PHOENIX — Authorities confirmed that a man was discovered deceased Tuesday afternoon along a hiking trail in north Phoenix. The Phoenix Fire Department reported the body was located near 29th Avenue and Pinnacle Peak Road.

Emergency services received a 911 call around 4:30 p.m. from another hiker who stumbled upon the body. First responders quickly arrived on the scene but found the individual beyond any resuscitative efforts.

The Phoenix Police Department is conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the man’s death. As of now, the exact cause remains unclear, and further inquiries will be handled by the police department.

The Valley, a colloquial term for the Phoenix Metropolitan Area, encompasses several major cities, including Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Tempe, Glendale, and others. This metropolitan region ranks as the largest in the Southwest.

According to the 2020 United States Census, the Valley has a combined population of approximately 4.8 million, making it the 11th largest metropolitan area in the nation.

Maricopa County, where Phoenix is located, boasts around 4.5 million residents, ranking as the fourth largest county in the U.S. by population. Spanning 9,224 square miles, it covers a significant portion of Arizona’s population, estimated at 63%.

Among its numerous features, Maricopa County is home to one of the largest park systems in the nation, offering over 120,000 acres of parks which include extensive trails, nature centers, and campgrounds. The county is named after the Maricopa Native American Tribe, further enriching the region’s cultural heritage.