Starved Rock State Park

Five stars!! Staying at the cabins and hiking for a few days here for the weekend was the BEST idea. With this time of year and not getting much rain, only one waterfall was flowing during our hikes~ But it was still so worth seeing the sites, critters, trees, overlooks, rock formations, trails, and history of the Starved Rock! When you rent a cabin you can also rent the fire pit in front of the lodge~ We cooked dinner there! Absolutely relaxing and all around fun.

Very good State park. Nice and scenic hiking trails. Canyon are very impressive and in the lush green forest. Enjoyed waling here. Visitors center is very nicely made. All information about place and history is well displayed. Our visit is satisfactory. Only on rreturn route few sign boards will be helpful for visitors.

The best , park in all of Illinois. Hell, top in the nation easy. Awesome scenery , diverse trails and quite an intense hike. Welcome center is dope and informative. Plenty of parking spaces. Dogs are welcome. Great date night location, 2 hours from Chicago. Certainly worth the trip!

Starved Rock State Park is a peaceful place for a walk, though nothing particularly stood out for me beyond its small touch of history. It is a good spot for both adults and kids, and I saw many people bringing their dogs along the trails. The restrooms could be better, but the park itself is spacious and full of greenery. I did not get to explore the entire area since it is quite large, but I could see why so many people come here for hiking and camping. If you want a calm day surrounded by nature, this is a great choice.

Visited Starved Rock State Park 🌳🏞️ in Illinois and it was absolutely beautiful! The trail was moderate 🚶‍♀️🥾 — just the right mix of adventure and relaxation. Perfect for soaking in nature’s beauty 🌿🍂, hearing the birds sing 🐦, and breathing in that fresh forest air 🌬️. The scenery was stunning with towering trees 🌲, rocky cliffs 🪨, and peaceful river views 🌊. Whether you’re a casual walker or a nature lover, it’s a great spot to slow down, explore, and recharge 💚. Highly recommend bringing your camera 📸 because every corner is a photo-worthy moment!

Spectacular Views Year Round! Such a lovely place to enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Impressed with the new pavement leading up to Starved Rock making the walk much easier. The nature trails provided a very good hike.

Pretty cool state park! Very well kept- the trails are largely enclosed by a wooden built trail with guard rails I’m sure so people don’t wander off. It’s very hilly and mountainous so be prepared to climb LOTS of stairs if you’re trying to get far through the trails. But it’s so so beautiful there- I went in July and it was hot and humid and buggy so definitely grab some bug spray if you can. Lots of beautiful giant sights like the big starved rock, high viewpoints, sharp dropoffs, and a big beautiful rock canyon. Also a great place to observe local fungi if you’re into it! Definitely bring a water bottle or some Gatorade to keep yourself hydrated because it’s lots of walking and apparently I climbed “28 flights of stairs” according to the health app.

I recently visited Starved Rock State Park, and it was an incredible experience! The trek was around 4 miles and absolutely worth it. The trails were well-marked and took us through a variety of beautiful canyons, each with its own unique charm. From lush greenery to towering rock formations, the scenery was stunning at every turn. One of the highlights was definitely the lake — peaceful, scenic, and a great spot to take a break and enjoy nature. The entire hike offered a perfect mix of adventure and relaxation, making it ideal for both first-time visitors and seasoned hikers. Whether you're into hiking, photography, or just looking for a fun day out with friends, this park has something for everyone. It’s clean, well-maintained, and offers plenty of spots to stop, take pictures, or simply soak in the beauty around you. Starved Rock is definitely a must-visit if you're in Illinois — already looking forward to going back!

I visited Starved Rock for the first time the other day - it is beautiful! An excellent place to go hiking, take in nature and get some excellent views. It looks different each season so make sure to visit each one if you can. Spring is the best time to come and view the waterfalls, especially after it rains! There are multiple canyons/waterfalls to see and the entire trail is over 13 miles long. The parking lots can fill up fairly quickly on nice days outside and weekends so make sure to come early or you may have to park in the overfill lot which is a long walk.

This place isn't starved for attention, that's for sure. Whether it was for a school field trip or an adventure with the family, visiting Starved Rock as a kid was a rite of passage of sorts. With getting into hiking, it only felt right to come back and see it again. I had tried making plans to go with a few friends but life gets busy and I wanted to get in before the winter weather started to stick around. So, I grabbed my hiking boots and hit the road north. The thing to know about Starved Rock before I tell my adventure is that it's THE place to hike in Illinois. Sure, Illinois has a million nature centers, state parks, trails, paths, parks, etc... but Starved Rock is the place that everyone seems to gravitate to. Having gone on a Sunday, I knew it would be busy and even then, I wasn't prepared for the amount of people there and the number of times I would be saying "hi" and "excuse me" as I passed people on paths. Just keep that in mind if you decide to go. I'm guessing it's quieter during the week but it'll still have it's fair share of tourists. The first thing to note is that parking was a breeze to find. There was plenty of signage pointing to the main parking lot and the overflow parking lot. A thing to note is that the parking spots themselves are a bit narrow, so if you have a wider vehicles, be mindful of door dings. The visitor center is a short walk from the parking lot and you can't miss it. I decided to walk among the shoreline first and take in the open view of the Illinois river and the lock & dam. After that, I headed in to the visitor center to snag a Starved Rock magnet from the gift shop and to see what displays they have. There is a brief but cool history of the area inside if you are keen on that kind of stuff. I gave it a quick look over but was ready to hike, not have a history lesson. Of note: There are bathrooms inside the visitor center so don't feel like you need to use the port-a-potties outside. Once I was back outside, I snagged a map from a display and hit the trails. I had no planned path to take. I had no set distance I wanted to hike. I just got in line with everyone else and started walking. At first, I was worried because all the pathways were wooded or paved. It felt like more of a viewing place than a hiking place, but once you got away from the visitor center, the wooden and paved paths lessened, as did the crowds. The actual area of Starved Rock was fairly close to the visitor center. I was able to mingle with a big crowd and read about the pretty grim history of Starved Rock and how it got it's name. You can't actually see Starved Rock from there, unless you look down, because you are actually standing on it. Feel free to check the wiki page out if you want to know more. From there, I decided to focus on the hiking aspect of my trip. I hit the trails blind and decided to see where they would take me. There's actually not much deviation from the main hiking path from what I could tell. There were a few different detours you could take to see different canyons and such, but the main hiking path ran parallel to the Illinois river from my experience. I eventually hit this Wildcat Canyon that didn't seem too high up until you looked down. Talk about a dizzying view. I eventually followed the path down to the bottom (Starved Rock has a million stairs, FYI) and it turns out, this is where the popular waterfall is. The waterfall was dried up while I was here but I can see why everyone likes to get their photo taken here. There were plenty of people taking selfies and group photos despite the fact the waterfall wasn't running. It would've been nice to see it but there's always another time. I stood there in awe at the sheer size and presence of the canyon. Nature sure is breathtaking. As I continued my hike along the main path, there were plenty of bridges to cross, sights to see, photos to take and fresh air to breathe in. At about the Sandstone Overlook area, I decided that was a good enough point to turn around and head back. I had plenty of time to explore the rest of the main path but wanted to save some of it for another visit. On the way back, I took a different path that lead to a very breathtaking view of the lock & dam. I spent more time here than I care to admit just watching and listening to the water as it churned through the dam. After that, it was a short walk before I was back at the visitor center. My watch said I was at 4.5 miles, so I took a nice long stroll along the bank where people were sitting on benches and others were fishing to round it up to 5. All in all, despite how busy it was and never having a moment alone on the trail, it was absolutely worth the visit. I do wish it had more natural hiking elements but for people who aren't comfortable with that or are inexperienced, Starved Rock is perfectly fine. If you are interested in something a bit more challenging and less busy, go across the street to Matthiessen State Park.

We just had the best brunch experience with the help of our waitress Megan T. She made our birthday celebration so special with her personal action to the 2 birthday girls. Thank you Megan T.

The park has very good trails and easy hikes. The view from the top of Starved Rock is terrific. We saw numerous eagles too. The lodge was very disappointing. Tiny bathroom with the shortest commode I have ever used. Everything was old and poorly maintained. The shelf in the bathroom was barely strong enough to hold a glass of water. The lodge restaurant was also very unenlightened menu and poor quality. Next time, we will stay elsewhere and drive in to see the eagles.

The most beloved park in Illinois. Unlike most of central and northern Illinois, the terrain here is not flat, with many stairs and going up and down canyons, carved by glaciers. I went in early April, midweek, so it was thankfully, fairly empty, but it gets packed in the summer and weekends all year. In April, the trails were often quite muddy, with some spots only traversable by sloshing through deep mud or balancing across precarious logs. For me, this added to the fun. I prefer Matthiessen, as it has two beautiful waterfalls and is away from the river so there are more trees than along the sunny river. Plus, much of the hiking is at the base of the canyon which provides shade and refreshingly lower temps.

Hire a new cook and manager for their main dining room. We were served an evening meal that tasted like it had been left over from 5 days prior. Almost all of our two dinners were sent back to the kitchen to be thrown in the garbage where they belonged. To make things worse, the dining room doors connecting to their big lobby area were open while a big crowd of alcoholic drinkers were playing Cornhole games. The noise was so loud, we could hardly hear ourselves think. Not exactly the peaceful atmosphere I had expected from Starved Rock Park.

Great place to hike and get out into nature. Amazing rock formations and woods, awesome views! Beware however that the trails away from the Illinois River, while great to see, there's a ton of stairs. Also footing inside the canyons can be slippery. Be sure to bring water with you. Also, know that they no longer give paper maps so charge your phones up fully before hiking about.

Located about an hour and half away from Chicago. This is a good place for hiking. In the spring and summer you'll be able to see waterfalls up close. If you come in the winter, you'll see like a winter wonderland because some of the waterfalls will be frozen and covered in snow. They have paved paths which makes things easier. Adequate amount of parking. You can pack a lunch and sit in the main picnic area. There is a visitor center with restrooms.

Beautiful park, it has so many trails to walk it's hard to pick one, the best time is in the fall, and stay on the trails please.

Stayed at the campground near by just for a day and decided to check out the state park. The numerous canyons and outlooks made it well worth the visit. St. Louis canyon was by far the best with a wide area between the rocks and a waterfall. The restaurant there was absolutely delicious and one must try the country fried steak and the strawberry pecan salad with chicken.

This is by far one of my favorite hiking destinations in Illinois. This was my first visit during the fall and it was truly the perfect time to go. The weather was beautiful and the scenery as you can tell from the pictures, just stunning. There is a lot of parking but this park does get busy. It is dog friendly and the paths are well maintained for the most part. There was one staircase that needed some maintenance. Keep in mind, there are a lot of stairs here, so it is not very wheel-chair friendly. That is really the only downside. The waterfall is so pretty and a must see! The trails aren't too long. There are plenty to choose from. I would definitely reccomend visiting in the fall to experience all of nature's beauty with the changing colors on the leaves. So pretty! Go check it out for yourself and breathe in some fresh air.

Don't go chasing waterfalls... There are none. And it's extremely dangerous unless you bring rock climbing gear.

This park is about 2.5 hours away from Milwaukee and well worth the drive! I would plan to spend a night or two in the area, so you can spend a lot of time exploring and hiking. My husband and I went in both Spring and Winter. During the Spring, you can see waterfalls, and during the winter (depending on weather) you can see ice waterfalls. I would go both times, since they are equally awesome! If you enjoy hiking and being outdoors, this is a must-see state park! There are trails for every hiker level, from beginners to advance. You can stop at the visitor center and map out your day with a ranger (if they are open) or you can snag a map and plan out your own hikes. There are so many beautiful canyons and waterfalls. Some favorites are the St Louis Canyon, La Salle Canyon, Ottawa and Kaskaskia Canyons, and many more. Honestly, I would spend a couple of days and go see them all!

Illinois, what are we even doing here? This is the best we've got? Yes, I'm spoiled by having gone to national parks with actual geography worth seeing, but Starved Rock is hardly worth the hype. I arrived on Memorial Day weekend, so I figured it would be packed. A sign alerted us that Starved Rock was closed until 3 p.m. I have no idea why. Overcrowding? Maybe. Upon entry, I found parking to be woefully inadequate and time-consuming. The visitor's center is fairly well maintained. Although part of it shuts down early (4 p.m. the day I visited), the restrooms and water filling stations were open later. The trails are poorly marked, so it's easy to end up going a way you hadn't intended. I did appreciate the plentiful wooden structures. You will encounter many, many stairs with significant elevation changes. Don't be like the morons who tried doing the hike with baby strollers (seriously). I saw many people carrying their dogs up and down the stairs. Major thumbs down for graffiti everywhere you turn. Some of these jackals even carved their names into the rocks. Just heartbreaking. If you trek up to Lover's Leap, you may discover that the lovers leaped to their deaths because they were so sad at having climbed all that way to look at a brown river sloshing through an ugly dam. If you're looking for unspoiled nature, this is not it. I did appreciate the uniqueness of Wildcat Canyon. There's a trickle of a waterfall and it's unusual enough to merit the hike. I wish the park would enforce an automatic death penalty for the people hiking with Bluetooth speakers blaring their trash music. Get headphones, ya dopes. No one wants to hear that in a park. If you ever end up dating one of these styrofoam-brained idiots and they start playing music on a Bluetooth speaker in a park, break it off. Do not let them reproduce. Their genetic line is flawed and must end. Illinois is an awful state if you enjoy the outdoors. I had high hopes for Starved Rock. I don't think I'll ever return.

Big state park that's even bigger than the other nearby parks around here. It has so much to see here, so set aside like a few hours at least. Starved Rock State Park is just one of the many state parks in and around Oglesby. Good for a few hours or days even. This also includes the popular lodge, so make this part of a vacation. A ton of natural wonders can be found. It has lots of canyons and rock formations, which were carved out in the ice age and are unique for around here. There's also tons of waterfalls. Best to view these in winter when the ice is melting. Summer and fall are good for the foliage though. Beginning the furthest away from the lodge is Illinois Canyon. Work your way west along Kaskaskia Canyon to see some good stuff. Ottawa Canyon is another good one kind of far away. The trails are long but you can also go faster by driving to the parking lots. Hennepin Canyon is less appreciated. LaSalle Canyon is one of the more impressive waterfalls. It was the only one with significant water coming out. The timing matters, as the best times to see waterfalls are after rains or when ice melts in winter. Get closer to the lodge. Wildcat Canyon is one of the deepest and has a nice waterfall. French Canyon is close to the lodge. Pontiac Canyon is yet another to check out along the way to some other cool stuff. Be sure to go to the lookouts. Lover's Leap offers a view of the dam and lake and is pretty quiet. For sure you'll went to check out the most important attraction. The park's namesake is close to the lodge, and is a large bluff you can walk up and get some good views of the park and lake. Give yourself at least a few hours because it takes that long to see a lot of the most interesting things, or maybe stay for longer in the lodge and give yourself more time for going about everything. It can take a real long time to see it, if you want to see the waterfalls and all that stuff. This is a good place for coming back to throughout the year because the scenery changes like the foliage and waterfalls.

The Illinois Canyon trail is the eastern-most trail on Starved Rock State Park. It's fairly flat and short trip from the parking lot. I trekked it on winter time and most charming. I love the winding frozen streams.

Lovely state park with lots of trails to explore. There's plenty of parking, and even when they run out there's overflow parking a short hike away. They have maps available, but it seemed like they're trying to phase it out for online maps, or you can take a picture of their big maps. There's a lot of different trails to take, with different views, some of the views or lookouts are obscured by trees (obviously). But overall there are definitely some nice views! It is very hilly so expect a number of stairs! They do also have a nature center, a bar/restaurant area, and I saw some camping/cabin areas as well. They don't have many looped trails so sometimes you find yourself going in one direction and then just coming back the same way. But other than that nice trails fairly well maintained. And we saw plenty of dogs also so dog friendly!

This is a beautiful getaway from the hectic buzz of the city. It is a bit of a drive, but there really isn't anything natural and of this large a scale near Chicago. I recommend starting at the Visitor Center. There are very knowledgeable guides there who can recommend routes for you based on how strenuous of a hike you want, and how long you want to be hiking. The trails are all very developed--wooden walkways with railings, structured stairways, and clear signs indicating how to get back to the visitor center along the way. The season will completely affect your experience here, so I recommend checking the forecast before planning the 1.5-hour drive out here. I came once in November, and it was frigid with frost on the ground. When I returned in July, the heat and humidity were sweltering. I recommend checking out Mathieson State Park while you are here. It is right next door, and dare I say even better than Starved Rock.

Our outing was refreshing and the scenic views were spectacular. Next, time we would like to do the tours with Trolley. Definitely, planning to go again. Would recommend to anyone to visit for a refreshing time!!!

Very nice, very large nature park. Good for walking, hiking and camping. Would highly recommend.

What a beautiful place for a day spent hiking. There are trails for every ability level, and crowds of people looking to enjoy the free park. Choose your time carefully or there will be so many fellow hikers it can be more irritating than relaxing. If stairs are an issue, please check with the info booth to see what trails to avoid as several of these trails pop up on staircases. If you bring plenty of water and take advantage of the benches sprinkled throughout the trail for a quick rest when needed this park is fun for most activity levels. The views are beautiful, and heavily influenced by the seasons. The waterfalls are beautiful when they are running in the spring, but if you see them dried up in the July sun it can be a little underwhelming.

Great state park in Illinois! There is a good variety of trails and canyons for any athletic level (I saw all from children to senior individuals enjoying the park). The sights are absolutely beautiful. We went during the dry season so unfortunately the waterfalls were dry, however, it was still breathtaking. If you are planning a trip here I would recommend waiting until the waterfalls are back to get the full experience. There are maps and signs everywhere so as long as you stay on the paths, it is very easy to follow. Some of the main sights are French canyon & wildcat canyon. I would also recommend bringing bug spray as ticks are common unwelcome guests in this area.

A nice little getaway from the city life. I would definitely recommend to get there early because as the day went on the more crowded it got. At the visitors center Pam went through EVERYTHING with us, such as the different trails, the best canyons to visit, and what to avoid to have a safe trip. If you're wondering about the wild life, there are snakes, ticks, and spiders so come prepared with bug spray. The map is pretty standard, I never felt we were going the wrong direction because the trails are very distinguished by signs. Overall a great experience, they have several overlook areas where you can see the Illinois River and several canyons where you can definitely get some great pictures.

You could drive to Devil's Tower or the Grand Canyon or even Yellowstone. Or The Grand Tetons or Banff. But, if you're pressed for time and you don't even want to drive to Peninsula State park (Door County) - you can make it here, in about 1 hour and 45 minutes (from Skokie). That's a really doable day trip and you're back home by the afternoon. There's plenty of parking, with an over flow lot. The park has a spacious visitor center and cafeteria but I didn't have any thing to eat here. It must be a popular place for students and large groups. The park is right next to the Illinois river and has plenty of wooden walkways and stairs and there's even a sidewalk for certain portions of the trails. It's a nice and peaceful walk, suitable for all age groups and dogs. Of course, wear sun screen, although there are shady areas, and a bottle of water is sufficient for your hike. There are beautiful views from the lookout areas and I was surprised to read that Native Americans starving here is actually a legend and not factual. FYI, there are areas where there are few people and in other areas - you feel like your at Universal Studios. I'm still very surprised that people are not wearing masks - both the elderly and little kids. Come on Illinois - we can do this, but we've got to do this together!! After your day, have a great meal in North Utica or Ottawa - I love exploring these towns that I wouldn't normally visit.

Starved Rock is a beautiful state park about 1hr & 45 minutes from Chicago. At first glance the park doesn't seem like there is all that much to see, but on further exploration there are so many different areas within this park to see & explore. Most of the park runs along the Illinois River. If you plan to seeing the entire park & what it has to offer you will need to be willing to spend a lot of time walking & exploring. The park is quite large and it would be very difficult to see all the different areas in one day. There are vast nature areas of trails & canyons that stretch out along the Illinois River often going up and down in elevation which can be physically exhausting. You can try to see everything in one day but it would be difficult. I suggest you take a weekend trip & spend the night either camping or lodging @ the hotel in the park or nearby accommodations if you really want to get the full impact of all what Starved Rock State Park has to o offer. Starved Rock is a great place to go to spend some time to enjoy nature & get some exercise at the same time.

We decided we needed a nature getaway for a couple of hours, so, on Monday July 20th, 2020. We drove 2 hours to Starved Rock State Park. Luckily we had done our homework. We got their relatively early at 9:30 a.m. We visited three of the Lesser traveled paths, Ottawa,  Kaskaskia, and Illinois Canyons . It was very muddy, most of the trails are only about a foot wide, but it was serene. It was so nice to be surrounded by Nature. It was beautiful. We only saw a handful of people there. Our mistake was in going around 12:30 p.m. to the Central Area:  the Starved Rock Visitor Center where most of the popular trails start from..  The Visitor Center was not open but the cafe and bathrooms were. The trails leaving from The Visitor Center were jam-packed.  There was no social distancing of any kind and 99% of the people there were not wearing masks. It was a single file line with people right on top of each other, and blocking the entire walkway so you couldn't even get around them. Took a quick picture at the Starved Rock overhang and we left quickly. If you are planning to visit, I would suggest that you get there very, very early and visit the less popular trails in order to avoid the huge crowds.

The Park has lost so much in regards to maintenance and upkeep. Trails are not marked, you'll walk the wrong way while in the bush. Benches are totally rotted and filled with slivers. Shelters are so deteriorated that they are unusable. Parking lots are filled with potholes.

These trails are so beautiful and well mapped! I've come here a few times to hike and it's so picturesque! The St. Louis canyon is so fun to hike to! There are so many different and unique trails to hike.

Lots of different trails at Starved Rock! Beautiful waterfalls and they were cool seeing them flow with icicles. We spent about 4 hours here - I would say this is a moderate skill level. You don't necessarily need hiking boots, however it can get muddy so I recommend wearing some. This place is a great getaway and the parks are kept clean. It's nice to see that people aren't dumping there trash, it actively helps keep it around. I've gone in the fall, winter and spring and love it at anytime of the year.

Visited Starved Rock and camped for the weekend, in my honest opinion this park is more of a "one day, in and out" kind of trip. Wouldn't recommend camping, as the starved rock main campground is 3 miles off site of the actual park, with no trails that connect the two. The campsites look very secluded on the DNR website, but that is hardly the case as they likely could have jumped physically from one campsite to our neighboring site. Portopotties had no toilet paper the entire weekend, and nowhere to wash your hands. The actual canyons were kinda neat, but definitely not as alluring as I expected. Very touristy - definitely stray away and head to the national forests if you're looking for a more actual camping style trip.

Growing up in the city, its easy to forget what its like without the hustle and bustle and the vroom-vroom, and the honk-honk "Learn how to drive, you idiot!!" noises of the city. Thankfully, there are several forest preserves and parks throughout, but if you really want to "get away", drive the ~2hrs to Utica and check out Starved Rock State Park. I've always heard about the place and never gotten the chance to go, until recently. The state park is great, paralleling the Illinois River, the views are very scenic and great. We started at the Visitors Center near the west end of the park, and as expected, there was many people there. If you're looking for a more secluded area, venture further east and start there. There are several canyons to check out. From other Yelpers, there is a really good waterfall located at Canyon St Louis, but I didn't get a chance to check it out. Pack a lunch, water, and wear comfortable shoes and easily spend 2 hours or more on a nice spring like day. I'm not sure what it's like to hike in the heat, but that's not for me. In either case, if you like nature and just want to get away from the city for a bit, definitely check out Starved Rock State Park. BATHROOM REVIEW: There are two sets of bathooms of the Visitor Center on either side of the vending machines. The urinals are made of stainless steel and gets the job done. There are several stalls too, if ya have to go. The sink and everything were in working order and overall, the cleanliness was decent.Sit or squat? Squat.

Great way to spend a beautiful day hiking by the river and through the woods. Starved Rock State Park is about a 2 1/2 hour drive from Milwaukee. Recommend getting there early; by about 11a the parking lot is full and the trails get pretty busy too. The trails are marked pretty well. There are several signs with maps along the way that tell you where you are at. If you get hungry while out exploring the lodge has a restaurant and cafe to grab something to eat and drink. Dogs are allowed as long as they are on a leash.

One of the jewels of the park system in Illinois. A wide variety of trails and stunning scenery --- really, Starved Rock has everything the enthusiastic walker/hiker could ask for. Only a two-hour drive from Chicago, Starved Rock can be a day trip, if you set out early. One time, I woke up early on a Sunday (it was a Father's Day in June) with no plans for the day, so I left home at 6:30 to spend the day at the park. I got there early enough so that I found parking near the visitors' center. All you visitors need to be aware that this is a VERY POPULAR park. In the summer of 2020, there were days when the state actually closed the park to more visitors because it was full. If you're looking for peace and quiet, and you visit at a popular time in summer, you will probably be sharing the trails with a lot of people. There are a few extra lots for parking, but these, too, fill up quickly when the weather is good. The trails can be challenging. The DNR has erected stairs on many of them, and if you have trouble with stairs, this park may not be for you. When I visited in early November, I was at the top of a bluff, looking at all the stairs to the river, and I heard a woman counting as she came up. She was on 85 steps and counting. Trails can be full of roots underfoot, involve stream crossings, and, as I already said, have lots of stairs. I wear my lightweight hiking boots and carry two hiking poles, and I am very glad I have them. You can walk along the river by the visitors' center on a flat trail. Because most trails involve a lot of elevation changes, persons with limited physical abilities should take it very slow and very easy. The visitors center has an information desk staffed with knowledgeable volunteers. You can also get snacks and bottled drinks, and, of course, use the public toilets. The Lodge has a restaurant with decent food and long waits for a table. Starved Rock State Park is a wonderful place that too many people have discovered. When it's crowded, it's not very relaxing. When you're out on a trail with very few people getting between you and nature, it is spectacular.

This place is great, loved the views. Here is what I recommend for a good hike, and how to avoid the strenuous steps going up. 1. Start at the visitor center, look for a map and ask the guide there for the best hike. He/she will probably say the same path that I am suggesting here but always good to check with the experts. 2. Start with trail to French canyon 3. At the first intersection head towards Pontiac Canyon or wildcat canyon. 4. Once at Pontiac Canyon head toward wildcat canyon. 5. Once you reach wildcat, you can go down to the heart of the waterfall. Enjoy the view or May be take a bath in the water lol. 6. For going back do not take the steps back, instead head towards lovers point, the visitors center. 7. Once you reach lovers point you can head towards beehive point (optional) 8. If you just follow the path it will take you back to the visitors center. Tip- try to come early to avoid crowds and find parking, it can get crowded. Hope you enjoy Starved Rock!

First time coming back here after my last visit. All in all, my opinions and thoughts from my last review remain the same. Upon arrival, I was greeted by a bunch of port o potties which was great for obvious reasons. It wasn't hard to find parking at all. But my conquest on why I came here was to finally make it to the Hennepin overlook. Long story short, I did it! Most of the trail is in good condition but when you walk over some of the wood planks, they got holes in some of it near the canyons. The main over looks are great! It's best to come here in the spring time where it isn't full of tourists cramping up the trails. The walk back from Hennepin is much quicker than walking over there. Some of the trails can be confusing so I needed the help of Google Maps to help me out while I was walking. Don't shame me.

We visited Starved Rock this past weekend and I hope that when we visit again that the experience will be different. HIKING- The trials are awesome. Probably the best spot you can hike in Illinois, with the best views. I honestly forget we were in Illinois when viewing the canyons. We started out our hike by the Visitor's Center and to visit the French Canyon first. The French Canyon is about 1/2 a mile from the Visitor's Center so it's a nice short hike if you're looking for something like that. Two main notes here. This trail was PACKED. There was easily over 100 people and 95% of them not wearing masks (they weren't required.) I'd be cautious to hike here without a mask because of the close proximity, especially climbing your way down to the bottom of the French Canyon. People "traffic" were stopped in both directions because of the crowding. Secondly, this trail is not very pet friendly at all. Our dog is well trained on a leash but because of the amount of stairs, height of the stairs, and how narrow they were, she had some difficulty. I would not recommend bringing your dog unless it is VERY well trained on a leash, able to go up and down many stairs, and in overall good healthy. The crowds on the stairs were rough with our dog because many people already have a stereotype against pit bulls, so it definitely did not make for a relaxing experience. Huge bummer. We were frustrated and it felt like 100 degrees with the humidity so we ended up driving to the parking lot of the St. Louis Canyon ha! Bring on the jokes. The St. Louis Canyon was my favorite experience. It has a pretty cool waterfall and there were plenty of places to sit down and even eat a packed lunch here. The trail was calm and we passed less than 10 people on our way over, which was about a mile. There were also only about 20 other people there when we got there which was a relief considering how crowded the other spots where. There were multiple sets of stairs but they were paces out and much easier than the others. We could have spent so much time there. CAMPING- Our experience was so-so. For the amount of campsites to have one main bathroom was rough. The Port-O-Pottys aren't really desirable especially during current times. They also had camp security that drove by on golf courts at 10:00 pm (exactly when quiet hours started) and drove up half our driveway and shined some bright flashlights asking what we were up to. That gave our dog a lot of anxiety and just wasn't necessary because we were being very quiet and respectful. Overall, cool place to visit! I'd wait until fall to come back and just spend the day here.

This was my first visit of this beautiful park, but definitely not my last! We arrived around 4 pm, and it says that visitors must leave the park when night falls. So we were forced to go around everything quickly. However, it did not bother us to see everything and enjoy the beauties of this place. I emphasize that everything is much more beautiful because it is autumn, so nature is picturesque. I must also mention that the main attraction (the big waterfall) had no water. I am very sorry that I did not see that fall, but since we will visit it again in the spring, I hope that it will have water then.

Such a lovely place to visit, and a must if you enjoy hiking! No better way to spend the afternoon than enjoying the breathtaking views of nature. I went during a 3 day weekend, so it was a little busy but this did not take away from the experience at all. Many people were very kind and gave my dog all kinds of compliments. Such great variety of trails. I plan to return next weekend!

Adventure Bucket List Check Off. I was super excited to finally be able to visit Starved Rock. This place has been on my adventure list for 2 years and it was such an amazing and fun experience for me. I was happy to walk this journey with My son & BFF Yelp Buddy Liang. It's a place of peace and serenity of calmness. FYI..... Just be sure to start your hiking a little early. The later you hike the more people and dogs are out on the trials. Be prepared to get your walk on so wear comfortable shoes and clothing. No heels or cute sandals Ladies LOL Some of the trails are tough to climb and walk through. Nice Easy Hiking Trails to follow along the path. Just too many stairs to climb. Bring a backpack packed with plenty of water and snacks. Sightseeing the canyons and waterfalls was such a beautiful scene. The visitor center is a nice clean facility. The only problem is that they need more maintenance to do a better job of cleaning off the paths along the river and trials. Even though I'm not a fan of animals. A lot of people who had dogs needs a better handle on their pets. It was sometimes hard to walk on trials because some people were passing by with their dogs and had to stop and hold their dogs still until you passed by. Some dogs were cute and very friendly but others had to stop traffic just to calm and face their dogs in the other direction. Great mini getaway for the family to enjoy. It was still a wonderful and peaceful trip that I got to enjoy with My son & Liang. Until than thinking of the next adventure to explore.

Beautiful trails and so fun exploring... its about 1:30minutes from Chicago and great hiking trip with the family. We need to get there early enough to enjoy the various trails .

Try to come here during the fall or colder season. Or else it is way too crowded. And too many people with ipads blocking views. So annoying. Visited before covid and then during when it was colder. Anywho lots to see, the pre-covid visit was terrible. SO many people and we couldn't even see the waterfalls. Too many people taking selfies, it was like trying to take a pic of the Chicago bean by itself. Anywho came back during covid, a bit less crowded. The shop is cool and they have so many cute souveniers. I gave it a 5, because it is a staple of Illinois and a must visit.

The park itself is incredibly beautiful. It's luscious and definitely worth checking out if you're in the general vicinity. However, it's much too crowded here. Social distancing withstanding, I would not visit the park simply due to the sheer amount of people. There's very little parking and you just can't enjoy nature in these conditions... In terms of the hiking trails, I flew in from California and do my share of hiking there... the trails offered here are all paved with proper stairs . There is no form of challenge or difficulty presented. I actually found that very disappointing. All in all, the area is beautiful and I would definitely recommend it to families or anyone wanting a nice stroll with a view. Enjoy.

Over hyped and way too crowded avoid these parks, go to Wisconsin instead. To many people and not enough parking.

Came here for a day trip pick me up. We stopped into the visitor center to use the restroom and talk to the guides. We were then able to drive over to St. Louis canyon and hike the 2 mile trail. We got here around 2pm and it was the perfect hike to get in before the sun went down.

Been meaning to make a journey out here for awhile and definitely worth the 1.5 hour drive from Chicago to see this one. Think hiking with plenty of nice views of the Illinois River and even some waterfalls! PROS: -Free parking & admission -Trails are well marked and have maps throughout so you don't get lost -Dog friendly -Stairways to get up and down areas and even some trails are lined with wood (coming from CA everything is dirt paths, to see a park where they take the time to build a wooden walkway wowzers you fancy) CONS: -Hella bugs, spiders, ants, worms, critters in the summertime. Bring the bug repellent and be sure to lather yourself up before hitting the trails -Sadly some of the iconic waterfall areas are littered with trash Words to the wise: Make your way out here early to beat the rush and get those pics. And you could easily finish hiking this park in few hours if you don't stop for anything or could end up spending a whole day out here strolling and taking in the views. 'Til next time, cheers! 192/365

Having not been here in over a decade, I was excited to embark on this mini road trip with the fam! It took us about 1.5 hrs to get to the park, luckily there were signs on the road because the GPS landed us in the middle of the road. We arrived an hour after the park opened, the parking lot was packed, but parking was easy to locate and free! The visitor's center is closed, but the concessions are open! You better have good map reading skills. I attempted to get a map from the gift shop and was told that due to COVID they were not allowed to give out maps, and that I could find one of their website. We ended up just using the maps they had along the trail, some were difficult because not all of them had the 'You are here!' sticker. I think we covered a good 8 miles. I was disappointed that we didn't get a chance to stand under the waterfall. We could not find it nor were there any staff around to help. Our toddler had a blast! It helped that we bought his scooter along because he hung in just before we made it back to the car. Tips: Pack water, wear comfortable closed-toed shoes(I wore Nike sandals and my feet were filthy on the way home.), try to research areas in the park you want to visit before you arrive.

TL:DR - Beautiful canyons and tons of shade. A hideous dam and industrial buildings on the river. Way too many people even on a weekday. Overall an unenjoyable experience. Way better options around, some just right down the street. One of the few places we've hiked since moving to Chicago, and easily the worst. We came to on a Wednesday hoping to avoid the weekend crowds, and this place was still packed. I don't know what it is, but there is a more recent trend of younger adults needing to blast music from a bluetooth speaker while hiking. This happened several times while we hiked. I'd say about 45% did wear masks (with many putting their masks when encountering people) which was quite surprising. Many of the trails were paved, which is great for people with mobility issues I guess, but something that was kind of disheartening in terms of maintaining nature. Many of the trails that appear on the map are not actually accessible in the park which is frustrating. The canyons themselves were quite beautiful and nice, but impossible to get a picture without people. The river itself is impressively wide, but the dam and industrious buildings on the otherside of the park take away from the scenery immensely. All in all, I won't be back to this park. We had a much more enjoyable experience next door at Matthiessen State Park.

My boyfriend and I come here just about every year. The lodge is very nice and cozy, the hiking trails are a great workout and it's even beautiful in the winter, when we're here we're home. Lots of activities such as bird watching, kayaking and camping nearby. We love taking weekend trips up here, Matthiessen also has some small, but cool caves!

Gorgeous hiking trails, canyons, waterfalls and state park! Wouldn't expect this landscape in the middle of Illinois. Just over an hour from Chicago and from the Quad Cities The overlook on top of Starved Rock is an incline to approach and than has lots of stairs to get to the top. My grandparents could do it! View from above of the Eagle Overlook, Illinois River and tons of pelicans! Eagles nest here in the winter. My grandmother and took the short walk/hike from the rock to French Canyon, well worth it! Had to maneuver a difficult part but only difficult if you minded getting your shoes and socks wet.