Spruce Flats Falls in the Tremont section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Townsend, Tenn., on Sept. 16, 2025.

Following a multi-day search, authorities found the body of a 21-year-old man in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, according to the National Park Service.

The discovery was made days after Ryan Lakes, who was last seen on Sept. 18, was reported missing by officials.

Park rangers described Lakes as a 5-foot-5-inch man, last seen wearing dark-colored shorts, a dark-colored T-shirt, brown tennis shoes, and a black backpack, according to a NPS press release posted on Sept. 21.

Lakes’ body was discovered in the Big Creek area of the park at 2:45 p.m. local time on Monday, Sept. 22, according to Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. The service told the outlet that no foul play is suspected, and the cause of death is currently under investigation.

According to the National Park Service’s website, the Big Creek area is a dense forest in a “secluded area” of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is also located near the border of North Carolina and Tennessee and known for its “history, wildflowers, and numerous streams and waterfalls.”

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Missing man, 21, found dead in Great Smokey National Park

Reporting by Fernando Cervantes Jr. and Ryley Ober, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect