Body of Missing Hiker Recovered from North Fork American River

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that the body of a missing hiker has been recovered from the North Fork of the American River, bringing a tragic end to a multi-day search effort.

The woman, identified as 40-year-old Eryn VanAcker, had been missing since Friday, Jan. 2. Authorities believe she entered the river upstream from Lake Clementine and was swept away by fast-moving, cold water. Her body was located and recovered earlier Monday using a coordinated operation involving dive teams, technical rescue crews, and aerial support.

The recovery effort included personnel from the Placer County Sheriff’s Office and the CAL FIRE NEU/PCFD Technical Rescue Team. An unmanned aerial system was used alongside aerial intelligence provided by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to help locate her in the river.

Search operations over the weekend and into Monday were extensive and complex, involving raft teams, drones, sonar equipment, K9 units, and dive teams working along the river corridor, nearby trails, and downstream areas. Multiple regional agencies assisted, including sheriff’s offices from neighboring counties and state recreation area staff.