Hikers Seeking Cover During Zion Park Rockfall Shocks Internet: 'Oh My God'

A video of hikers seeking shelter during a rockfall at Zion National Park in Utah has gone viral on TikTok.

The clip was posted by Carolyn (@carolynmorell) and has had 1.6 million views since it was shared on November 15. According to the caption, the footage was captured on November 14 at the park's Weeping Rock hiking trail.

A voice in the video is heard saying: "Oh my god, oh god...," as the clip shows what appears to be a huge dust cloud hovering over trees and filling up the blue sky.

The shaky footage shows a group of people on a walkway against a rock cliff. They later appear to be crouching down against a wall, with debris flying past them.

According to the Zion National Park website, the park received a report of a "rockfall" near the Weeping Rock at around 3:40 p.m. local time on November 14.

A rockfall is described as "the relatively free falling or precipitous movement of rock from a slope by rolling, falling, toppling and/or bouncing," according to the Utah Geological Survey, a division of the Utah Department of Natural Resources.

"Park rangers immediately responded and encountered a dust cloud on the road," according to the Zion National Park website.

"Thankfully, park rangers did not need to treat any injuries, said park superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh, adding that "rockfall can happen at any time in this highly erosive landscape."

The incident temporarily stopped traffic on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, while the shuttle bus service was interrupted until about 5 p.m. local time before returning to normal operations, the park said.

The park website noted that the "Weeping Rock shuttle stop, parking area and trail will remain closed until further notice while park scientists and maintenance staff assess rock in the area."

The National Park Service (NPS) explains that "Zion National Park experiences rockfalls because of the steep canyon walls and characteristic geology of the area."

Those who witness a rockfall are advised to do the following, as outlined by the NPS:

• Be aware of your surroundings and pay close attention to warning signs, staying off closed trails and keeping away from cliff edges.
• If you're at the base of a wall or when a rockfall takes place above, seek shelter immediately behind the largest nearby boulder or move away from the cliff.
• Let park staff know if you witness a rockfall by calling the park information line at 435-772-3256 and/or email information and photos to zion_park_information@nps.gov.
• Stay informed about rockfalls and learn about this geologic process happening in national parks that you visit.

After the dust cloud settles in the latest viral clip, a man is seen standing back up as a voice in the clip says: "I think we'll be okay," while another says "we're only less than a half a mile up here."

In a later comment, the original poster says: "Amazing nobody got hurt. Some people were getting hit with debris and started running and made it out."

The scene in the latest viral clip has frightened several users on TikTok.

User bonnie:) said, "This is so scary, i was literally just there..."

IceFlexor24 noted: "I was right there two days before this. Crazy."

Tinask423 agreed, "That is so scary..."

Claire Long wrote: "I have asthma and just watching this flared it up, crazy..."

Michael Mulvihill noted: "This is why I don't nature."

Newsweek has contacted Zion National Park via email and the original poster via TikTok for comment. This video has not been independently verified.

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