Two hikers missing on rugged North Shore trail overnight have been found

WATCH: Grace Ke reports from Cypress Mountain, where Search and Rescue crews were searching for two hikers overnight.

Two residents from New York missing in the backcountry of the North Shore mountains for over 12 hours walked out safely this morning.

The man and woman became separated from a larger group Monday on the Howe Sound Crest trail, a demanding hike between the Cypress Mountain resort in West Vancouver and Porteau Cove, along Howe Sound, north of Vancouver.

Most hiking guides advise taking two days to complete the rough 29-kilometre trail, but the group may have intended to complete the estimated 11-hour hike in a single day.

Teams from North Shore Rescue and Lions Bay Rescue began searching from each end of the trail around 9 p.m. Monday night, and met in the middle overnight without finding any sign of the missing pair.

New teams of searchers were headed into the area at first light this morning.

The two walked out by themselves this morning at the Lions Bay fire department.