PORTOLA VALLEY – The search continued Friday for a 79-year-old Redwood City woman who went missing a day earlier while hiking in the Windy Hill Open Space Preserve.

Margaret “Elaine” McKinley, 79, of Redwood City, was last seen hiking along the Lost Trail in the Windy Hill Open Space Preserve around noon Thursday, May 1, 2025, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. (San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office) 

Margaret “Elaine” McKinley, who has dementia, became separated from her family and was last seen around noon Thursday walking along the Lost Trail, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. She was wearing a red jacket and black pants.

More than 40 specially trained search-and-rescue personnel scoured the preserve for McKinley throughout Thursday and into the early morning hours of Friday, the sheriff’s office said. An additional 70 personnel – including volunteers from Alameda, Marin, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties – joined the effort Friday morning.

The sheriff’s office said it also deployed its airplane, drones and dogs to help find the hiker.

“We remain very hopeful that we will locate Elaine so she can be reunited with her loved ones,” Sheriff Christina Corpus said in a statement. “We extend our appreciation to the many specially trained volunteers who have answered the call to assist with the search.”

To aid in the efficiency of the search, members of the public should avoid the Windy Hill Open Space Preserve parking lot in Portola Valley, according to the sheriff’s office.

The California Highway Patrol has also issued a silver alert to aid in the search for McKinley. The sheriff’s office is asking anyone who spots her or has information about her whereabouts to call 911.

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