Two sisters aged five and eight-years-old have been found alive and well after spending 44 hours lost in the US wilderness.

Leia Carrico and her younger sibling Caroline left home on Friday afternoon – despite being told by their mother that they were not allowed to go for a walk.

A massive search was launched for the pair after the alarm was raised with helicopters and tracking dogs joining the search teams.

They were eventually found dehydrated and cold but in good spirits after a search team picked up a trail of granola bar wrappers and boot prints.

Wilderness

"The wrappers showed us a direction from where they started to where the wrappers ended up at," said Mike Fridley, who was part of the rescue effort.

The girls told rescuers that they had been walking along a deer track before they go lost.

They decided to stay in one place and were able to drink fresh water from tree leaves.

“Absolute miracle”

Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal said they were eventually found in a wooded area around 2.5km from their home.

"This is an absolute miracle," he said. "This is rugged territory, this is an extreme environment. How they were out there for 44 hours is pretty amazing."

When the search crew found them, the girls were given fresh warm clothes, water and food.

"A lot of us didn't get any sleep the last 48 hours or so," Mr Honsal said. "To have a positive outcome like this is just absolutely amazing ... These girls definitely have a survival story to tell."

Mr Fridley said the girl’s mother "melted on the phone" when he rang to say they had been found alive.