Starved Rock State Park, Illinois, United States

5Taylor B 5:00 PM Aug 22, 2022

The most popular state park in Illinois
Starved Rock State Park was opened to the public in 1912. For the next 30 years, it was accessible only by ferry or railroad. When Illinois Route 71 was opened in 1942, it allowed automotive access from Chicago. Even today, located southeast of Utica, along the south bank of the Illinois River, 94 miles southwest of Chicago, nine miles east of Peru, it seems remote. But it attracts over two million visitors annually, more than any other state park in Illinois. Open from sunrise to sunset daily, with no entrance fee to enter the park or for parking, the park is steeped with history and beauty. Archaeological evidence reveals the park was occupied by prehistoric indigenous people dating to 11,000 BC. Europeans first explored the region in 1673. Why is it named Starved Rock? Around 1770, Illiniwek Indians were besieged on a large sandstone butte overlooking the Illinois River by Ottawa and Potawatomi Indians. The Illiniwek starved to death and the butte became known as Starved Rock. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. The park covers 2,630 acres of wilderness on the Illinois River, a major tributary of the Mississippi River, that is known for steep sandstone canyons, waterfalls and unique rock formations formed by glacial meltwater. A wooded trail leads to Lover's Leap Overlook with views of the river and Starved Rock Dam. Today, visitors can stay at the 78-room Starved Rock Lodge and Cabins.

5Cassadrea H 5:00 PM Oct 17, 2022

Beautiful
We came here for a mini-vacation, and it was totally worth it. The scenery was breathtaking. St. Louis Canyon was my favorite spot. We will definitely come back when it's more of a rainy season. This was a very dry year, so the waterfalls were not flowing.