A sense of concern grew for 71-year-old Patrick J. Trier, a male who was last seen in Salina, Utah, on August 16, 2026. Authorities believe he may have been camping in Goblin Valley State Park or near Moab before he made his way to the Horseshoe Canyon trailhead in Canyonlands National Park on August 17. Trier is described as a white male, standing approximately six feet tall with a medium build. He has long brown hair, a mustache, and a noticeably atrophied right arm. When he was last seen, it is believed he was wearing jeans, a blue hat, and carrying a small black and gray backpack.
The official search for Patrick Trier began after he was reported as an overdue party on Saturday, August 22. The following day, his vehicle, a maroon 2004 Toyota RAV4, was discovered by park law enforcement at the Horseshoe Canyon trailhead. This discovery prompted an extensive search of the surrounding area. The National Park Service, in conjunction with the Bureau of Land Management and Wayne County Search and Rescue, initiated both aerial and ground searches in an effort to locate him. The search was complicated by the rugged terrain of the area and high daytime temperatures that reached into the high 90s. The hike in Horseshoe Canyon is considered to be strenuous, which further impacted the search efforts.
As the search continued, investigators looked for any possible leads that might help them find Trier. They discovered a logbook at the Horseshoe Canyon trailhead that had been signed on August 17 by two hikers with the initials "DDR" who listed their hometown as "C.R. IA." Authorities reached out to the public in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa area, hoping that these individuals might have seen Trier or had information that could help piece together his movements after his arrival at the trailhead. After an extensive search, the National Park Service announced that they were transitioning to a limited, ongoing search for Patrick Trier. While large-scale ground and aerial operations were reduced, the investigation into his disappearance remains active. This case highlights the challenges of search and rescue operations in vast and rugged wilderness areas. The overview of this case is a somber reminder of the difficulties faced in such situations, from the initial discovery of an abandoned vehicle to the complex, multi-agency search efforts in unforgiving terrain.
Last Seen: Aug 16, 2026
