Starved Rock State Park Visitor Center

Becky C

2024-04

Great for a day trip to see waterfalls!Free parking.Decent restrooms.Dog friendlySome food on site available with ample picnic tables for you to pack your own.>NO PAPER MAPS. they have gone paperless and provide a QR code to download your own.Trails are well marked and we were able to do most of it without needing to access an online map.* green market trails lead to water(waterfalls).

Merve Naja

2024-04

Neat visitor center. They don’t hand paper maps no more, you can scan qr codes and get them on your phone. They have a little museum inside which is pretty cool. Bathrooms are clean. I believe gift shop and concessions close at 4pm. There is cold water in vending machines and water fountains for your water bottle.

Bruce Daugherty

2024-04

This place is wonderful. Campsites are solid. Anyone working there or adjacent to the park was well informed and courteous. The trails are good, not too intense for first-timers. Try visiting French Canyon first. I didn't feel the hype until I visited French canyon. Pics below.

Kelsey Schultz

2023-10

This visitor center is comparable to a national park's. It's large, staffed by rangers who are well-versed on any detail you might ask about, clean restrooms, vending machines, and two gift shops. A helpful ranger pointed out to me what she thought I would most enjoy on a hike, after telling her my preferences. Hours are clearly listed outside the building. There's even a mini museum detailing the park's history. Paper maps are not offered at this time and visitors are encouraged to download map or take a picture of one inside the building. I get the eco-friendliness, but what if my phone dies while hiking? The trails are marked clearly enough, I can't imagine getting lost. But a paper map would be useful.

Steven McHugh

2023-12

the funnel cake and nachos are worth every second!! wow wow wowsers!!! we could have stayed in the cafe for hours before entering the park and we always enjoy the fish tank and staff and friendly advice!! From one adventure to another we discover the beauty of Starved Rock State Park Visitors Center!!!

Bhavesh Patel

2024-04

Great place to start your exploration of the park and trails. Staff is always helpful. Trails are nice. Busy on the weekends.

Frank Gentile

2023-11

Starved Rock's trails, adorned in the breathtaking palette of fall colors, offer a sensory feast for nature enthusiasts. The moderate skill level trails, though challenging, reward hikers with an immersive experience amidst vibrant autumn hues. The deciduous trees transform into a tapestry of reds, oranges, and golds, creating a picturesque landscape that feels like stepping into a painting.While the trail demands a moderate skill level, the allure of the fall foliage and the invigorating exercise make it a rewarding endeavor. It's an opportunity to connect with nature's seasonal transformation, a visual symphony of fall's vibrant farewell. Starved Rock's trails, with their challenging yet accessible nature, beckon hikers to embrace the beauty of autumn, one step at a time.

Diane Rocha

2023-11

There are many canyons to explore in this area. Take a picture of the map, as they don't have paper maps. Bring a water bottle and snacks. The trails are steep and you will be hiking a distance to get to most of the canyons. Wear hiking boots. You will be climbing on sandstone which is slippery and you may have to walk in streams. VERY IMPORTANT do NOT LEAN ON TREES to look down in canyons. You and the tree can topple down. This park is full of beauty. Get there early, so you can take your time to explore. The vistas are breathtaking. You can view the lock, dam and river. The leaves are turning and cascading down and carpeting the trails. Stop in the visitor center, as it has restrooms, a store, food and an information center. Learn about the history of Starved Rock and see some exhibits. There is also a lodge and campground. Come out for an adventure, you won't be disappointed.

Ruy Filho

2023-10

I had a blast day in Starved Rock State Park, I went with my friends, and we hiked all day, to the river walk, the waterfalls, the dam , the museum, the picnic tables, etc.That sound of birds 🐦 all the way to the trails in the woods. Amazing experience! There are always a lot of spots for selfies, group 📸 and great views 📸. There were families with kids, babies, toddlers, a lot of dogs, in-laws, grandparents, also a tourist groups , and all diversity in, but in the end, we all had fun.I totally recommend Starved Rock Park for an amazing day to spend with family or friends. Let's make some memories.

M C (Shel)

2023-08

Loved starved rock! Pet-friendly and can definitely get a good hike. I love that they map out the trails and provide directions along the way. Very big and can be there for hours. There’s so much at this park that we didn’t even get to most and we spent 4 hours here. Also, if you need breaks, they have plenty of benches for you to rest at.

Dark Knight

2023-06

Great hiking trail but be prepared for the stairs. There is a lot of stairs to deal with. It’s about 6 miles from the front to the last canyon.It is a popular park so expect a lot of people there. Most people are nice and easy going.You can get away with normal running shoe at the beginning of the trail but as you get further in you’ll want trail shoes. There are some hills that you’ll want a grippy trail shoe to help stop you from slipping.

R Lazarini

2023-05

Starved Rock State Park is a wonderful nature heaven in earth. Breathe fresh air and enjoy spectacular panoramic views. Sandstone is everywhere. I saw several cardinals by the visitor center. I included a photo in regards to the waterfalls so you can visit them. It should help you find them. The others are from the visit center’s history museum. It’s small but there’s a lot of history there. It’s worth the visit. It’s free. The facilities are super clean including the washroom. They’ve a shop and vending machines. Reminder: Whatever you bring into the park, bring it out.

Anton Gretz

2023-06

Perfect place for a nice day trip!The trial is not too difficult also for pets and children. It was anice sunny Saturday when I was there and I was surprised it was not overcrowded. Still enough benches available with a nice views and in the forest it's just beautiful. I will come back!

Warisha Amin

2023-11

It was so good. We did St. Louis trail and it was lovely. Photos don’t do justice. If you like to hike you must try starved rock.

Bria Carson

2023-08

We took a quick pit stop on a road trip & glad we did! Learned some very interesting stuff, neat history, got some cool views in & a little much needed exercise. You could do what we did - walk to the first point & got a family of 4 in & out in less than a half hour. Or you could go planning for the afternoon/day to explore & picnic. They have I think 8+ miles of hiking trails to explore!

T N

2023-10

Fantastic place to hike. If your out of shape this place will get you into shape. Very scenic. Beautiful any season. Weekdays are less busy and better to walk around. Probably the most over fished place in the state

Andrew Pasko

2023-09

Great basic trails for hiking, a couple hundred stairs in some places. Come in the spring to see the water flowing, the canyons are dry in the late summer.

Live Aloha

2023-09

The trail marked starved rock takes you on top of the rock. Beautiful views. But not looking at the rocks face. If you want to see the face I suggest checking the visitor center and asking for that trail

Alex Magdalene

2023-05

A beautiful park! Be ready to climb stairs on many trails here, but the views are well worth it. Dogs are allowed here, but the trails are narrow at many points, so please be sure that your dog is trained to walk nicely to allow space for people to pass. Flexi leash NOT recommended!

Michelle Foy

2023-05

Excellent place to take a walk whether strenuous or easy, the park has many trails to choose from. Picnic areas are near the huge parking lot and the guest center will provide you a map to navigate around the park. Trail markers are frequently along the trails, are clear and provide you distance from and to the main areas. Some trails do have a lot of stairs but are well worth the climb. Parking is free and restrooms are available. Most times they have park services or individuals featuring animals. Today they hunted had a red tail hawk and another southern hawk to show us. Very interesting place filled with caverns and mini canyons no mater what season it is!

Doris Hernandez

2023-11

Absolutely beautiful. Haven't done all the trails yet, but it's a great workout!

Cynzoe Graces

2023-09

Its been years since the last time i visited this place. i took my family two days ago and they all enjoyed it. If you love nature and walking long distances i highly recommend. Just take a backpack some snacks and water. 🚶🏻🚶🏻‍♀️🎒🍎🥤

Nicole Tooze

2023-05

Love this place. Not only is it beautiful, but it's also good for all ages. There're different hiking trails with different difficulties. It's super busy during the summer, but when we went, the weather was a little crisp. Not many there. The colors of the leaves look beautiful.Fun thing, we were looking for letters within the trees and areas. That became fun.

Amy B

2023-05

Nice state park, probably absolutely beautiful in the fall. The area by the visitor center was a little underwhelming, but mostly because I'd rather be in the canyons and next to the rock features than climb on them. However, Le Salle and the less crowded sections are worth the time it takes to get there. I would suggest parking in one of the parking lots on the eastern end and hiking that section, instead of going to the visit center.

Sagar Regmi

2023-10

I liked the river trail. This park is a good place for hiking. And parking is free! No state park tickets required.

Daniel Baleckaitis

2024-02

Favorite time to visit... Frozen waterfalls and bald eagles galore

Tiffany Raube

2023-05

If you go hiking at Starved Rock you must stop at the visitor's center! Behind sliding glass doors there is an awesome area for kids with taxidermy animals and educational displays connected to the history of Starved Rock. Pam was an absolute treat. She saw our group of 9 kids and gave us a wonderful presentation about all the animals. She is a retired teacher and it shows! The kids were hanging on her every word.There are also bathrooms, a gift shop, ice cream, and other food and drinks available.

Hanna Romero Molina

2022-05

Serene beautyIt was my first ever visit to Starved Rock State Park, and we came specifically to look at the frozen waterfalls. It's a mere 1.5 hours away from south Chicago, and, thankfully, the traffic was not heavy, and the weather was good.We didn't attempt walking long and difficult trails due to lack of proper apparel, but Starved Rock, French Canyon, and Wildcat Canyon were quite enough to leave us short-breathed and break a little sweat despite the temperature below freezing.Overall, the place is quiet and calming, and you can't hear much besides the river beneath.I hope for a chance to come here again in the other 3 seasons to marvel at nature's beauty and maybe spot some animals too.It's a splendid location for recreation and celebrating special occasions (congrats to the happy couple who got engaged there on 2/19/22).

Cynthia Clubb

2023-10

This is a beautiful park with several trails for hiking. Not a lot of climbing. It was mostly a flat walking trail.

Bryan Pickering

2023-08

Just went to hike the trails and had a great time while seeing some terrific views; photos don't do it enough justice.