Fifteen hikers from a church group who failed to return from a Sunday hike in the Southern California Mountains were found safe by a helicopter search crew Monday morning.

One of the hikers from the group, whose members' ages ranged from 14 to 36, called the local sheriff's station Sunday night to say they were lost. Earlier that day, they had set out to hike in the Eaton Canyon Natural Area and were expected back by the evening, NBC reports.

A few members of their family and the church searched by foot but they weren't found until the Los Angeles County sheriff's helicopter rescued them.

One of the hikers, 22-year-old Nancy Picado, said the group became worn out after spending Sunday rappelling down waterfalls, according to The New York Times. The place is a popular hiking spot known for rescues.

"We were wet, we were tired, but we just decided that the best thing we could do is just stay there and rest," Picado told the The Associated Press. "It was safer for us to just wait until morning."

The hikers built a fire until rescuers came for them.

Only one person was injured but said it happened during the helicopter rescue.

The group was prepared for emergencies being fully equipped with backpacks, first-aid kits, extra clothing, food and water but did not expect to be there all night.

Altadena Mountain Rescue Team training officer James Moussally said the group started high up in the canyon and worked their way down by rappelling.

"It's not something you want to rush through," he said. "There is safety involved. You want to take your time."

The U.S. Forest Service closed off access to the Upper Falls last summer because of the many people who were ignoring warning signs causing 60 rescues in 2012 alone and five deaths since 2011.

Moussally said he did not believe the group was in a restricted area.

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