Two Weeks Without a Word: Australian Hiker Vanishes in Canadian Park

A 62-year-old Australian woman has been missing for two weeks after setting out on a hike in Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Denise Ann Williams last contacted her family on April 15, telling them she was heading to the fishing village of Chéticamp on Cape Breton Island. Her rental car—a gray Nissan Sentra—was later found parked at the Parks Canada visitor center near the trailhead of the Acadian loop, an 8.4-kilometer path rated as moderate difficulty. One local posted on social media that the car hadn’t moved in “probably two weeks.”

The Acadian Trail winds through rugged coastal terrain known for moose, coyotes, and black bears emerging from hibernation. Park officials warn hikers to carry a walking stick and never hike alone. Cell service is unreliable. Williams was reported missing to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on April 28 at 9:30 a.m. local time. Searchers describe her as 5-foot-4, with grayish-blonde shoulder-length hair. She was last seen wearing a dark winter jacket, a powder-blue beanie with “Antarctica” written on it, an orange-and-blue scarf, and glasses.

RCMP Corporal Mandy Edwards told the ABC that bears are especially active during mating season. Daytime temperatures in the park have hovered between 0°C and 14°C, dropping to -5°C at night, with patches of lingering snow. Ground and air crews—including police dog services, search-and-rescue teams, and the Department of Natural Resources—are scouring the area. Edwards urged anyone who may have seen Williams to come forward. “Hopefully she’s encountered people who recognize her photo,” she said.