Starved Rock Guided Tour
Free guided tours of .6-1.3 miles each led by the state park's Natural Resource Coordinator. Hikes vary by month. Please view description.
About this event
Beat the winter blues by taking a guided tour with Lisa Sons, the Natural Resource Coordinator at Starved Rock State Park! Discover the park's rich history and fascinating geological timeline that made sandstone canyons and bluffs a recreational wonder to experience.
Dogs are not allowed on the guided hikes due to the comfort levels of other persons attending the hike.
Please check your email (email used upon eventbrite registration) Wednesday-Friday prior to your weekend hike for an email update on tour details from Lisa Sons at lisa.sons@illinois.gov.
December Tours: The Starved Rock and French Canyon hike will start at the Starved Rock Visitor Center at 8 a.m. Lisa will guide visitors to the highest point of the park-Starved Rock and down into one of the 18 canyons found at the park! Total hike will cover .8 miles of paved and natural gravel and stone trails with two wooden staircases and two natural stone/irregular staircases. Please dress for hiking and the weather expected that day!
Please arrive at the front of the visitor center to check in no later than 7:55 a.m., hikes will leave promptly at 8 a.m. and return by 9:30 a.m. or sooner.
January Tours: Hikers will meet Lisa at the St. Louis Canyon gravel parking lot directly across from Grand Bear Lodge on Route 178 just south of the park's west entrance and the Illinois River. Lisa will guide visitors down to one of the deepest canyons at the park with a waterfall or icefall that is spring fed! Total hike will cover 1.2 miles and two staircases. Trails will be natural (sand and rock covered). Please dress for hiking and the weather expected that day!
February Tours: Hikers will meet Lisa at the Ottawa and Kaskaskia Canyon parking lot along Route 71 east of the park's south entrance along the Illinois River. Lisa will guide visitors along natural rock, sand, and creek bed trails to Council Overhang, Ottawa Canyon, and Kaskaskia Canyon to view icefalls, ice formations, and possibly catch a glimpse of ice climbers on the icefalls at Ottawa Canyon! Total hike will cover 1 mile of trails. Please dress for hiking and the weather expected that day!
March Tours: Hikers will meet Lisa at the Matthiessen Lake Shelter located off of Route 71 Southwest of Starved Rock and North of Matthiessen State Park's Dells entrance. Follow sign on Route 71 down long road past the Deer Park Golf Course to the Matthiessen Lake Shelter. Lisa will guide visitors to Lake Falls which feeds from Matthiessen Lake and flows out to the Vermillion River through the Lower Dells system of the park. The history, geology, and ecology of the park will be discussed. Total hike will cover .6 miles of natural trails, one large wooden staircase, and possible water/creek crossing at the base of the waterfall. Please dress for hiking and the weather expected that day!