A 20 year old American student, missing for a week, has been found dead near Wanaka.

Allison "Ally" Willen's body was found by search and rescue personnel in a river in Young Valley today.

She was found near where her backpack and jacket were spotted earlier this week.

Willen was last seen on the Gillespie Pass track on ANZAC Day.

Her family in Akron, Ohio, have been told of the news and the matter has been referred to the coroner.