Reports: 1 man dead from canyon fall at Starved Rock State Park in Illinois

A person died Saturday afternoon from a fall at a canyon at Starved Rock State Park in northwest Illinois, according to reports.

The fatal fall occurred about 4:30 p.m. at Illinois Canyon, one of 18 such canyons located at the park – a popular Midwest destination along the Illinois River for hikers, fishers, campers and hunters. CBS News identified the victim as a man.

It was not immediately clear what caused the man to fall. USA TODAY left messages Monday morning with both the Illinois Conservation Police in LaSalle County and also the Illinois Department of Natural Resources – the agency that maintains the park – that were not immediately returned.

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 USA TODAY 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 USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com