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MOAB — Crews on Tuesday found the body of a man who died while hiking in Canyonlands National Park on Sunday, authorities said.
The hiker was reported overdue on a short hike from Elephant Hill in the Needles District, prompting a search and rescue team from Canyonlands and Mesa Verde National Park, as well as San Juan County, to begin looking for him, National Park officials said in a statement.
Crews found the man's body near the trailhead about 10 a.m. Tuesday and transferred him to the San Juan County medical examiner's office.
San Juan County officers are investigating the incident, according to the statement. Authorities have not yet released the man's name, nor has the official cause of his death been announced.
"Before hiking in the summer months, visitors are strongly encouraged to plan ahead and prepare for extreme heat. All hikers should ensure they are drinking plenty of fluids, eating snacks, traveling in the early morning hours, resting during the heat of the day, and dressing appropriately for the weather," National Park officials said.
Officials referred visitors to find safety information at nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/safety.htm.
