Search Underway for 61-Year-Old Hiker in Shenandoah National Park
LURAY, Va. — Shenandoah National Park (SNP) authorities are searching for a man reported missing on Saturday.
Robert (Bob) Bieri was last seen off-trail in the area of Lewis Falls on July 5, 2025. Later that evening, a full-scale search operation began.
Bieri, 61, was wearing a short-sleeved red shirt, green shorts, a fanny pack, glasses and tennis shoes. He is 5’10”, 205 pounds, with gray hair and brown eyes.
Lewis Falls is a 3.3 mile circuit hike in the Big Meadows area. The moderately difficult trail features an 81-foot waterfall.
The search for Bieri is being led by SNP Search and Rescue personnel, aided by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and Virginia State Police.
* Consisting of nearly 197,000 acres, including 80,000 acres of congressionally designated wilderness, the park encompasses parts of eight counties. Each year, millions visit the park, which includes the 105-mile Skyline Drive, 75 designated scenic overlooks, and more than 500 miles of hiking trails.
The park is headquartered in in Luray, Virginia.
Anyone with information regarding Mr. Bieri or his whereabouts is urged to contact Shenandoah National Park’s Communications Center at (540) 999-3422.
* Acreage area reported in original story corrected. We regret the error.