Missing Hiker in Lakeside 

March 24, 2026 – San Diego County Sheriff's Office officials report that a missing hiker has been found deceased in the East County.

On Sunday, March 22, a 40-year-old man was reported missing to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office after he did not return from a hike on El Cajon Mountain in Lakeside. The man began his hike on Saturday, March 21 around 8:00 a.m. on a trailhead located in the 13700 block of Blue Sky Ranch Road.

After the hiker’s family contacted the Sheriff’s Office to report him as missing, a command post was established at the trailhead.

The Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) Unit was activated. SAR Volunteers, along with deputies and detectives from the Lakeside Sheriff’s Substation, began searching the area for the missing hiker. A Sheriff’s ASTREA helicopter also assisted in the search.

On Sunday, March 22 around 7:30 p.m., the body of the missing hiker was found near one of the hiking trails just east of the trailhead.

The body has been turned over to the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office. The Medical Examiner will make a positive identification of the man, as well as determine the cause and manner of death pending notification of his family.

We want to thank all the volunteers who helped during the search operations. Sheriff's Search and Rescue (SAR) is an all-volunteer unit.  Together, they perform wilderness and urban rescues and search for missing and at-risk persons.  Teams are available 24 hours per day to respond to local, state and federal agency requests. To learn more about SAR, visit: www.sdsheriff.gov/searchandrescue.

Source: San Diego County Sheriff's Office