ESTES PARK, CO — A major search operation is underway in Rocky Mountain National Park for Blake Kieckhafer, a 23-year-old from Omaha, Nebraska, who vanished last week in one of the park’s most popular yet rugged areas.
According to park officials, Kieckhafer was last seen on Thursday, August 7, at approximately 5:20 p.m., when a ride share driver dropped him off at Upper Beaver Meadows Road — a scenic but remote location about one mile west of the Beaver Meadows Entrance along U.S. Highway 36.
Family members reported him missing to park rangers on Monday, August 11, after repeated attempts to contact him went unanswered.
Detailed Description Released
Authorities have issued a detailed profile to assist in the search. Kieckhafer is described as:
- Height: 5’11”
- Weight: 180 pounds
- Hair: Buzzed/short blonde
- Facial hair: Mustache
- Eyes: Blue/green
At the time he was last seen, he was wearing a dark-colored T-shirt, dark pants, and a dark baseball cap with no logo. He was carrying a small maroon daypack.
Massive Multi-Agency Search Effort
Park rangers have mobilized ground crews, search dogs, and aerial reconnaissance units to comb the Upper Beaver Meadows area, a mix of dense forest, open fields, and steep inclines. The operation is being supported by specialized search-and-rescue teams familiar with high-altitude conditions.
Officials say the search is complicated by unpredictable summer weather in the Rockies, where storms can develop rapidly and temperatures can drop without warning.
“This is a critical window for us,” said a park spokesperson. “We’re urging anyone who was in the Upper Beaver Meadows area between August 7 and now to come forward with anything they saw — even if it seems small.”
Community on High Alert
Word of the disappearance has quickly spread across Colorado and Nebraska, with friends, family, and concerned residents sharing his photo and description online. Social media posts have been circulating widely, urging hikers, tourists, and locals to stay vigilant.
Upper Beaver Meadows, while accessible, is surrounded by rugged backcountry where cell phone service is limited — factors that can turn a routine hike into a dangerous situation.
How the Public Can Help
Anyone with information about Blake Kieckhafer’s whereabouts is urged to contact the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch:
- Call or Text: 888-653-0009
- Online: go.nps.gov/SubmitATip
- Email: nps_isb@nps.gov
Tips can be submitted anonymously.