40 hikers were rescued during their visit to Kentucky for a mission trip. Group of La Salle University students left for a hike however got lost in the eastern Kentucky mountain.

The group of students and staff members became lost after their hike unexpectedly lasted into the night as they waited too long for their return trip. They were near Bad Branch Falls, a state nature preserve near Whitesburg.

Kentucky State Police trooper Tony Watts said the group was reported missing about 7 p.m. Thursday.

The entire group was found and off the mountain by Friday at 3:30 a.m., said Mayking Volunteer Fire Chief Tony Fugate.

"It's pretty rough country back in there," Fugate told The Associated Press.

The group of hikers was of 37 students and three staff members from La Salle University in Philadelphia to spend their spring break working with Habitat for Humanity.

"Rescuing 37 people is a monumental undertaking," according to Shad Baker, a local resident. "So the fact that they got them out is really good."

"I think once they got up there, there's 37 footprints going every which direction. ... I think they couldn't figure out which way they came from," Baker said.

John Caroulis (kah-ROO'-lys), a spokesman for La Salle University in Philadelphia, says one student remained in the hospital Friday morning as a precaution, but the rest of the group was released. All are expected to return as scheduled Saturday.