Hotels near Starved Rock State Park

Starved Rock State Park sits on the Illinois River about 95 miles southwest of Chicago and is the closest thing the region has to dramatic landscape: 18 sandstone canyons cut into the bluffs by glacial meltwater, with seasonal waterfalls at the head of several of them. Thirteen miles of trails link the canyons, and the overlooks along the bluff give long views down the river valley.

It is the standard Illinois fall foliage trip and it is busy in October, particularly at weekends when the main car parks fill by mid-morning. Oak, maple and hickory on the bluffs peak from mid to late October. The canyons hold water after rain and the wooden stairways get slick, so proper footwear matters. This one genuinely needs a car: there is no practical public transport, and the drive is about two hours each way.

Pro Tip: Go on a weekday and start at the Wildcat Canyon end rather than the visitor centre. The lots nearest the lodge fill first, the crowds work outward from there, and Wildcat and Tonty canyons hold their waterfalls better than the ones closest to the entrance.