An 81-year-old woman who got lost on a hiking trail at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area was found dead Wednesday morning, according to park officials. She was reported missing Tuesday afternoon after leaving the Loop Trail and was located the next morning. Authorities have not released her name or publicly identified a cause of death.
A May 20 news release from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said the woman lost her way along the Loop Trail at about 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19. Search crews worked into the evening but pulled back when strong storms rolled into the area, and poor conditions also limited aerial support. Teams picked up the search again at first light. “Our thoughts are with the woman’s family and loved ones during this difficult time,” the department stated.
The San Antonio Express-News reported that searchers found the woman around 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, and a justice of the peace pronounced her dead at the scene. Officials did not say where in the park she was discovered or whether she had been hiking alone.
About Enchanted Rock and the Loop Trail
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area covers about 2,300 acres and centers on a pink granite dome that rises more than 400 feet above the surrounding Hill Country landscape, roughly 15 miles north of Fredericksburg. That information comes from the park map and details on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department website. The park lists the Loop Trail as the only route that remains open after sunset, while the Summit Trail and higher-elevation areas may shut down during wet or otherwise unsafe weather. Park materials note that entrance gates are typically open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Search response and agencies involved
The Fredericksburg Standard reported that Texas State Park Police led the search, joined by Texas Game Wardens, Willow City Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Fredericksburg Fire/EMS and several neighboring county sheriff’s offices. Officials said some local, nonessential resources were pulled back ahead of the storm, then brought back in the next morning as the weather allowed the search to continue.
Authorities have released few details about what might have led to the woman’s death while the Texas State Park Police continue to investigate, according to the Express-News. In public statements, TPWD has extended condolences to her family and publicly thanked all partner agencies that took part in the search.
