A missing 73-year-old hiker from North Carolina was found dead in Great Smoky Mountains National Park over the weekend, park officials said.

Ann Houghton was found on Sunday about a quarter mile off Enloe Creek Trail, the National Park Service (NPS) said. Houghton’s cause of death was not immediately given.

Houghton had planned to hike in the park, which straddles the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, from Jan. 28 to Jan. 29, according to officials. 

When Houghton failed to return on Saturday, officials said she was reported missing.

Houghton, of Jackson County, N.C., volunteered in Great Smoky Mountains National Park for more than 20 years, earning a nomination in 2022 for a volunteer service award.

The Great Smoky Mountains are a range rising along the Tennessee and North Carolina border in the southeastern United States, and are part of the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains. (George Rose/Getty Images)

“Ann was an enduring and beloved member of our Smokies Community,” said Charles Sellars, Acting Superintendent of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. “She was a dedicated volunteer and avid hiker who shared her passion for the park with many visitors. Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers condolences to her family and friends.”