Search Under Way For Missing Hiker At Theodore Roosevelt National Park

A man who went for a hike Sunday morning and never returned was being searched for Tuesday in Theodore Roosevelt National Park's South Unit.

The 48-year-old male was reported missing by his employer on Monday morning. Search parties were immediately formed to begin looking for him.

The hiker’s vehicle was found at the park’s South Unit boundary. He is described as being in good physical shape and is an experienced backcountry hiker.

The search covers all of the park’s trails in the South Unit and areas adjacent to the park. Foot and horseback search teams include employees and volunteers from the National Park Service, Billings County (North Dakota) Sherriff’s Office, U.S. Forest Service law enforcement, citizen volunteers, and a search dog team from South Dakota.

A North Dakota Highway Patrol aircraft was employed Monday to do an aerial search on Monday and Tuesday. Twenty searchers on Tuesday were searching the area where the hiker is believed to have traversed, supported by additional park staff.

A U.S. Air Force helicopter from Minot Air Force Base was expected to join the effort Tuesday evening.