A drone equipped with a spotlight played a key role in helping search and rescue crews locate and guide a group of hikers to safety in southern Utah on August 1st, 2026. The Iron County Sheriff Search and Rescue team responded to a report of a hiker in distress in the Ashdown Gorge and Rattlesnake Trail area after one member of a four-person hiking group became too fatigued to continue walking.
Drone Helps Guide Search And Rescue Teams
The four female hikers had started at the top of the Rattlesnake Trail earlier in the day. As one hiker became increasingly fatigued and struggled to walk, another member of the group moved ahead to find a location with enough cell service to contact emergency dispatch.
The reporting hiker eventually made contact with search and rescue personnel near the Slide area along Highway 14. She told responders that the other hikers were helping the fatigued member walk down the trail, but their progress was very slow. Iron County Search and Rescue was dispatched at approximately 8:25 p.m. Because the hikers’ exact location was initially unknown, responders developed a search strategy using teams approaching from multiple directions.
A ground team began hiking east from the Slide area while an ATV and another ground team prepared to approach from an area across the highway from the Southern Utah University cabin. The search changed quickly when another group of hikers encountered the ground team. They reported that the hikers being sought were only a few hundred yards away.
Spotlight Drone Helps Find The Best Route
With the hikers located nearby, search and rescue personnel deployed a drone to assist with the extraction. The drone was equipped with a spotlight that allowed responders to see the terrain from above and help identify the hikers’ exact location. More importantly, the aerial spotlight helped the ground team determine the best route up the side of the hill toward the parking area.
The technology provided responders with an additional view of the difficult terrain while the ground team worked directly with the hikers. The ground team ultimately reached the group and escorted them out of the area. The ATV team was also redirected to the Slide area to assist with getting the hikers back to the parking lot.
All Four Hikers Escape Without Injuries
Once the group reached the parking area, rescuers evaluated the hikers to determine whether anyone required medical assistance.
All four were found to be in good health and did not require medical treatment. They were reunited with another member of their party who had been waiting in a vehicle.
The operation involved 13 members of Iron County Sheriff Search and Rescue and two Iron County Sheriff’s deputies. Responders deployed three four-wheel-drive trucks, two Side-by-Side vehicles and one drone. The mission was completed at approximately 10:30 p.m.
