AZ Thomas Daniel Gibbs, 35, Missing from Grand Canyon National Park; Last Contact 22 July 2025

[doublestop]

Thomas Daniel Gibbs, 35, of Freehold, New Jersey, who was last heard from on July 22, 2025, at approximately 12 p.m.
Gibbs’ family and friends reported him missing on Monday, July 28. His Tesla Cybertruck was found the same day in the Grandview Point parking lot on the South Rim. Gibbs is believed to have been in the Grandview Trail and Horseshoe Mesa area on July 22.

Physical description:
• Age: 35
• Race: White
• Sex: Male
• Height: 6’01”
• Hair: Brown
• Eyes: Brown
• Tattoos: None

National Park Service Seeks Information on Missing Person at Grand Canyon National Park - Grand Canyon National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

 

[GraceG]

They're under a heat advisory now but when he went missing it was in the low 80's. However it got down into the upper 30's, low 40's at night.

https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/grand-canyon-national-park/86023/july-weather/12893_poi

 

[mlhenn]

Park rangers searching for New Jersey man missing 1 week after visiting the Grand Canyon

Thomas Daniel Gibbs' Tesla Cybertruck was found July 28, 2025 in the Grandview Point parking lot on the South Rim, according to the park service.

www.azcentral.com

Thomas Daniel Gibbs, 35, was last seen around noon July 22, the park service said. Gibbs was believed to have been in the Grandview Trail and Horseshoe Mesa area, according to the park service.

His family and friends reported him missing July 28, the park service said. His Tesla Cybertruck was found the same day in the Grandview Point parking lot on the South Rim, according to the park service.

 

[mlhenn]

https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/new-jersey-man-reported-missing-at-grand-canyon-cybertruck-found-at-trailhead/

Thomas Daniel Gibbs was in contact on July 22 at about noon, and his truck was found the same day he was reported missing, July 28. The Cybertruck was found at Grandview Point parking lot on the South Rim, and he is believed to have been in the area of the Grandview Trail and Horseshoe Mesa on July 22.

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1951686534878408935

 

[adot0902]

They're under a heat advisory now but when he went missing it was in the low 80's. However it got down into the upper 30's, low 40's at night.

https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/grand-canyon-national-park/86023/july-weather/12893_poi

He is probably acclimated to the heat. The East Coast has been ridiculously hot and humid. I’m talking 95-100 degrees with 90% humidity it’s been scorching this summer this.

 

[ch_13]

I would think that if Thomas got heat stroke he would be found on the trail itself. The fact that he's missing unfortunately suggests that he fell at some point.

I do know Grandview is not maintained to the same standard as the other trails in the park. It is very narrow and steep, and is recommended for experienced hikers only.

Here's an image from a blog post that shows how parts of the trail can get washed out making some sections very difficult to traverse.

Grandview Trail To Horseshoe Mesa Hike

Easily the toughest and most rugged of the Grand Canyon Park Service's recommended day hikes, the Grandview Trail to Horseshoe Mesa is not for the faint of heart.

hikingguy.com

 

[Knox]

He is probably acclimated to the heat. The East Coast has been ridiculously hot and humid. I’m talking 95-100 degrees with 90% humidity it’s been scorching this summer this.

California has been unseasonably COOL this year which is very odd for us!!

@ch_13 Thanks for the info on the trail he was using. Are they using drones to search? Is the river in close proximity to the trail?

ETA- that was a great read and pics were helpful also. Not for the faint of heart indeed!! The link also stated people have fallen and died on this trail

 

[ch_13]

@ch_13 Thanks for the info on the trail he was using. Are they using drones to search? Is the river in close proximity to the trail?

Grandview does not go to the Colorado River, but it does connect to other trails that do. Since he apparently didn't have backpacking gear, it's likely TG was dayhiking to Horseshoe Mesa and not descending all the way to the river.

As for drones, I know they do use them for search and rescue in the park.

 

[mlhenn]

New Jersey man missing for over 1 week in Grand Canyon: National Park Service - 1310 KFKA

- New Jersey man missing for over 1 week in Grand Canyon: National Park Service

1310kfka.com

Updates regarding the search for Gibbs will be provided “as soon as they become available,” officials said.

 

[mlhenn]

New Jersey man missing in Grand Canyon 'mega-fire' as search efforts continue week later

Thomas Daniel Gibbs, 35, of New Jersey, went missing in the Grand Canyon days before a mega-fire was declared, remaining unaccounted for roughly a week.

www.foxnews.com

A New Jersey man has been missing for about a week as a "mega-fire" ravages the Grand Canyon National Park.

 

[Oiseaux]

He is probably acclimated to the heat. The East Coast has been ridiculously hot and humid. I’m talking 95-100 degrees with 90% humidity it’s been scorching this summer this.

The heat, maybe, but the humidity in the AZ desert can be in the single digits, and unless it's been raining, it's usually in the 20% range or lower. Sweat evaporates quickly and it can be hard to judge how much water you're losing. If you're not drinking lots of water, dehydration can sneak up on you quickly in that setting.

 

[KBlackRabbit]

The heat, maybe, but the humidity in the AZ desert can be in the single digits, and unless it's been raining, it's usually in the 20% range or lower. Sweat evaporates quickly and it can be hard to judge how much water you're losing. If you're not drinking lots of water, dehydration can sneak up on you quickly in that setting.

Plus being acclimated to comfortably walk down a Jersey street in summer is worlds away from being capable of hiking down into or up out of a canyon in Arizona.

I’m curious to know what his hiking experience is, what food, water, clothes, and gear he had with him. Had he ever hiked in an environment like the American Southwest before, and if so, what season, and did it involve elevation gain/loss and tricky footing.

 

[ch_13]

When talking about people who underestimate desert conditions, I always think about the French couple in White Sands who walked less than two miles before collapsing and dying because they hiked in the midsummer heat and didn't bring enough water with them. Their son survived because they gave him the little water they brought.

https://www.cnn.com/2015/08/08/us/new-mexico-french-deaths

The heat is just unforgiving, especially for those not accustomed to it. I still think Thomas likely fell, but he could have easily become disoriented if he wasn't drinking enough water and didn't have sufficient sun protection.

 

[KBlackRabbit]

That trail is definitely not for beginners. It’s sketchy even under the best of conditions, especially for those who are unaccustomed to exposure or have trouble with a fear of heights. Parts of that trail are in high consequence areas and perhaps some no-fall zones.

If someone with no western mountain/canyon experience that tried the hardest trail because they thought it would be cool, it’s easy to see how they could run into trouble.

If they underestimate the trail and the environment, they’re likely to underestimate how much water, clothes, and gear they need and be badly unprepared.

 

[mlhenn]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

Not sure what was modified in NamUs.

Circumstances of Disappearance The National Park Service is asking for the public’s help in locating Thomas Daniel Gibbs, 35, of Freehold, New Jersey, who was last heard from on July 22, 2025, at approximately 12 p.m. Gibbs’ family and friends reported him missing on Monday, July 28. His Tesla Cybertruck was found the same day in the Grandview Point parking lot on the South Rim. Gibbs is believed to have been in the Grandview Trail and Horseshoe Mesa area on July 22.