LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Regular visitors at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area have asked what park rangers are doing to crack down on cliff jumping, after a teenager died during Labor Day weekend.
Cliff jumping is a popular past-time among teenagers and young adults in the Nelson’s Landing area along the Colorado River, but recently, park officials and rangers issued a warning and reminder: the practice is prohibited and can be deadly.
On Labor Day weekend, a 19-year-old slipped off a shelf, fell into the water, and could not be revived.
A parent shared their teen’s videos with FOX5, showing themselves and others cliff jumping. While they acknowledge the practice is fun, they have told their teen to halt the activity in light of the tragedy.
There have been 9 drownings this year within Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The number exceeds the annual statistics from 2021 to 2023.
Boat captain Bart Cops, who recently held a community safety meeting, and tells FOX5, since the August drowning death of a paddleboarder, there is a noticeable presence of rangers around high-traffic areas.
FOX5 posed various questions to Lake Mead National Recreation Area officials, after lake goers and some parents wanted to know what’s next.
Q: In light of the fatal incident, have there been extra patrols or warnings?
“Visitor safety is our top priority, and we continually assess the need for patrols and warnings based on visitor activity, seasonal trends, and safety concerns. NPS rangers are actively engaged in law enforcement, visitor education, and preventive safety measures to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone. While the park is expansive, our rangers focus on high-traffic areas to address visitor safety effectively.”
Q: Do NPS officials and park rangers enforce the “no cliff jumping” rule and patrol the area? Is there a punishment for cliff jumping?
“NPS rangers regularly patrol high-risk areas such as Nelson’s Landing and Placer Cove, where cliff jumping is prohibited under the Superintendent’s Compendium. Our rangers’ primary focus is to educate visitors about the dangers of cliff jumping to prevent accidents from occurring, but our rangers can cite people if they are seen violating the ‘no cliff jumping’ rule, with penalties including fines up to $5,000 and/or up to 6 months in jail.”
Q:Can NPS and park rangers step up enforcement, as a preventative measure?
“Lake Mead has roughly 26 rangers who are responsible for the safety and protection of our visitors and resources throughout the park’s 1.5 million acres of land and water—an area roughly the size of Delaware. While we continuously assess safety measures like targeted patrols in high-traffic areas, redirecting law enforcement to Nelson’s Landing would negatively impact protection services to critical incidents in other high-use areas. As such, the park prioritizes robust and consistent education on how to recreate safely and responsibly for an enjoyable experience at Lake Mead.”
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