Archive · 24 Jul 2026
Grand Canyon Hiker's Remains Identified After 15 Years
A man named William Anthony Ott went missing while hiking alone in the Grand Canyon almost 15 years ago.
He was very experienced and had even hiked the entire Grand Canyon before.
He loved looking for old rock art, which is why he was in a remote part of the canyon.
After he didn't come back, many people searched for him but couldn't find him.
Recently, some human remains were found, and scientists used DNA to confirm they were Ott's.
They found his body at the bottom of a small cliff, and his backpack was missing.
No one knows exactly what happened to him, but his friend thinks he might have fallen.
William Anthony Ott, 65, disappeared during a solo hike in the Grand Canyon in 2012.
Human remains found in December 2022 were confirmed to be Ott's through DNA analysis.
Ott was an experienced hiker who had completed a 78-day hike along the Grand Canyon in 1981.
He was searching for ancient rock art panels in a remote area when he disappeared.
His body was found at the base of a 15-foot cliff, and his main backpack was missing.
- Who
- William Anthony Ott, an experienced hiker
- What
- Human remains identified as Ott's after 15 years
- When
- Remains found in December 2022, disappeared in April 2012
- Where
- Hualapai Indian Reservation, Grand Canyon, Arizona
- Why
- Ott was searching for ancient rock art panels in a remote area
Hiker's Experience and Passion
Dangers of Solo Hiking
Hiker's Experience
Hiker's Experience and Passion
William Anthony Ott was an experienced hiker who had completed a 78-day hike along the Grand Canyon in 1981.
Dangers of Solo Hiking
Despite his experience, solo hiking in remote areas poses significant risks.
Passion for Rock Art
Hiker's Experience and Passion
Ott's passion for ancient rock art drove him to explore remote areas of the Grand Canyon.
Dangers of Solo Hiking
This passion led him to take unnecessary risks in isolated and dangerous terrain.
- Name
- William Anthony Ott
- Age at Disappearance
- 65
- Date of Disappearance
- April 28, 2012
- Location of Disappearance
- Hualapai Indian Reservation, Grand Canyon
- Date Remains Found
- December 2022
- Confirmation Method
- DNA analysis
- Notable Achievement
- First person to complete a 78-day hike along the Grand Canyon's north side in 1981