5 Hikers Still Missing in U.S. Forests in 2025: Is This the Start of a New Missing 411 Cluster?

As of mid-2026, at least five hikers reported missing in American national forests and parks during 2025 remain unaccounted for, reigniting debate over whether a fresh wave of “Missing 411”-style disappearances is underway. These cases share the familiar hallmarks documented by David Paulides: experienced outdoorsmen vanishing in broad daylight near water or rocky terrain, with search dogs abruptly losing the scent and no physical evidence recovered despite mᴀssive efforts.

Notable among the 2025 cases are solo or small-group hikers in remote areas of the Sierra Nevada, Yellowstone backcountry, and southern Appalachian forests. One 22-year-old summited a high peak in Yellowstone in late 2024 and was never seen again; searches continued into 2025 with no trace. Similar incidents occurred in Sequoia National Forest and other wilderness zones, where victims disappeared within minutes of being last sighted. Databases such as Missing NPF and Locations Unknown list hundreds of open cases across U.S. parks and forests, with several new entries from 2025 fitting the classic profile.

Skeptics attribute the pattern to the sheer scale of wilderness recreation—millions of visitors annually, combined with dangerous terrain, sudden weather, and medical events. Proponents of the Missing 411 theory point to the statistical anomalies: the proximity to water and boulders, the complete absence of remains in many searches, and the repeated failure of tracking dogs. No single “serial” explanation has been proven, and authorities maintain most cases are tragic accidents.

Whether these 2025 vanishings represent a statistical coincidence amplified by online attention or the beginning of a new cluster remains unclear. What is certain is that the forests continue to claim victims under eerily consistent conditions—leaving families and investigators with the same haunting question that has persisted for decades: what is really happening in America’s wild places?