1. Admire The Fall Colors
Starved Rock sports one of the State’s best scenic drives, Route 71 is wonderfully winding road that takes from a beautiful riverfront lane to the sparse prairie land outside the park, before snaking you over several canyons and past towering fall-tinted trees. You'll find this drive, and countless other outdoor activities for soaking in the changing season, on your visit to Starved Rock State Park.
Both The Starved Rock Lodge and IDNR offer a variety of guided hikes, lead by experienced naturalists. These experts will take you to some of the best Fall color photo-ops throughout the park on a mild half-hour to one-hour group hikes. The park also offers trolley tours, for those who’d like the see the leaves without having to hike the trails!
For more information on Starved Rock Lodge's guided hikes, visit: Here
For more information on INDR's free guided hikes, visit: Here
2. Explore The Canyons
Starved Rock is best known for it's stunning bird's eye view of the Illinois River, seasonal waterfalls and it's many glacially carved sandstone canyons. No trip to the park would be complete without explore and photographing a few of these unexpected natural wonders. Here are three of the most popular canyons in Starved Rock.
St. Louis Canyon: Just a few minutes to the west of the Visitors Center, off IL-178, you’ll find the parking lot for St. Louis Canyon. At the end of this 0.4-mile hike you’ll be treated to a beautiful box canyon, complete with a tall waterfall and hidden alcove that runs behind it. Even when falls aren’t in season, the canyon’s towering walls of intricate sandstone make for quite the sight.
French Canyon: One of the easiest hikes in the parks, just so happens to lead to one of the most beautiful canyons! Located just 0.4-miles southeast of the Visitors Center, French Canyon offers a towering 45-foot tall waterfall during the rainy season, and beautifully eroded Saint Peters sandstone all year round. After a rainfall, admire the colorful streaks left on the canyon walls by the mineral-rich water.
LaSalle Canyon: Located about a mile from the recently re-opened Parkman’s Plain parking lot, LaSalle Canyon boasts a wide picturesque canyon and jutting sandstone shelf, suspended 20 feet off the ground. Best of all, your hike to canyon will wind you along the Illinois river, providing you with a great view of the river and chance to see some rare birds and foliage.
3. Take A Ghost Tour
Costumed, ghoulish guides will captivate your imagination and escort you to destinations where ghostly sightings, orbs, voices, and unexplained happenings have reportedly haunted the area–some for generations. On this 100 minute guided tour, you'll be treated to three bone chilling hop-off destinations, where you can experience these terrifying tales first hand.
This social distance friendly tour is produced by Follies Productions & Events. Guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult, no guests under the age of 8 will be admitted. Must have minimum of 6 guests for tour to run. Pre-registration is required!
To reserve your spot on on the tour, visit: Here
4. Have A Socially Distanced Meal On The Veranda
If you're looking for a socially distant bite to eat, you'll be hard pressed to find a restaurant with a more awe inspiring view than the Starved Rock Lodge's Veranda! Providing guests with a remarkable panorama of the flowing Illinois River and the titular Starved Rock, The Veranda also boasts a full menu of delicious food and refreshing hand crafted drinks!
You'll find a full menu featuring delicious items like Ale Fried Walleye, Slow Braised Pot Roast, Chopped Salad, Margherita Flatbread and Wisconsin Beer Brats! The Veranda also offers some refreshing beverages like locally brewed Tangled Roots beer and La Salle-grown August Hill Wine. The Veranda is open from 11am to 8pm every day of the week, and the nearby indoor dining hall is open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
For more information, visit: Here
(Photo Credit: Kathy Casstevens)
5. Spend A Night At The Historic Starved Rock Lodge
Extend your time in the park by booking a room in one of the lodge's historic rooms. Built during the heart of the great depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps, these lodge rooms blend gorgeous rustic décor with the amenities guests have come to expect from a modern lodging facility.
If you’re looking for an authentic lodge experience, consider booking one of the 41 lodge-wing rooms. These cozy rooms were part of the original 1930’s construction, they feature original knotty pine paneling and are closest you’ll get to recreating a vintage stay at Starved Rock. The lodge’s 28 room hotel-wing, built in 1988, provides the same charming décor and conveniently close access to the lodge’s indoor pool! To book your stay, call 815-667-4211.
For more information, visit: Here