How busy is Yosemite search and rescue team? See latest incident, death numbers
In Yosemite National Park, an elite search-and-rescue team helps lost hikers, evacuates injured climbers and saves people stranded on the sheer granite cliffs of El Capitan or the steep, slick slope of Half Dome.
How many people does Yosemite Search and Rescue help over the course of a year?
The team responded to more than 190 incidents in 2024 — including a dozen “life-saving missions,” according to a Nov. 25 Instagram post by Friends of Yosemite Search and Rescue and Lake Tahoe Community College’ Wilderness Education program.
“Yosemite is one of the most visited national parks in the country, and with big granite, big water, and big terrain, YOSAR stays busy,” Friends of Yosemite Search and Rescue said in the post. “But the types of calls they respond to might surprise you.”
The group said its mission is to “actively solicit monetary and in-kind donations from private sources in order to bridge the gap between public funding and Yosemite Search and Rescue’s actual budgetary needs.”
Here’s what to know about rescues at Yosemite National Park:
What does Yosemite Search and Rescue do?
Widely considered one of the best national parks in the nation, Yosemite National Park features waterfalls, meadows, giant sequioas and granite cliffs spread across 748,542 acres.
The popular park attracted about 2.9 million visitors over the summer — a 7% increase from 2024, when park rangers reported 2.7 million visits during the same time period, The Fresno Bee reported previously.
As the number of visitors increases, so do the number of accidents and the need for emergency rescues, according to Mecia Serafino, Friends of Yosemite Search and Rescue’s director of outreach and digital content.
“We’re seeing an increasing number of accidents due to climbing,” Serafino told The Fresno Bee. “The more climbers that are out there, the more climbing incidents that happened. The numbers are reflecting that.”
Yosemite Search and Rescue was established in the 1960s to “respond to emergencies that occurred in the park,” according to the National Park Service website.
The team is composed of park rangers and skilled volunteers, Friends of Yosemite Search and Rescue said.
The search-and-rescue team responded to a total of 191 incidents in Yosemite in 2024, according to the latest data available.
Of those, 90 were considered “major” incidents and about a dozen of them were considered “lifesaving missions,” according to the post by Friends of Yosemite Search and Rescue.
How many deaths did rescue team respond to?
According to the Instagram post, Yosemite Search and Rescue responded to 16 deaths in 2024 — including seven accident-related deaths and six from natural causes including heart attacks and preexisting conditions.
Three of the deaths were the result of suicide, the post said.
Yosemite Search and Rescue partnered with other groups for rescue missions outside the park’s boundaries seven times, the post said, recovering nine bodies from inside the park and two from outside the park’s borders.
In addition, there were 39 “aviation-involved missions,” 16 short-haul flights out of the backcountry, five California Highway Patrol helicopter hoist missions and three helicopter rappels, according to the post by Friends of Yosemite Search and Rescue.
“These numbers aren’t meant to scare anyone away from exploring Yosemite,” the group said in the post. “They highlight how quickly conditions can change and why preparation, awareness, hydration, good footwear and staying on established trails are so important.
“YOSAR is incredibly skilled, but the best rescue is the one that never has to happen.”
What are most common rescues at Yosemite National Park?
While big technical rescues get the most attention, these types of rescues aren’t as common as they may appear on social media, according to Serafino.
“Obviously those high-profile climbing accidents and technical short-hauls get the most attention,” Serafino said. “Yosemite is a world-renowned place for climbing. But it’s actually one of the smaller number of rescues we have.”
According to Friends of Yosemite Search and Rescue, these were the five most common reasons people required rescues in 2024:
- Lower-extremity injuries from slips and falls while hiking
- Dehydration and exhaustion
- Getting lost, stranded, or other off-trail trouble
- Water hazards such as slippery granite or swift currents
- Falls from heights or technical climbing mishaps
What were the most notable rescue missions?
According to Serafino, Yosemite Search and Rescue has performed several notable rescues over the past two years — including short-haul rescues, which involve transporting one or more people suspended under a helicopter.
“Short-hauling is such a technical skill,” she said. “Every time they have to get in the helicopter it’s risky, especially getting up really close to the wall.”
In October, Yosemite Search and Rescue helped a hiker who fell onto a tiny ledge high up on the vertical granite face of El Capitan, The Bee previously reported.
Rescuers hoisted the climber from the ledge to a rescue helicopter.
Serafino described a separate incident involving a person who got “caught in between a snowstorm early in the season and had to wait it out.”
“One of the people we rescued was so gracious because he wasn’t actually in Yosemite, he was on the borderline of the park,” Serafino said. “He was rescued and very grateful and gracious to our team for helping him through.”
“YOSAR saved me by helicopter when I got caught in an unexpected situation in an August snow storm last year,” an Instagram user identified as the_elder_james wrote in a comment on the Nov. 25 post. “Not only are they talented and brave. They are incredibly kind.”
Rescue numbers for 2025 were not available as of Friday, Dec. 12, according to Serafino.
How to stay safe while hiking, climbing in Yosemite National Park
According to Serafino, many rescues are the result of people failing to adequately prepare for their outdoor adventures — such as taking time to acclimate to higher elevations before going on a hike.
Friends of Yosemite Search and Rescue shares news of rescues via social media in hopes that others will learn to be more prepared and avoid making the same mistakes, she said.
Serafino said visitors should always check the weather and be mindful of swift waters after heavy rains, during springtime snowmelt and especially around waterfalls where the granite can be incredibly slick.
“Those are the types of things that people don’t think about — common things that you wouldn’t think are the most hazardous, like walking around on unstable ground and twisting your ankle,” she said. “Be aware of your surroundings if there’s snow in the forecast. Bring a compass if you can, learn how to read a map and let people know where you’re going and when they should expect you to be back.”
Serafino recommended using Friends of Yosmite Search and Rescue’s Trip Planning Tool, a Google form that provides rescue teams with visitors’ information and trip plans prior to their arrival in the park.
Visitors can also send a copy of the form — which includes the phone number for dispatch — to their emergency contact to share information about the trip, what they’re wearing and other details with dispatchers.
The tool is free to use and can be used for locations outside of the park as well, she said.
What should I take on a hike or climb?
The National Park Service says there are 10 essentials you should take before setting out:
Navigation: Pack a map, compass and a GPS system. Study your route beforehand and understand how to use the tools.
Sun protection: Sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat can help protect your skin and eyes from ultraviolet rays.
Insulation: A jacket, hat, gloves, raincoat and thermal underwear can prepare you for rapidly changing weather conditions.
Illumination: Pack a flashlight, lantern and headlamp, as well as extra batteries.
First-aid supplies: Have a first-aid kit on hand while hiking. Check the expiration date on items before you pack them.
Fire: Matches and a lighter can help start fire to act as an emergency signal in times of need.
Repair kit and tools: Duct tape, a knife, screwdriver and scissors can be helpful if items break during your hike or you need assistance.
Nutrition: Pack an extra day’s worth of food in case something goes wrong.
Hydration: Drink water often and before you feel thirsty if you’re hiking in hot weather.
Emergency shelter: Packing a tent, space blanket, tarp and bivy can help if severe weather breaks out or your plan takes a turn.
This story was originally published December 15, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "How busy is Yosemite search and rescue team? See latest incident, death numbers."
