Tragedy struck Canyonlands National Park on Wednesday with the discovery of a deceased 61-year-old female visitor. Authorities were alerted to an unresponsive woman at the Willow Flat Campground in the Island in the Sky district. National Park Service rangers, along with Grand County EMS and the San Juan County Sheriff's Office, responded to the scene, where the woman was pronounced dead.

The Goose Neck of the Colorado River and Canyonlands National Park viewed from Dead Horse Point State Park, Moab, Utah. (Photo by: Jon G. Fuller/VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

A joint investigation by the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office and the National Park Service is underway to determine the cause and manner of death. The woman's family has been notified. The incident occurred during a period of high temperatures in the area, reaching the high 80s to mid-90s. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that extreme heat claims over 600 lives annually in the United States.

A sign for Canyonlands National Park in Moab, Utah. (Photo by: Giovanni Mereghetti/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Stormy clouds over Canyonlands National Park, Utah. (Photo by: Jon G. Fuller/VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

The National Park Service advises visitors to take precautions against heat-related illness, recommending seeking cool shade, contacting emergency services, hydrating if experiencing heat exhaustion, and cooling down with water and vigorous fanning. Park safety guidelines emphasize planning ahead, which includes staying hydrated, checking weather forecasts, hiking with others, and taking frequent rests.