Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office Volunteers Respond to String of Backcountry Weekend Rescues

Over the weekend, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office Forest Patrol and Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteers responded to five separate backcountry emergencies across the county. From heat-exhausted mountain bikers to lost hunters, our highly trained volunteer units, including VSAR, 4×4 and Jeep Posse, and OHV teams, demonstrated incredible dedication, dropping everything to navigate rugged terrain and bring people to safety.

12 VSAR members deployed to rescue two mountain bikers who became lost on the trails near Arie Trailhead and were actively succumbing to the extreme heat. The subjects were found suffering from severe dehydration, with one experiencing a heat-induced illness. The volunteer team provided immediate cooling measures, including electrolytes, frozen cloths, and air-conditioned 4×4 transport; they also repaired a damaged bicycle to ensure a safe, successful rescue.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the severe dangers of recreating in Sedona during the hotter months. Temperatures escalate rapidly, and the rugged red rock terrain offers little to no shade. Please be properly prepared: know your physical limits.

Over the course of the week, the teams conducted an extensive, five-mile multi-trail search near the Birthing Cave for reportedly lost visitors and scoured the Devil’s Bridge area following third-party reports of a hiker calling for help.

In a separate operation, 13 members and nine 4×4 vehicles deployed to successfully locate a missing hunter near Lower Wolf Creek. Teams also provided medical care to an injured Good Samaritan whose ATV had rolled and safely recovered a lost dog. Finally, 4×4 teams responded to the backcountry near Mayer to assist a stranded family with a broken radiator, ensuring they were safe, heavily supplied, and in good condition.

The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office extends a massive thank you to the dozens of volunteers who sacrificed their time and energy to answer these callouts. Your relentless hard work ensures our community and its visitors remain safe.