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Starved Rock?


rachanel

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i was going to make a trip out to starved rock in illinois sometime. ive seen pictures of the waterfalls and canyons there and it looks beautiful. how are the hiking trails? super long or not? also, what would you bring with yourself if (or if you did already) do that hike?

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i was going to make a trip out to starved rock in illinois sometime. ive seen pictures of the waterfalls and canyons there and it looks beautiful. how are the hiking trails? super long or not? also, what would you bring with yourself if (or if you did already) do that hike?

We can do 15 miles at Starved Rock without breaking a sweat.

Starved Rock's trails are all either paved or boardwalk. If you want to hike the canyons, head a short distance away to Matthiesen.

Winter is also amazing time to be up at the Rock, because it's on the Bald Eagles' migratory path. There's an island in the river just across from the visitors center that is home to at least 20 nests. The best time to go is when the river is frozen. When that happens, the dam is the only place where the eagles can get access to fish, and one winter we counted several dozen of them in the air.

 

Just a note, though...If you are subject to an emergency while hiking, remember that the Oglesby EMS will NOT stop to hit a couple of caches on the way to the hospital!

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Warning! This canyon eats ankles!

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Starved Rock, and nearby Matthiessen and Buffalo Rock SP's, are really amazing. Very different from "typical" Illinois terrain. Be aware that in the fall most of the waterfalls have dried up -- you have to go in the spring/early summer to see them at their peak. That's OK, because the fall colors can be very nice.

 

Trails are mostly easy -- most of the "climbing" is confined to the bluff trails around Starved Rock itself (lots of stairs). Do check with the rangers beforehand about trail conditions -- flooding in the last few years has ruined bridges and trail.

 

The LaSalle and Tonto Canyons offer a particularly good destination. The trails west of the lodge (St Louis Canyon) seem to get less traffic, but are worth a walk.

 

Haven't camped their, but have stayed at the lodge, which is worth checking out even if you don't plan to stay the night. The timber roof trusses and giant stone fireplaces are a CCC masterpiece.

 

The St Peter sandstone formation looks like it would be awesome for rock climbing, but it is in fact very poor, and climbing around off trail is prohibited.

 

Definitely do try to make time for Matthiessen (just south of Starved Rock) and Buffalo Rock (east of Starved Rock on the north bank of the Illinois River. The operation of the lock and dam is also interesting -- the Army Corps of Engineers has a visitor center explaining how it works.

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