16-year-old hiker dies after falling more than 100 feet in the Devils Castle area

Alta Ski Area in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Photo: Tim Peterson // Unsplash

LITTLE COTTONWOOD CANYON, Utah — A 16-year-old boy died Wednesday after falling more than 100 feet while hiking in the Devils Castle area above Little Cottonwood Canyon near Alta.

The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team responded to the Devils Castle Trail after receiving a report that a hiker had fallen from a cliff. The teen was pronounced dead at the scene, according to local reports.

The Alta Marshal’s Office and Utah Department of Public Safety Aero Bureau also responded to the incident. Authorities have not released the teen’s identity or additional details about what led to the fall.

KUTV initially reported Wednesday night that search and rescue crews were responding to a reported cliff fall on the trail. The sheriff’s office said at the time that the operation was ongoing and had not released information about the person’s condition.

The Devil’s Castle Trail is a steep, exposed route that climbs nearly 1,500 feet. The area includes sections of rock scrambling and challenging terrain.

The circumstances surrounding the fall remain under investigation.

The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office extended its condolences to the teen’s family and loved ones.