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! read more

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Beautiful park with lots of great trails still open even though there was a lot of flooding prior to us visiting.

I've been coming to Starved Rock for years, and it truly is a spectacular park in a state that is famously so flat in most parts. I know the crowds are infamous here, and I've had good luck with coming on weekday afternoons. Hiking-wise, you can spend an entire day here or even tack on an extra day if you want to take your time. I typically have a few hours when I come, and I can easily get hike 4-5 miles of trails. There are stunning canyons I still need to check out, and I'll keep returning until I've seen them all! read more

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An amazing time with my husband. We stayed 3 nights at the lodge and spent a lot of time enjoying winter walking through the state park. A lot of very nice trails right out of the lodge lot read more

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This place is so FUCKING cool like I didn't know there where canyons in Illinois like holy moly read more

Starved Rock State Park - Canyon - Parks Near Me - Utica, Illinois

Before moving to Chicago I found this online and knew it was a must to experience before it got too cold. We will be back! Took the dog and he couldn't go too far so next time we will be ready to explore. read more

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I absolutely love this place! They have nine waterfalls located here. When we went, there was no water in any of them because of the drought. However, we did go to see some beautiful fall colors. This is an amazing place to go during the full-time. We went closer to the end of October, which was a good time to go. We went up for the day. However, I would love to come back and do some camping next time. I would love to go for a few days to do some exploring. There's so many different areas to see. It is a good spot for hiking, fishing, kayaking/canoeing, camping. They do have some community activities and events. Check out their webpage to see what Things they are offering. This is also listed as a great night sky location here in Illinois. I have seen some people show pictures of seeing the northern lights in the Milky Way here. Illinois state parks do not have fees. Parking is free. They do make you pay for group passes. If you have a group size of 20 or more. They do also have you reserve picnic areas if you have a larger group. However, if you are a small group or just going with friends and family, it is free. This has definitely been added to one of my favorite spots here in Illinois. I moved to Illinois in February and have enjoyed doing some exploring of different areas here. I highly recommend this one for people who love outdoor read more

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This place is awesome! Lots of hiking in wooded areas. Somewhat rugged terrain which is perfect. We ended up coming across a beautiful waterfall that we sat under and just took in the beauty around us. On our way back out, we stopped off at the lodge for a couple beers to cool down. read more

While out in Marseilles buying a bed, I decided to stop over by Starved Rock. WOW this place is so neat. I plan to come back when it's warmer with some friends to take a nice hike. read more

Beautiful place. Went yesterday with my boyfriend and there were lots of views and fun areas to explore. Lots of water and we happen to see a frog! read more

Starved Rock State Park - Me - Parks Near Me - Utica, Illinois

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. read more

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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. read more

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So many Chicagoans missing nature make the trek to Starved Rock and unfortunately the crowds during peak seasons reflect that. There is some nice scenery here but I never felt like I was truly in nature. I could always see and hear other hikers and the trails lack the rustic feel that I've seen in most other state and national parks I've visited. The lodge is worth a visit and does feel rustic. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

Starved Rock State Park - View of eagle and heron nests from Starved Rock outlook. - Parks Near Me - Utica, Illinois

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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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! read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

We are from Arkansas so maybe we are spoiled with excellent parks. This state park was a huge disappointment. Acres of open grass with grills and only a few picnic tables in site. Restrooms are filthy. I'm not that picky, but I quickly understood why there are 25 port-a-potties in the parking lot. It's because they don't clean the restrooms. The campground is sad and poorly designed. There are weeds and vines taking over the wooden bridges on the walking trails. 3mph is the top speed I would drive in that broken up parking lot. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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

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. read more

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. read more

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

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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.

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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

Starved Rock State Park - Mini waterfall at Wildcat Canyon - Parks Near Me - Utica, Illinois