For many outdoor enthusiasts, watching the sunrise over the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee represents peace, reflection, and connection with nature. The park, known for its mist-covered ridges, old-growth forests, and winding streams, attracts millions of visitors each year. But alongside its beauty lies a serious reality: every year, people do go missing in wilderness areas across the United StatesMissing Persons in U.S. National Parks: What the Data Shows
According to the National Park Service (NPS), more than 300 million people visit U.S. national parks annually. With such high visitation, incidents involving lost or overdue hikers do occur. However, the vast majority of these cases are resolved quickly.How Search and Rescue Operations Work
When someone is reported overdue in a national park, a coordinated response typically begins quickly. This process often involves:
Park rangers trained in search-and-rescue