Beloved 73-year-old volunteer and hiker found dead in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

A 73-year-old volunteer at Great Smoky Mountains National Park was found dead over the weekend after being reported missing while out on a hike in the park she dedicated decades of her life to, officials said Monday.

Ann Houghton, of Jackson County, North Carolina, was found was found at approximately 1:53 p.m. ET on Sunday, the National Park Service said in a release. Houghton was located about a quarter mile off of Enloe Creek Trail on the North Carolina side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which straddles the border with Tennessee.

Houghton was reported missing on Saturday after failing to return from a planned hike in the park from Jan. 28 to 29. Her vehicle was found at the Smokemont Campground. Search efforts focused on the Bradley Fork, Chasteen Creek, Hughes Ridge and Enloe Creek trails, according to the NPS.

Multiple local agencies assisted in the search and emergency response including Cherokee Fire and Rescue, BUSAR, Macon Volunteer Fire Department, Cowee Volunteer Fire Department, Appalachian Mountain Rescue Team and Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the release said.

A longtime volunteer and frequent visitor to the park, Houghton dedicated more than 4,000 hours of service over two decades with “few if any breaks in service since 2004,” the NPS said. She was nominated by the park for a George and Helen Hartzog Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service.

“Having served in many different volunteer capacities over the years, Ann quietly draws from first-hand, boots-on-ground experience in interaction with curious visitors and new members of staff,” a statement about her 2022 nomination said. “She has a gift for sharing vital information with children and adults, while giving them space to consider concepts and continue self-guided exploration, but often through a more wide-view, responsible lens.”

The park community is mourning the loss of a dedicated member.

“Ann was an enduring and beloved member of our Smokies Community. She was a dedicated volunteer and avid hiker who shared her passion for the park with many visitors,” Acting Superintendent of Great Smoky Mountains National Park Charles Sellars said in the Monday statement. “Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers condolences to her family and friends.”