jorbi P.
Somerville, Mass.
Grand Canyon one star review, Ehh
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"Ehh. I've seen better."
Barry G.
Seattle, Wash.
Grand Canyon one star review, playing golf
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"Couldn't see what all the fuss is about. Dragged here by the missus when I should have been playing golf. It's just a hole in the ground."
Paul B.
Grand Canyon one star review, Taj Mahal
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"This is almost as disappointing as my trip to the Taj Mahal and Great Wall of China."
Frenchie G.
Boston, MA
Grand Canyon one star review, 1 1/2 stars
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"1 1/2 stars but, being a very discerning Yelper, I’ll just have to give it 1. More like 'Mediocre Canyon.'"
Shane H.
Oakland, Calif.
Grand Canyon one star review, 9 hours
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"While the Grand Canyon is nice to look at, I drove 9 hours one way to see it, but it felt like it was only worth a 2 hour drive. So if you happen to be within 2 hours it’s worth considering."
SthCA
Grand Canyon one star review, DVD instead
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"Really don't get the fascination! Took two hours to get there - should've stayed in my hotel and watched a DVD instead…"
David H.
Grand Canyon one star review, giant hole
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"Seriously. It's a giant hole in the ground. There's nothing to see from the top."
Jama J.
Phoenix, Ariz.
Grand Canyon one star review, commercialized
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"I am still in shock at how commercialized the whole place has become, more like Disneyland than a beautiful natural park. They've built so many buildings that they've stolen all the beautiful views from the road. What a terrible shame!"
iamtravelinpam
Atlanta, Ga.
Grand Canyon one star review - Big Ditch
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This review was a 2 star
"Ummmmm ok so it's like a big ditch. Annnnnnnndddd???? We have a ditch near my house that is closer and also you can throw your trash into it. And I have to PAY to see this one??? WHY???!!!"
-Jeff Herring
Deep existential revelation
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I guess I was seeking some sort of deep existential revelation that so many of my friends experienced, but I got nothing. I planned on spending a few days here but left after five hours. I went on the "Hermit's Rest" tour, did a two short trails, and called it a day. I parked at the visitor center and immediately boarded the shuttle bus. With every stop, I had anticipated to see something better than before, but every view looked the same. When the bus pulled back into the visitor center, I decided to view Mather Point which was a short walk away. I was upset that I wasted a half-day on the bus, when the most spectacular view was right where I parked. I actually found the drive back through the Kaibab National Forest more spectacular than the Canyon.
Trip Advisor user- delbocaboy
There was dirt EVERYWHERE
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Went to the Grand Canyon this past week and let me tell YOU it's a big ole waste o time! There was dirt EVERYWHERE and the hiking trail was too long! Also where are the vending machines?? And no where to charge my phone! It's way too deep to even see the bottom! The only thing that saved this trip where the crab enchilados we ate down the road at plaza Bonita, BEST MEXICO FOOD EVER! Grand Canyon more like grand blandyon
They should've made it closer
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"agh stuff was cool but why so far away they should’ve made it closer to phoenex when they were carving it." -- Bee Bee
Meh
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"Me and my family decided to go on a Family trip to the Grand Canyon. When we got there after our 4 hour car ride we quickly went straight to the viewing area and it was just a pile of dirt and rocks. I think you would have more fun at a park with a little sand box and a couple of rocks and one of those cute cactuses for $5 so save your money and time and DONT GO TO THE GRAND CANYON. PS the water is muddy. Don’t drink it. We learned the hard way."
