A hiker was discovered deceased on a trail in Big Bend National Park in Texas after park authorities found a vehicle that had been parked at the trailhead for several days and initiated a rescue operation.

In a statement released on Monday, the National Park Service reported that the hiker was 24 years old, though they did not disclose the individual’s name or additional identifying details. The exact cause of death has not been confirmed, but park officials cautioned visitors about the risk of “extreme” temperatures, even in the fall months.

Exposure to heat has been fatal for hikers who are not adequately prepared during the warmer months, as highlighted by park officials. This summer alone, two individuals died from heat-related incidents in Death Valley, California.

“The staff and partners at Big Bend National Park are deeply saddened by this loss,” said Deputy Superintendent Rick Gupman. “Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of the hiker.”

Located in West Texas along the U.S.-Mexico border, Big Bend National Park covers over 1,250 square miles, more than twice the area of Los Angeles. It includes the Chisos Mountains and a significant portion of the Chihuahuan Desert.

Hiker found on Marufo Vega Trail

The search for the hiker commenced after rangers noticed a vehicle parked at the trailhead for several days on Sunday. This park is situated in the far reaches of western Texas.

Park officials had no record of any overnight backpackers in that area. By Monday morning, search teams, both aerial and ground, from the National Park Service and U.S. Border Patrol were actively searching three separate trails in the vicinity.

The hiker was later located along the Marufo Vega Trail, a demanding 14-mile loop known for its rugged desert landscape and jagged limestone cliffs. A helicopter from the Texas Department of Public Safety airlifted the remains from this isolated area.

Heat and weather cause multiple hiker fatalities

Earlier this month, the search for a missing staff member at Yellowstone National Park turned tragic after 22-year-old Austin King vanished while attempting to summit a high elevation. His last known communications described enduring fog, rain, sleet, hail, and strong winds en route to his destination.

This summer, two individuals lost their lives due to heat exposure after visiting Death Valley, which faced an unprecedented heatwave with temperatures soaring to around 130 degrees Fahrenheit.

In another incident, a man drove his vehicle off a steep drop on August 1 after completing a one-mile loop hike in Death Valley. A motorcyclist also succumbed to heat exposure in the park just a month prior, which is notorious for being one of the hottest and driest locations in the United States.

Big Bend is similarly known for its intense heat, and park officials stress that the Marufo Vega Trail is particularly “strenuous, yet stunning” and should only be attempted by well-prepared and experienced hikers. During the spring and summer months, temperatures can easily exceed 110 degrees Fahrenheit on this trail, where shade and water are scarce.

Even in late October, temperatures in the Rio Grande and desert regions of Big Bend can still hit around 100 degrees in the afternoons. Rangers advise that hikers on this trail should bring ample water, salty snacks, and ensure they finish their hikes off the desert paths by the afternoon.

Big Bend National Park records six fatalities in the past two years

The finding of the deceased hiker marks the latest addition to the fatality count at the national park, which has seen at least six deaths since October 2023, mainly due to activities undertaken during extreme heat.

In March of this year, an 80-year-old man from Alpine, Texas, passed away from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the National Park Service.

In December of the previous year, a 43-year-old man died after collapsing at the park’s Chisos Mountains Lodge. Despite attempts at CPR and use of a defibrillator by park rangers, volunteers, and lodge staff, they were unable to revive him, according to the National Park Service.

In June 2023, a father and his 14-year-old son from Florida died after hiking the Marufo Vega Trail in extreme heat, with temperatures hitting 119 degrees. The park warned that “this strenuous trail poses serious risks during high summer temperatures due to the lack of shade and water.”

Earlier that year, in March, a 64-year-old woman was found dead after becoming unresponsive on the Hot Springs Canyon Trail, which, similar to the Marufo Vega Trail, lacked shade and water, increasing dangers during heatwaves.

In February 2023, park staff responded to the Pinnacles Trail for a 56-year-old man suffering from chest pains. Despite efforts from friends, bystanders, and park rangers, all attempts at reviving him were unsuccessful, as stated by the National Park Service.

Between 2014 and 2019, there were a total of 15 deaths recorded in the park, with at least eight of those involving individuals who were hiking or walking, according to data from the National Park Service.

(This article has been updated with the latest information.)