Illinois man dead from canyon fall at Starved Rock State Park in Illinois

An Illinois man died Saturday afternoon from a fall at a canyon at Starved Rock State Park in northwest Illinois, according to officials.

The fatal fall occurred about 4:30 p.m. at Illinois Canyon, one of 18 such canyons located at the park, according to the the Illinois Department of Natural Resources – the agency that maintains the park. Starved Rock is a popular Midwest destination along the Illinois River for hikers, fishers, campers and hunters.

The LaSalle County Coroner's Office identified the man as 38-year-old Albert Cramer of Oswego, located about 50 miles northeast of the state park.

The Illinois Conservation Police in LaSalle County referred questions to the Illinois DNR's media relations department when reached Monday by Paste BN.

No foul play suspected in fall from bluff

Investigators determined that Cramer was hiking along a bluff at the canyon when he fell 40 to 50 feet to his death, according to the DNR.

The agency added that no foul play is suspected.

Starved Rock popular among visitors for its canyons, waterfalls

Located about 100 miles southwest of Chicago in the town of Oglesby, Starved Rock has earned a reputation as one of Illinois' most popular attractions, according to the Peoria Journal Star, a Paste BN Network publication.

The state park's 18 canyons feature vertical sandstone walls covered in moss that were formed by glacial meltwater, according to the Illinois DNR's website.

Hikers also flock to the park for its rain-fed waterfalls and more-than 13 miles of trails through "lush vegetation" and "spectacular overlooks," the DNR says.

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for Paste BN. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com