How Many People Have Died on Mount Cannon? 3 Hiking Deaths on Record
As of 2026, 3 people have died hiking Mount Cannon in the documented record — out of 9 incidents in this database, 6 of which were survived. This counts hiking and backcountry incidents only — widely-cited mountain death tolls that include railway, auto-road, and aviation accidents run higher. The causes that recur most here are fall, medical, avalanche. Higher counts partly reflect how heavily a peak is hiked, not just how dangerous it is — it’s hiked safely far more often than not, but it rewards real preparation.
Most common causes on Mount Cannon
- Fall7 incidents
- Medical1 incident
- Avalanche1 incident
Where incidents happen on Mount Cannon
Trails and locations named in 6 of the 9 records. Not every report specifies a location, so treat this as where incidents are documented, not a complete map of risk.
| Trail or location | Incidents | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Kinsman Ridge Trail | 2 | — |
One record each: Coppermine Trail, Cannon Cliff, Black Dike, Hi-Cannon Trail, Moby Grape route.
When incidents happen
Documented incidents by month. Darker = more. Incidents cluster in June; winter incidents skew toward ice and traction, summer toward heat and exhaustion.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Survived | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| Fatal | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Based on incidents with a known date. Use it to plan the season — not to assume any month is “safe.”
Mount Cannon deaths by decade
Across the documented record (1968–2026), Mount Cannon averages 0.1 hiking deaths per year — about 0.1 per year over the last 20 years. Averages flatten real variation: a single winter storm can account for several deaths in one year, and none the next.
| Decade | Incidents | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1 | 1 |
| 2010s | 1 | 0 |
| 2020s | 7 | 2 |
Rescue records are documented far more consistently in recent decades than in the historical archive, so rising incident counts reflect improving records as much as changing risk. The fatality column is the more comparable series.
Every documented incident on Mount Cannon
Each links to the full sourced report.
- RescueMar 30, 2026
- Rescue · Kinsman Ridge TrailJun 12, 2025
- Avalanche · Black DikeFeb 16, 2025
- Body recovery · Coppermine TrailNov 22, 2024
- Rescue · Kinsman Ridge TrailJul 16, 2023
- Rescue · Hi-Cannon TrailJun 26, 2023
- Fatality · Cannon Cliff (Moby Grape route)Sep 20, 2020
- Rescue · Moby Grape routeOct 23, 2011
- FatalityApr 28, 1968
Frequently asked
Is Mount Cannon dangerous to hike?+
Mount Cannon appears in 9 documented incidents in this database, including 3 fatal. The most common contributing factors here are fall, medical, avalanche. Higher counts partly reflect how heavily a peak is hiked, not just how dangerous it is — Mount Cannon is hiked safely far more often than not. Check the forecast, carry the Ten Essentials, start early, and be willing to turn back when conditions or daylight run short.
How many people have died on Mount Cannon?+
This database documents 3 deaths on Mount Cannon out of 9 recorded incidents. The record reaches back into the historical archive and is updated as new reports are reviewed, so it captures the documented fatality record plus a growing, primary-sourced sample of rescues — not a complete tally of every call.
What is the Mount Cannon death rate — how many people die per year?+
Across the documented record (1968–2026), Mount Cannon averages about 0.1 hiking deaths per year — 3 deaths over 59 years. Over the last 20 years (2007–2026) the rate is about 0.1 per year, from 2 recorded deaths. These are hiking and backcountry deaths only; totals that also count railway, auto-road, and aviation accidents run higher. Averages also flatten real variation — a single bad winter storm can account for several deaths in one year.
Part of the WMNF Hiker Incident Database. This tracks hiking and backcountry incidents — widely-cited mountain death tolls also count non-hiking fatalities (railway and auto-road accidents, aircraft, skiing, natural causes at the summit) that this database doesn't. Counts reflect the documented record, not every call NH Fish and Game responds to.