Difficult, 3-hour-long cliff rescue saves injured Colo. hiker

By Cleo Westin
The Gazette

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A heavy presence from the Colorado Springs Fire Department was at North Cheyenne Cañon Park on the city’s southwest side as they successfully performed a high-angle rescue for a hiker who fell approximately 25 to 30 feet.

The hiker, who fell from a rock, was reported around 2:15 p.m. Monday and was reached by crews around 3:30 p.m., according to CSFD posts on social media. By 6 p.m., the hiker was taken down to the road and loaded into an ambulance. He then flew to a hospital in a helicopter.

| HOT TOPIC: ‘You’ll never see a bill': Wash. FD launches no-cost ambulance service after AMR rate hike

High-angle crews maneuvered for three hours around “rough terrain very high up” from the road to rescue the hiker, who was not wearing a helmet, according to CSFD. The Fire Department had initially posted that the hiker fell approximately 50 feet and later revised that number to around 25 to 30 feet in its final update around 7:30 p.m.

An ambulance and emergency responders with whole blood were awaiting the hiker once he was rescued.

Uphill traffic to the park was closed during the operation, and CSFD encouraged those traveling in the area to be cautious while firefighters are present.

Trending

Vehicle Crashes

EMT, firefighters struck by vehicle while working Tenn. interstate crash

Three Kingsport firefighters and a Sullivan County EMS EMT were hospitalized after a vehicle struck them as they loaded a patient into an ambulance on I-26

September 23, 2026 08:39 AM

Rural EMS

Okla. rural EMS leaders warn rising costs are outpacing property tax funding

Rural ambulance leaders told lawmakers that rising call volumes and operating costs are straining EMS districts as the state considers changes that could slow or reduce property tax revenue

September 23, 2026 09:05 AM

Emergency Management

Audit finds Wash. 911 agency understated revenue, expenses by nearly $4M

A Washington state audit found Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency understated 2025 revenue and expenses by $3.99 million over its accounting for radio purchases and reimbursement

September 22, 2026 09:16 AM

Labor & Union Issues

Va. city clears way for firefighters, police and other workers to bargain contracts

Portsmouth adopted rules to fully implement collective bargaining nearly three years after first authorizing it, establishing bargaining units for firefighters, police and other city employees

September 23, 2026 08:02 AM

© 2026 The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.).
Visit www.gazette.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.