Starved Rock State Park canyons

Save

Similar · Naperville Riverwalk

Photo: Sherie Loverkamp · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

🥾 Hike · Oglesby

4 hours · Free · No reservation needed

age fit

0–1 yr

★ 2.0

1–3 yrs

★ 3.0

3–5 yrs

★ 3.0

5–10 yrs

★ 5.0

🚗
About 75 min drive
From Naperville · Parking: Large free visitor center lot; expect a line to get in after 10am on spring weekends
🎒
Carrier recommended
Terrain isn't stroller-friendly; a carrier is easier
🌳
Lots of shade
Good on cool days · Great on sunny days · Fine on cold days
⏱️
Typical visit: 4 hours
Best seasons: Spring · Fall · Winter

Illinois's most famous state park: 18 sandstone canyons along the Illinois River, with waterfalls in French and Wildcat canyons after spring snowmelt and rain that freeze into ice falls in winter; from the visitor center, 1 mile of boardwalk and stairs takes you up Starved Rock to look over the river and watch eagles.

💡 Tips

Lots of stairs and no strollers; use a carrier for kids under 2. It's 1 hour 15 minutes from home, so leave early and do it as a day trip; spring weekends are very crowded, and fall color is just as good. The eagle-watching weekends in January and February have free programs.

What this place offers

✓canyons

✓waterfalls

✓wooden stairs

✓overlook

✓carrier

✓full day

✓restrooms

Featured in these guides

This weekend's weather in Oglesby

Forecast at the destination itself (coast and hills often differ from home)

☀️

Sat 10/17

Sunny · 33–54°F · 0% rain

☀️

Sun 10/18

Sunny · 41–62°F · 0% rain

Location

Oglesby, Illinois

Starved Rock State Park canyons

🥾 Hike · Oglesby

What this place offers

Featured in these guides

This weekend's weather in Oglesby

Location

More like this

Naperville Riverwalk

Knoch Knolls Nature Center and trails

Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center

Spring Valley Nature Center and trails