Starved Rock
Illinois
When we lived in central Illinois, Starved Rock was one of our favorite places to visit. We would often visit there for a day trip, usually in the spring or fall. My husband and I would often take our dog with us, since at that time we didn't have kids yet and the dog was our only "child." Starved Rock is an Illinois state park which is 1 mile south of Utica and midway between LaSalle-Peru and Ottawa. Starved Rock is best known for its wonderful nature and hiking trails. There are 18 canyons that were formed by glacial meltwater and stream erosion. All of the canyons and bluffs are quite beautiful. You will come across waterfalls and in the winter you can see these waterfalls frozen in awesome formations.
One of the main sights is to climb to the top of Starved Rock. There is a legend of how during an Indian battle that Indians climbed to the top of this huge rock formation and became trapped up there. Many died due to starvation. That is how Starved Rock got its name. To climb to the top of Starved Rock there are wooden stairs. There are other areas throughout the hiking trails that has stairs and steep climbs. Consult the maps throughout the park if you are worried about walking and climbing during your hike.
At Starved Rock you can also enjoy the views of the Illinois River, picnic, fish, and camp. It is a great place to take your dog, although you cannot take your pet indoors any of the buildings on Starved Rock propery. There is hunting allowed in the park during scheduled hunting seasons. If you want to horseback ride, there is a horse rental nearby, although for equestrian trails and horse camping you need to go to nearby Matthiessen State Park. The fall season is beautiful at Starved Rock, due to the changing leaves. People still visit the Starved Rock during the winter to see the sights in its frozen state and to cross country ski. There is a campground at Starved Rock, if you enjoy to camp. The campground isn't directly inside Starved Rock, but just outside. You will have to drive to the various hiking trail areas. There are 133 campsites, which most have electrical. There are also showers, flush toliets, and a play ground.
Starved Rock also has a lodge and conference center. You can stay at the lodge or you can go into the the lodge to hang out or grab a bite to eat, if you are there just for the day. The lodge has a large lobby, indoor pool, rustic dining room, 29 hotel rooms, 14 cabin rooms, and 8 deluxe cabin rooms. If you don't want to venture into the lodge, there is a visitor center. Last time we visited Starved Rock, I remember some new building and a concession area on the lower level down by the river's edge.
We have eaten at the dining room in the Starved Rock lodge and it is decent. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with Sunday and holdiay brunches.
If you are looking for other lodging options in the town of Utica near Starved Rock, there is a newer resort called Grizzly Jack's Grand Bear Lodge. It is fairly new, although we have not stayed there. I have heard it is nice. Many people were excited about the building of this resort, because there was not much around the Utica area besides the Starved Rock state park. The Grand Bear Lodge contains an indoor water park, an indoor amusement park, and miniature golf
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I recommend Starved Rock if you are in central Illinois and love the outdoors, nature, and hiking. It is great for a day trip or a weekend getaway.
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