Illinois hiker falls to his death in Yellowstone

Search crews found the body of a 53-year-old Illinois man on Friday in Yellowstone National Park, concluding he apparently died in a fall in a mountainous area near the park's North Entrance.

Jeff Murphy

Jeff Murphy of Batavia, Illinois, had left on a day hike from the Rescue Creek Trail to Turkey Pen Peak on Wednesday morning. Park officials say it appears Murphy fell to his death on Turkey Pen Peak.

“All of us at Yellowstone extend our sympathy to the Murphy family for their tragic loss,” Yellowstone Superintendent Dan Wenk said in a statement released Friday afternoon.

Yellowstone crews started searching for Murphy on Thursday when his wife reported that he had failed to check in; Friday's search efforts involved eight hiking teams, five dog teams, four horse teams and a helicopter.

The Rescue Creek Trail was closed during the search. It has since reopened, but Yellowstone officials say visitors should expect temporary closures in the area until their investigation is complete.

Yellowstone