Missing Hiker Located by Placer County Sheriff’s Office
August 21, 2025 – Placer County Sheriff’s Office officials report that a multi-day search effort has come to a successful end after Placer County Sheriff’s Office crews located a missing hiker late Wednesday morning, August 20, in the Euchre Bar area near the North Fork of the American River.
He was first reported missing on Monday, August 18, when he sent a text-to-911 stating he was lost in steep terrain without food or water. Following that message, dispatchers were unable to reestablish contact, though they were able to obtain approximate coordinates of his location.
Deputies quickly responded, locating the hikers vehicle at the trailhead. Aerial resources, including CHP’s helicopter and PCSO drones, were immediately deployed but unable to spot him through the dense tree canopy. Given the challenging terrain, a full Search and Rescue mission was launched, including specialized Mountain Rescue Team members and Search and Rescue K9s.
Over the next two days, more than 50 Search and Rescue members, including nine K9 teams, were deployed. Falcon 30 and additional drone teams assisted with aerial searches during the day, while deputies remained staged at the trailhead overnight.
On Wednesday, August 20, search efforts expanded to include dive team members who began traversing the riverbanks. At approximately 11:00 a.m., the hiker was located by the dive team along the shore of the river, bringing the coordinated mission to a safe conclusion. The hiker was tired, hungry, and thirsty – but otherwise okay.
View video here.
We want to send a huge thank you to all the volunteer Search and Rescue team members, including several from allied agencies. They dedicated countless hours over several days to search in extremely challenging terrain. Their commitment and expertise were instrumental in bringing this case to a positive outcome.
Thank you to:
Tahoe Nordic Search & Rescue Team Inc
Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit (BAMRU)
Solano County Sheriff's Office
Marin County Search and Rescue
Sacramento County Sheriff's Search and Rescue
Nevada County Sheriff's Search & Rescue
San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office
CARDA - California Rescue Dog Association
El Dorado County Sheriff's Office
Shasta County Sheriff's Office
Santa Clara County Search and Rescue
California Governor's Office of Emergency Services
CHP - Auburn
CAL FIRE NEU
Sacramento Police Department
Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office
Source: Placer County Sheriff’s Office
