The outdoor community and business world are mourning a tragic loss after Justin Bingham, the 40-year-old CEO of Opiniion, a Utah-based software company, died in a fall while canyoneering in Zion National Park. The accident occurred Saturday evening near the exit of Heaps Canyon, a remote and challenging part of the park known for its difficult terrain and stunning, yet dangerous, landscapes. According to the National Parks Service (NPS), Bingham fell an estimated 150 to 200 feet while exploring the canyon, a spot that’s popular with experienced climbers due to its steep descents and rugged beauty.
Bingham was canyoneering with three other climbers, all of whom were following their permitted itinerary when the accident occurred. The National Parks Service received a report of the fall and immediately dispatched their Technical Search and Rescue Team, alongside the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, to the scene. Despite their rapid response and the efforts of the Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter team, Bingham’s injuries were too severe. He was pronounced dead before he could be transported to a hospital.
In a statement, Zion National Park Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh expressed the park’s condolences, saying, “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family and friends during this unimaginably difficult time.” It’s a sentiment shared by those who knew Bingham both personally and professionally. His company, Opiniion, which is based in Lindon, Utah, confirmed the heartbreaking news and remembered Bingham as someone whose adventurous spirit defined not just his life, but also his approach to work and relationships.
“Justin was a visionary who believed in the power of genuine connections, both with our clients and within our team,” Opiniion said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “His commitment to building meaningful relationships made a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. Justin’s spirit of adventure and dedication to living life fully will be deeply missed.”
Devin Shurtleff, Opiniion’s President and COO, shared personal memories of his friend and colleague, recalling Bingham’s unwavering optimism. “If you spent any time around him, he was the eternal optimist. ‘Everything is always going to work out.’ He told me so many times… But he was right, and it usually did,” Shurtleff said. He went on to highlight that Bingham’s influence went far beyond the boardroom. “Justin wasn’t just a leader here at Opiniion—he was a mentor, a dad, and a friend to many of us. He believed that the relationships we build are what make this work meaningful, and he truly lived that every day.”
Bingham’s passion for the outdoors was well-known, and those who were close to him described him as someone who found joy and meaning in nature. For him, canyoneering wasn’t just a pastime—it was a way of living fully, a philosophy that he applied to both his personal and professional life. The tragic accident underscores the inherent risks of exploring challenging environments like Zion, even for those with experience and skill.
While Zion National Park and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fall, the focus now is on remembering Bingham’s legacy and the positive impact he made on so many lives. His passing serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable dangers that nature can present, even as it offers the freedom and beauty that drew adventurers like Bingham to its canyons and cliffs.
For the team at Opiniion and his loved ones, the loss is profound, but Bingham’s memory lives on through the relationships he built and the optimistic spirit he shared. As Shurtleff and many others have expressed, he wasn’t just a CEO—he was a mentor, a father, and an adventurer who left a lasting mark on everyone who knew him.
