Seeing buffalo and hiking out on a bluff that juts out towards the water was part of my time at Buffalo Rock State Park near Ottawa, Ill.

After stopping here, we went into Ottawa and had lunch at a local brewery, and walked around the historic Washington Park with Abraham Lincoln connections.

(This was our first stop on our trip to the Starved Rock State Park area where we stayed at the lodge in the park).

BUFFALO ROCK STATE PARK Overview

• Location: Near Ottawa, Illinois, overlooking the Illinois River
• Address: 1300 N 27th Road, Ottawa, IL 61350
• Hours: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. daily (verify current hours before visiting)
• Admission: Free
• Main Trails: River Bluff Trail and Woodland Trail
• Hiking Distance: Approximately 2.6 miles combining the River Bluff Trail and Woodland Trail
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate, depending on the route and terrain
• Main Attractions: Illinois River bluff views, bison enclosure, wooded trails, and Effigy Tumuli earth sculptures
• Best For: Families, short hikes, river views, nature exploration, and combining a park visit with historic downtown Ottawa
• Camping: Not a primary attraction of the park
• Nearby Attractions: Starved Rock State Park, the I&M Canal State Trail, and historic Washington Square Park in Ottawa
• Drive From St. Louis: Take Interstate 55 north from St. Louis, on the north side of Normal, Ill., take exit 164 to Interstate 39. Then take exit 48 and make a right onto Ray Richardson Road, which becomes North 2101st Road then make a left onto Illinois Highway 178. Then a right onto Dee Bennett Road after crossing the Illinois River and look for the entrance to Buffalo Rock State Park on the right. The park is about 3 and a half hours from St. Louis.
• The Drive From the Chicago Area: Take I-55 South and then take Interstate 80 going west and take exit 93 and go south on Illinois Highway 71. Next, make a left onto U.S. Highway 6 going through Ottawa, Illinois. Then make a left onto Boyce Memorial Drive. Next, make a right onto Dee Bennet Road and look for the park entrance on the left. The park is about an hour and half from the Chicago area.

Buffalo Rock State Park History

Traveling the Illinois River in 1643, Louis Joliet, a French explorer, and Father Jacques Marquette, a Jesuit missionary priest, found the area home to Illinois Native Americans. Eventually, the French built a fort here, although long gone now.

The Crane Company deeded the property to the state in 1928, which once had a sanatorium on the land.

Effigy Tumuli

Further from the main trail area is the Effigy Tumuli. This earthen art exhibit recreates sculptured earth effigies dating back 3,000 years. The park contains a 2,070-foot-long snake, a 140-foot-long frog, 770-foot-long catfish, a water strider, and a turtle. In or to appreciate and understand the sculptures, it is best to look first from a distance and then walk around on top of them.

Our Time Here

You can do a 2.6-mile hike here walking along the River Bluff Trail from end to end combined with the Woodland Trail that goes by the effigies. We only had time to do about a mile hike using a connector trail by the bison compound and along the river bluff.

Starting the Hike

We first passed by the buffalo enclosure where the family sat near the fence, a mother, a father, and their child.

Then we beelined walking towards the river with a field on one side and woods on the other. Side trails on the left go further into the trees.

At the river, we made a left stopping for a moment to look at the river between the trees.

Along the River

This part of the hike went along the river with peek-a-boo views of the river.

Finally, I came to a fenced bluff. From here you had far-off views of the river and could see parts of the eroded bluff.

Back to the Trailhead

Next, I made a left back into the woods and reached the first parking area, and walked near the road back to where we parked near the buffalo enclosure.

Final Thoughts

I wish we had more to see the effigies and walk along the bluffs. If you are staying at Starved Rock and want a different place to explore then this is the place to go.

DETAILS:

Drive: Take Interstate 55 north from St. Louis, on the north side of Normal, Ill., take exit 164 to Interstate 64. Then take exit 48 and make a right onto Ray Richardson Road, which becomes North 2101st Road then make a left onto Illinois Highway 178. Then a right onto Dee Bennett Road after crossing the Illinois River and look for the entrance to Buffalo Rock State Park on the right. The park is about 3 and a half hours from St. Louis.

Hours: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. daily

Address: 1300 N 27th Rd, Ottawa, IL 61350

MORE NEARBY HIKING

I&M Canal State Trail

Near the entrance to the park across Illinois State 34 is parking for the 61.5 miles I & M Canal State Trail that follows along an old towpath. It starts in LaSalle, Ill., and goes to Rockdale, Ill., near Chicago. I’ve listed the access point in nearby Ottawa, Il.

Address: I & M Canal State Trail Access, Ottawa, Il., 61350

There are more access points for the 100-mile trail and information can be found at iandmcanal.org. Also, the website has details on boat rides offered on the canal, which has a limited season.

VISITING OTTAWA ILLINOIS

Washington Square Park

Washington Square in downtown Ottawa is a place to take a short stroll. Here I found a large fountain with a reflecting pool and in the middle were bronze statues of Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas. The first Lincoln-Douglas debate took place in Ottawa. My son Andrew dropped a coin in the pool for good luck.

The park also had an 1873 stone Civil War Memorial, cannons from the Civil War, World War I, and II.

Across the street on the side of the building was a Civil War mural.

Address: 101 E Lafayette St, Ottawa, IL 61350

Tangled Roots Brewing Company

We had burgers, chips, and drinks at Tangled Roots Brewing Company located in the refurbished historic building.

Hours: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Monday- Thursday; 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 11 am. – 9 p.m., Sunday

Address: 812 La Salle St, Ottawa, IL 61350

Prairie Fox Books

Down the block was the Prairie Fox Books where I found a half-priced book for our son and I found a memoir to read.

Hours: 10 a.m. – 5: 30 p.m., Monday – Friday; 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Saturday, Closed Sunday.

Address: 719 La Salle St, Ottawa, IL 61350

MORE NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

Staying at Starved Rock Lodge and First Hike

Our family spent a night at Starved Rock Lodge and then took a walk to see bright orange sundown over the Illinois River bluffs.

Starved Rock State Park: Hiking French Canyon

French Canyon has walls that are 45 feet tall and is the first canyon you come to from the Visitor’s Center parking lot. It was named after the French explorers who first visited this area in the 1600s.

Starved Rock State Park: Ottawa and Kaskaskia Canyons and Council Overhang

Hiking into Ottawa and Kaskaskia Canyons at Starved Rock State Park we found two waterfalls and Council Overhang cave.

Hike Among Waterfalls at Matthiessen State Park

Find a canyon with waterfalls, cascades, and pools combine to give delight to hikers at Matthiessen State Park near Oglesby, Il. History of Matthiessen State Park Frederick William Matthiessen purchased the land at the end of the 19th century to develop it into a privately-owned park.

MORE ILLINOIS EXPLORATION INCLUDING LINCOLN SITES

Springfield, Il.,: A Route 66 Journey to Lincoln History

Abraham Lincoln sites, a zoo, and Route 66 are just some of what you can check out on a day trip to Springfield, Illinois. We headed out on Interstate 55 northward to Springfield, the capital of Illinois, for a road trip day.

New Salem: Where Lincoln Lived as a Young Man

At New Salem, you can walk in the footsteps of Abraham Lincoln. His birthday is Feb. 12.

New Salem is a reconstructed village set in the time when Lincoln lived and worked there. It is about 22 miles northwest of Springfield, Illinois, on Highway 97.