Yellowstone Kayak Death
41-Year-Old Colorado Man Discovered Dead Near Capsized Kayak on Yellowstone Lake
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A 41-year-old Denver man was found dead on Yellowstone Lake this week near a capsized kayak, marking the first reported death in the park in 2026. National Park Service identified the victim as Brandon Rhea on June 11. His body was discovered Monday morning, June 8, by occupants of a passing vessel near Rock Point on the lake's northwest shore.
NPS law enforcement rangers recovered Rhea's body, the overturned kayak, and personal belongings floating nearby, according to 9News Denver. The cause of death remains under investigation.
How Yellowstone Lake Became a Fatal Hazard
Yellowstone Lake is the largest high-elevation lake in North America, sitting at 7,733 feet above sea level. In early June, the water temperature sits in the low 40s Fahrenheit. That cold alone can kill. According to retired Yellowstone ranger Tara Ross, a person submerged in 40-degree water has roughly 10 minutes before they lose the ability to use their limbs. "What makes it so dangerous is the extreme cold and wild winds," Ross told Cowboy State Daily.
The lake covers 132 square miles. That open surface lets wind build fast, creating waves of 3 to 5 feet in minutes, according to the National Park Service. Conditions can shift from calm to violent with almost no warning — a deadly combination for kayakers who are unprepared.
Rock Point Discovery Ends Search Before It Began
Rhea's body was found near Rock Point, about 1.5 miles from Bridge Bay Marina on the lake's northwest shore, according to East Idaho News. Boaters aboard a private vessel spotted him floating in the water and alerted park rangers. NPS law enforcement responded by patrol boat and recovered the scene that same afternoon on June 8.
Park officials worked Tuesday and Wednesday to identify Rhea and notify his family before releasing his name publicly on June 11, according to 12News. No information has been released about whether Rhea was kayaking alone or how long he had been in the water.
Drownings Rank Among Yellowstone's Deadliest Threats
Rhea's death fits a grim pattern. From 2007 to 2024, Yellowstone recorded 75 deaths. Nine of those were drownings — the third-leading cause of non-medical death in the park, according to a 2026 report cited by Cowboy State Daily. In 2021, two experienced outdoorsmen died on nearby Shoshone Lake after their canoe capsized in high winds.
NPS rules require all vessels to carry a Coast Guard-approved life jacket for every person on board. Park officials have not said whether Rhea had a life jacket. Even with one, Ross warned, hypothermia can set in so fast that a life jacket may not be enough to survive.
A Warning for Denver's Outdoor Community
Rhea's death is being felt in Denver's tight-knit outdoor community. 9News Denver framed the story as a warning to the city's many weekend hikers and paddlers. High-altitude lakes like Yellowstone behave very differently from the calmer reservoirs near Colorado's Front Range. The elevation, cold water, and unpredictable winds create risks that many visitors do not expect.
Yellowstone's 2026 boating season opened May 23. The park expects over 4 million visitors this year, according to Recreation.gov. Park officials have not announced any new safety measures following Rhea's death, and the investigation remains open.
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