While the Chicago suburbs have a lot to offer, one thing they do not have a lot of is nature. Sure, the burbs have more trees than the city does but that’s not really saying too much. Parks are nice and all but I’m looking to walk for more than 50 feet without seeing any concrete or steel. Now that I’m old enough to rent a car, my possibilities have opened up considerably. Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri and Kentucky are all super close to Illinois and offer enough “wilderness” to satisfy any nature-deprived suburbanite. Illinois has plenty of nature as well; you just have to know where to find it. Consider adding Starved Rock State Park to your list of must-see Midwest destinations!
Located a little less than 100 miles Southwest of Chicago, near Utica, IL., the 2,800-acre Starved Rock State Park offers spectacular views of the Illinois River from various overlooks spread throughout the park. My first visit to Starved Rock was when I was young, a little weekend excursion with the family. I went back as a Boy Scout and more recently went with some friends. Timeless is definitely a word I’d use to describe this beautiful state park. Starved Rock has 18 canyons formed by glacial melt water and stream erosion. These canyons dramatically slice through tree lined, sandstone bluffs for nearly four miles! Stunning!
Hiking and biking trails criss-cross throughout the park and offer visitors quite a lot to see. While a majority of the area along the river is forested, most of it is a flat, gently rolling plain. The upland prairies located in the par were created thousands of years ago, during a period of intense warming, long after the glaciers melted. The Illinois River Valley in the Starved Rock Park is very rocky, compared to the flatland parts. Formed by floods during the melting of the glaciers, sandstone and sedimentary rocks were deeply eroded, creating some interesting rock formations.
If you visit the park in the early spring, at the end of the winter thaw, beautiful waterfalls can be found at the heads of each of the 18 canyons. The moss covered stone is truly something else to behold. The 13 miles of well marked hiking trails are open all year round, and a color coded system helps inexperienced hikers follow their route on a trail map. As far as camping goes, there’s a nice, large campground on the south side of the park with 133 campsites, 100 of which are reserveable. These campsites have electricity, showers and flush toilets. There’s even a camp general store that sells fire wood, ice and other camping supplies. With all of these amenities, this isn’t really roughing it “Man vs. Wild” style but itís still totally worth it.
What Did I Pack?
Now, given that there are only 13 miles of trails at Starved Rock, this probably isn’t going to be much more than a 2 day trip, however you can always extend it. There’s a lot to see and do! There’s also a lodge to stay in if you want a change. When packing for your trip, be wary of the climate, since the park is open all year round. The last time I went was in mid October to catch some beautiful fall foliage. Here’s what I brought with me:
- Tent: REI Camp Dome 2 Person Tent
- Backpack: North Face Gompa Expedition Series
- Sleeping Bag: North Face Snowshoe Sleeping Bag
- Air Mattress: AeroBed Adventure Bed (I laid my sleeping bag on top of the mattress)
- Food & Water I didn’t bring too much since I was only staying for one night. Just some snack foods for the day’s hike and some food for dinner. The water at the campground was safe to drink, but I brought some Chlorine tablets just in case.
If you ever find yourself in or around the Chicago area and have an extra day or two to kill, I highly recommend jutting off the Starved Rock State Park near Utica, IL. Its geological wonders combined with majestic views of the Illinois River, it’s truly a gem!
