40 rescued after ‘excessive heat’ endangers hikers at Texas state park, officials say

Firefighters and park rangers rescued 40 hikers endangered by extreme heat at a Texas state park on Saturday, June 11, officials said.

Temperatures in Palo Duro Canyon State Park were well into the triple digits, ranging from 108 to 110 degrees depending on the area, Texas Parks and Wildlife officials posted on social media.

Crews rescued several groups over the course of about three hours, for a total of 40 visitors, Canyon Fire Department Chief Dennis Gwyn told McClatchy News.

“This happens every once in a while,” Gwyn said. “It’s a domino effect.”

Not enough water, improper clothing, a lack of physical conditioning — or all three can be dangerous. Add “excessive heat” to the mix and it’s potentially fatal, according to officials.

Hikers can find themselves far along the trail, overheated and dehydrated, and suddenly realize they might not be able to walk their way back before the heat gets them.

Luckily, there’s cell service in much of the park, so hikers were able to call for help.

Firefighters responded in a UTV and drove them to safety, one group after another, Gwyn said.

All of the hikers were picked up along the Lighthouse Trail, according to Gwyn. It is one of the longer trails at the park.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park is the second largest canyon in the U.S., and boasts 15,000 acres of trails, according to the Amarillo Convention and Visitors Bureau.

It also features numerous geological formations, drawing in casual sightseers and experienced hikers alike. Rescuers previously saved a visitor who became trapped beside one of the iconic formations.

The park is about 25 miles southeast of downtown Amarillo.

This story was originally published June 14, 2022 at 4:01 PM with the headline "40 rescued after ‘excessive heat’ endangers hikers at Texas state park, officials say."