Human remains found in remote part of California’s rugged Joshua Tree National Park

Photos taken over the summer led rangers to human remains in a remote part of California’s rugged Joshua Tree National Park, rangers say in a release.

An outside agency contacted the park, in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts, Thursday to notify rangers that an analysis of photos had found evidence of human remains near 49 Palms Oasis, the release says.

On Friday, park officials hiked to the area, described as “a remote, rocky, steep location away from any trails” and found skeletal remains along with scattered personal belongings, rangers reported.

The remains appear to have been there for some time and no signs of foul play were found, park officials say.

Rangers found no identification among the belongings and are working with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department to identify the remains.

Cases of lost or missing hikers are not uncommon in the extremely rugged desert terrain.

Authorities rescued five people by helicopter and carried out eight others in the 49 Palms Oasis area last year, KSBY reported.

About 2.8 million people visit the 794,000-acre park annually, National Geographic reports.

This story was originally published December 23, 2019 at 8:43 AM with the headline "Human remains found in remote part of California’s rugged Joshua Tree National Park."