Family Found After Vanishing in Utah Mountains, Children In Critical Condition

ByJennifer Havener
Utah mountains/Credit: Unsplash

Thousands of people in the U.S. go missing every year while hiking. Sometimes their bodies aren’t found until months or years later.  One family hiking in Utah was rescued after vanishing over the weekend. A man and his three kids are alive after the scary experience, but two children are in critical condition.

Utah Is A Popular Tourist Destination

Utah is home to some of the most gorgeous scenery in the Western U.S. The state boasts five national parks: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands. The “Mighty 5” are open year-round to hikers, nature photographers, or sightseers.

The state is known for its towering red rocks and steep mountain ranges. While hiking is one of the most popular pastimes, it is also one of the most dangerous. Many hikers go in unprepared and wind up lost, hurt, or worse.

Utah mountains/Credit: Unsplash
Utah mountains/Credit: Unsplash

One man took his three young kids hiking over the weekend and vanished.

Family Found After Vanishing in Utah Mountains, Children In Critical Condition

The Wasatch Mountains are just outside Salt Lake City, Utah. They’re not part of the “Mighty 5” national parks, but are home to Big Cottonwood Canyon. It’s a popular destination for hiking, and rock climbing, or skiing in the winter.

It’s also where hundreds of people get lost every year. One man set off into the mountains with his family and couldn’t find his way out. The man’s abandoned car clued authorities into the missing persons case. 

The 31-year-old father went hiking with his young kids – a 2-year-old boy, a 4-year-old boy and an 8-year-old girl. The family vanished but was eventually found with the help of the Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter crew and LifeFlight.

According to PEOPLE magazine, the unnamed man and his kids were found alive, but two of the kids were in critical condition. The authorities are still investigating what happened. Did the family just get lost or was it something more sinister?

Visiting Big Cottonwood Canyon

Big Cottonwood Canyon is home to the popular Brighton and Solitude ski resorts. But it’s also popular for hiking. Nature lovers can hike or bike up the mountain.

Popular trails include Donut Falls, known for its unique waterfall, and the trail to Cecret Lake in Albion Basin. Another option is the hike to Lake Mary. The canyon provides multiple opportunities for rock climbing and camping.

Those interested in just the scenery can drive up the mountain. The scenic byway is about a fifteen-minute drive but worth it. In the summer months, you can continue past the top of the canyon to Guardsman Pass, which connects to Park City.

The man who hiked Big Cottonwood Canyon with his young children is lucky to be alive. Stay tuned for more on the hiking mishap.

Jennifer Havener
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