Waterfall Hero Hikes: Starved Rock State Park

Starved Rock is a 2,630-acre state park on the south shore of Illinois River in LaSalle County. With 18 deep sandstone canyons with seasonal waterfalls, Starved Rock is Illinois's most popular state park. The park is named for a 125-foot butte on the river. According to legend, Pontiac, chief of the Ottawa was murdered by a member of the Illinois tribe. To avenge his death, a band of Illinois were trapped on the butte by the Ottawa and Potawatomi, who besieged the rock until the Illinois starved. The land around the park was acquired by the state of Illinois for a park in 1911 and many of the facilities were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Today, the park features picnicking, river access, 13 miles of trails to the canyons, a campground and lodge.

Contact Information:

PO Box 509
Utica, IL 61373

Phone: (815) 667-4726

Map:

Canyons:

There are 18 canyons in the park; going from west to east:

St. Louis Canyon:

St. Louis Canyon is the furthest west canyon and it's the only one that is spring-fed, so this one is most likely to have a waterfall. An interior trail leads from the far west end of Bluff Trail into the canyon for about a quarter-mile, ending at the waterfall.

Sac Canyon:

Sac Canyon is just west of Aurora Canyon and the Bluff Trail passes right over the top. There was decent water flowing down what looked like a pretty big waterfall, but nowhere good to view it from the trail.

Aurora Canyon:

Aurora Canyon is just west of the lodge and visitor center, shortly after the pedestrian bridge over the road. Bluff Trail leads right over the top of the waterfall or a spur trail leads down stairs and into the canyon.

French Canyon:

French Canyon is just east of the lodge. Bluff Trail leads along the rim and a spur trail leads into the canyon.

Pontiac Canyon:

Pontiac Canyon is a small, dry canyon just west of Wildcat Canyon.

Wildcat Canyon:

Wildcat Canyon is the tallest waterfall in Starved Rock at 90 feet. Bluff Trail runs along the top of it with two overlooks longing down into the canyon. River Trail runs past the canyon and a spur leads into the canyon to the waterfall. A staircase connects the two.

Basswood Canyon:

Basswood Canyon is a small canyon near Lone Tree Canyon where the western segment of Bluff Trail ends at River Trail.

Lone Tree Canyon:

Lone Tree Canyon is a small canyon located where the western segment of Bluff Trail ends at River Trail. No waterfall in here, just a lone tree.

Tonti Canyon:

Tonti Canyon is connected with LaSalle Canyon. There are two waterfalls at the end but the smaller one is hard to view. From River Trail, take the spur trail into LaSalle Canyon and continue under the waterfall and around the other side to enter Tonti Canyon. The trail peters out but you can continue to a 60-foot waterfall.

LaSalle Canyon:

LaSalle Canyon is located off the River Trail west of Hennepin Canyon. Just east of a bridge, a spur trail leads into the canyon to a beautiful 25-foot waterfall veil that cascades further down into a pool. The trail continues under the waterfall leading to Tonti Canyon.

Owl Canyon:

Owl Canyon is a small canyon east of LaSalle Canyon. It's located at the eastern end of River Trail. Walking up a short ways in the canyon leads to a small waterfall. The eastern segment of Bluff Trail picks up here, leading to Hennepin Canyon.

Ottawa Canyon:

Ottawa Canyon and Kaskaskia Canyon come together, just west of Illinois Canyon. A spur trail from the eastern parking areas leads into the canyon. At the split, go right to enter Ottawa Canyon.

Kaskaskia Canyon:

Kaskaskia Canyon and Ottawa Canyon come together, just east of Illinois Canyon. A spur trail from the eastern parking areas lead into the canyon. At the split, go left to enter Kaskaskia Canyon. You'll have to cross the creek, which can be difficult in high water. The waterfall at the end is very scenic, but there were some dead trees on it when I visited.

Points of Interest:

Besides the canyons, there's several other points of interest in the park.

Starved Rock:

Starved Rock, the park's namesake, is a 125-butte along the Illinois River. According to legend, the Ottawa and Potawatomi trapped a band of the Illiniwek atop the rock to avenge the murder of Chief Pontiac. The Illiniwek eventually starved, giving the rock its name. A trail from the lodge leads to the rock and makes a short loop around with scenic overlooks.

Lover's Leap Overlook:

Lover's Leap Overlook is located just downstream of the dam and is accessed from the River Trail.

Eagle Cliff Overlook:

Eagle Cliff Overlook is right part Lover's Leap Overlook along River Trail, just upstream of the dam.

Sandstone Point Overlook:

Sandstone Point Overlook is a rocky outcrop above Lone Tree Canyon near the end of the western segment of Bluff Trail before it terminates at River Trail.