Starved Rock State Park serves a steady diet of activities

November 24, 8:57 PMChicago Adventure Travel ExaminerTed Nelson

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Illinois River from a Starved Rock bluff
original photo by Ted Nelson

Starved Rock State Park derives its name from Indian lore where a band of Potawatomi Indians avenged the murder of Chief Pontiac by surrounding a band of Illiniwek Indians atop a 125 foot sandstone butte. The Potawatomi with help from the Ottawa tribe laid a seige around the bluff until the trapped Indians on top starved.

Although there was not much to do atop a bluff when surrounded by a tribe of Indians with vengeance on their mind, today’s adventure travelers do not have the same problems. This park has an activity for everyone. Hiking, photography, eagle watching, hunting, fishing, canoeing, picnicking, boating, and camping can all be enjoyed at this park found two hours southwest of Chicago off of Interstate I-80 near the small town of Utica, Illinois.

There are 18 canyons in the park formed by glacial meltwater and stream erosion and these canyons can be explored via 13 miles of trail that traverse the park. Many of these trails take the visitor to some amazing overlooks over the Illinois River where bald eagles can be viewed especially in the winter.

It is difficult to say what is more majestic; the eagles, the canyons, the scenic overlooks, or the cathedral of stairs and planking that have been constructed on the trail. Many of the trails are really not trails, but wooden highways. This is great for young children and senior citizens as they can more easily experience the park’s main attractions.

Typical trail at Starved Rock or planked stair highway
original photo by Ted Nelson

Another compelling aspect about the park is there are great opportunities made available by the park for people to enjoy. For example, there is a boat launch at the park on the Illinois River, but not everyone is going to be able to bring their own boat. This is no problem as May through October the park offers paddlewheel boat and canoe rental.

The park has something to offer at any time of the year, however January and late spring are especially pleasant times to visit. In November and culminating in January bald eagles from the north migrate to Starved Rock as the dam on the Illinois River assures that the river will not freeze which allows the eagles a year round source of fish.

In late January the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center hosts Eagle Watching weekend. The visitor center is across the street from the state park and has expansive windows and balconies overlooking the damn and the river. The Starved Rock Audubon Society provides powerful magnified spotting scopes for great close up views.

The late spring is great to come because with melting snow many of the canyons in the park that are normally dry become inundated with water and this creates numerous scenic waterfalls. This event can be difficult to gauge as it depends on weather conditions, so it would be best to contact the park if waterfalls are the reason for a visit.

    Prime spot to view eagles along the Illinois River
    original photo by Ted Nelson

There are 133 Class A campsites in the park that run $20.00 a night as they are all with electricity. If the planked stairs and trails are appealing then the onsite 72 room Starved Rock Lodge would be the perfect place to stay with an indoor pool, whirlpool, and sauna. The room rates here vary from around $115.00 to $145.00 depending on when booked.Take a trip to Starved Rock and check out the eagles or enjoy one of the many activities the park offers.

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