Starved Rock State Park
Utica, IL
80 miles outside of Chicago, Starved Rock State Park is 2,630 acres of woodland that holds 13 miles of marked trails. Open from sunrise to sunset with high lookout points, deep canyons, and magic waterfalls, this sandstone butte is especially admirable in the fall.
The picture above was taken on a rock between Lover’s Leap and Eagle Cliff that overlooks the Illinois River. From this vantage point, we were rewarded with the best view. Behind us, you can see the Starved Rock Lock and Dam built between 1926 and 1933 to provide a navigable channel from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico via the Mississippi River.
Starved Rock’s name derives from a Native American legend of unlawfulness and injustice. Chief Pontiac of the Ottawa tribe was stabbed by an Illinois-Peoria brave while attending a tribal council meeting with the Pottawatomie. The Ottawa held their ground until the ill-fated Illinois died of starvation while taking refuge under a rock, giving rise to the name “Starved Rock.”
According to StarvedRockLodge.com, Daniel Hitt purchased the land from the United States Government as compensation for his tenure in the U.S. Army. In 1890, Ferdinand Walther bought the land from Daniel Hitt and developed the land for vacationers. He built a dance pavilion, swimming area and hotel. In 1911, the State of Illinois purchased the site, making it the state’s first recreational park. In the 1930′s the Civilian Conservation Corps placed three camps at Starved Rock State Park and began building the Lodge and trails.
Pictured above is French Canyon, one of the first canyons visitors see while walking the eastern trails from the Visitor Center. The canyon was named after the French explorers who first visited this area in the 1600s. Towering over us at 45 feet tall, French Canyon is home to a beautiful waterfall. According to Illinois.gov, these canyons are formed from St. Peters Sandstone which is easily erodible. Waterfalls in Starved Rock are seasonal and produced by heavy rainfall or snowmelt. The best time to visit one of these waterfalls is in the spring from March to May. Of the park’s 18 canyons, 14 have waterfalls running during this time.
While exploring the area one late fall morning, the air was crisp and the sun warm. I went as far left as I could while facing the river and found an area that often isn’t explored. I was alone for a good amount of time and used this opportunity to send my drown out. Admiring the fall-colored trees, I found it very peaceful to be able to look out to an array of gold, yellow, and brown from above. Later on during my hike, I came across a Garter snake. I tried to get as close as I could but the crunching leaves below my feet gave me away.
Sources:
“About Starved Rock.” About, www2.illinois.gov/dnr/Parks/About/Pages/StarvedRock.aspx.
“Starved Rock State Park.” Starved Rock Lodge, 7 Jan. 2021, www.starvedrocklodge.com/starved-rock-state-park/.
“Starved Rock State Park.” Starved Rock State Park - Parks, www2.illinois.gov/dnr/Parks/Pages/StarvedRock.aspx.