I am so fortunate to live just 15 minutes from Starved Rock State Park. It is another one of those places that are practically in my own back yard. Many of us who live in the Illinois Valley take it for granted.
I was up before the sun recently. I grabbed my camera and drove to the park. I arrived right as it opened for the day. I hit the trails hoping to photograph the park in the early morning light.
In the quiet park I met a few animals along the way to the top of “The Rock.”
A Native American legend tells of a band of Illiniwek Indians. They sought refuge on top of Starved Rock in 1769. They were surrounded by a group of Ottawa and Potawatomi Indians, their enemies. They could not come down alive. They eventually starved to death on the rock. That is how Starved Rock got its name.
The Lodge and many of the paths, shelters, bridges, and stairways were built in the 1930s. Most are an easy trek, even for an inexperienced hiker like myself. There are 18 canyons at the park. Many have waterfalls and over 13 miles of trails to explore. The park sits upon the banks of the Illinois River.
Starved Rock is celebrating 100 years anniversary of becoming a state park this summer. It is the second oldest park in the state.
It’s a great place to visit in central Illinois. It is less than one tank of gas from Chicago, Peoria, Bloomington/Normal, and the Quad Cities.