Denver man found dead at bottom of national park canyon beneath steep drop-offs

Colorado authorities on Wednesday said a man was found dead at Gunnison National Park last week after deputies discovered an abandoned vehicle near the park.

The Montrose County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) said the body was found on the floor of the park’s Black Canyon, where many trails run along steep 2,000-foot drop-offs and access to the inner canyon is limited.

The hiker was identified as John N. Countryman, 57, of Denver, officials said in a post on Facebook.

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The sheriff's office said deputies were first notified last Tuesday around 5:30 p.m. of an "abandoned vehicle parked near mile marker 10 along the South Rim of Black Canyon."

Personal belongings were also discovered near Devil's Lookout, one of the park's steepest viewing points.

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The sheriff's office drone team was then called in to search the canyon for a possible missing person connected to the abandoned vehicle.

However, the team was unable to locate anyone before nightfall due to "diminishing daylight," authorities said.

Following a search at approximately 6:30 a.m. the following morning, the drone team "confirmed the presence of human remains on the canyon floor."

Countryman's body was recovered two days later and transferred to the Montrose County Coroner's Office.

The cause and manner of death remain under investigation.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in western Colorado features steep, narrow gorges carved by the Gunnison River, with dramatic drop-offs and rugged terrain that can make search and rescue operations challenging.