Additional Coverage:
New information has surfaced in the case of a missing hiker last seen in Grand Canyon National Park, raising concerns among officials and visitors alike. Sandarsh Krishna, 26, was reported missing after being spotted walking along the Rim Trail, a well-traveled, mostly paved path that offers sweeping views of the canyon’s southern edge.
Authorities were alerted on Tuesday and promptly launched a search operation, calling on the public to aid in locating Krishna. The Rim Trail, stretching approximately 13 miles, was identified as his last known location.
Krishna was described as 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a slim build, black hair, and brown eyes, and was last seen wearing athletic gear. Notably, there is no known vehicle linked to him, suggesting he may have arrived via taxi or ride-share.
On Friday, a black backpack believed to belong to Krishna was turned in to staff at the Bright Angel Lodge around 7 a.m. The person who found and handed over the backpack is not considered a suspect, but park investigators are seeking to speak with them, hoping they might have further insights into Krishna’s disappearance. A photo released by the park shows the individual at the time of surrendering the backpack.
Krishna’s last confirmed whereabouts were along the stretch of the Rim Trail between Bright Angel Lodge and Mohave Point on Hermit Road, sometime between 4 p.m. and midnight last Wednesday. This portion of the Grand Canyon attracts millions of visitors each year; in fact, the southern rim welcomed over 4.4 million people in 2025 alone.
The Grand Canyon has a sobering history when it comes to lost and missing persons. Between 2018 and early 2023, at least six deaths and 56 missing person cases were reported, making it the national park with the highest number of such incidents in the United States.
Over a five-year period, visitors filed roughly 1,100 missing persons reports, though most individuals were eventually found. Causes of death have ranged from drowning and falls to heat stroke and lightning strikes, according to a former emergency services official.
Park authorities continue to urge anyone with information about Sandarsh Krishna’s whereabouts to come forward by contacting the ISB Tip Line at 888-653-0009, as the search effort remains ongoing.