Blake Kieckhafer, 23, of Omaha was reported missing to park rangers by family at Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park on August 11.

National Park Service officials announced the discovery of remains believed to belong to the missing Nebraska man in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park on Thursday, Aug. 14.

The body, thought to be that of 23-year-old Blake Kieckhafe of Omaha, was found above Emerald Lake on Aug. 13 and transferred to the Larimer County Coroner’s Office for identification confirmation, according to a press release provided to USA TODAY. His family reported him missing to park rangers on Aug. 11.

“He was last seen in the Upper Beaver Meadows area of Rocky Mountain National Park on Thursday, Aug. 7 around 5:20 p.m. when he was dropped off by a ride share service,” the news release said.

Emerald Lake is about a four-hour hike 10 miles southwest of Upper Beaver Meadows road, according to Google Maps.

The Larimer County Coroner’s office said in an Aug. 14 press release that it is “working on obtaining positive and scientific identification via DNA” and that an identification will be made once next-of-kin is informed.

The park service said that the rescue effort involved over 80 people and “several agencies” in its Aug. 14 news release.

(This story has been updated with new information.)

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Body of missing 23-year-old believed to be found at Rocky Mountain National Park

Reporting by Saman Shafiq and James Powel, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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