Woman Falls 400 Feet to Her Death at Grand Canyon

Image: PHOTO: The North Rim of the Grand Canyon. (photo by Barry Kaufman)
Image: PHOTO: The North Rim of the Grand Canyon. (photo by Barry Kaufman)
Patrick Clarke
by Patrick Clarke
Last updated: 3:38 PM ET, Tue July 12, 2016

PHOTO: Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. (photo courtesy of Barry Kaufman)

A tourist fell 400 feet to her death at the Grand Canyon Friday, WESH reported.

Thirty-five-year-old Colleen Burns of Central Florida was vacationing in Arizona with her friends when she slipped off the edge of a cliff at Ooh Aah Point along the South Kaibab Trail.

Park rangers located her body and confirmed her death Monday.

Jessica Roman, who was with Burns at the popular tourist attraction when the incident occurred, told WESH the group had just taken a photo before Burns tripped and fell over the edge.

"She was stepping out of the way for another gentleman to kind of squeeze in, and unfortunately, Colleen kind of got tripped up on her own feet and fell backwards, fell into the canyon."

"That was the longest, strangest, craziest two seconds of my life," added Roman.

Burns posted this serene image to her Instagram account just hours before the incident.

Crowd-sourced review website Yelp, where Burns worked as a marketing director in Central Florida, issued a statement in response to her death:

"We are deeply saddened by the death of Colleen Burns, a cherished Yelp colleague and friend. Colleen launched the Yelp community in Orlando nearly seven years ago. Her passing represents a tremendous loss to our company, the communities she supported and the many friends she made while doing what she loved. We are heartbroken but thankful to have been positively shaped by her passion and joy for life."

WESH reported that the National Park Service is working with the Coconino County medical examiner on the investigation into the incident.


For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.

Topics From This Article to Explore

More From TravelPulse

Related Videos

Patrick Clarke

Patrick Clarke

Senior Editor

A Maryland native and wanderer who has lived across the U.S. from North Carolina to SoCal, Patrick Clarke graduated from Towson University with a B.S. in journalism. He previously worked for Bleacher

Grow Your Travel Business With Certified Courses

Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.

Don't Miss These Travel Agent Events and Trainings

Watch Now!
Building an Ethical Social Proof System for Your AgencyWednesday, September 2, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
 A 55-minute webinar built for travel advisors ready to turn happy clients into their most...
Upcoming Webinar
ALG Vacations® is Powering Up Fall with PartnershipTuesday, September 8, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
At ALG Vacations®, partnership means deliver smarter tools, stronger resources, and more opportunities...
Upcoming Webinar
Beyond the Ship: Maximizing Pre and Post Cruise ExperiencesThursday, September 10, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Discover how to enhance the cruise experience with strategic pre and post cruise planning. Learn how...
Watch Now!
Building an Ethical Social Proof System for Your AgencyWednesday, September 2, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
 A 55-minute webinar built for travel advisors ready to turn happy clients into their most...
Upcoming Webinar
ALG Vacations® is Powering Up Fall with PartnershipTuesday, September 8, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
At ALG Vacations®, partnership means deliver smarter tools, stronger resources, and more opportunities...
Upcoming Webinar
Beyond the Ship: Maximizing Pre and Post Cruise ExperiencesThursday, September 10, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Discover how to enhance the cruise experience with strategic pre and post cruise planning. Learn how...