Starved Rock State Park: Hiking French Canyon

French Canyon at Starved Rock State Park features towering 45-foot canyon walls and is the first canyon you’ll reach when hiking from the Visitor Center parking lot.

The canyon was named after the French explorers who first visited this area in the 1600s.

French Canyon Overview

Location: Starved Rock State Park, near Oglesby, Illinois
Address: 2668 East 873 Road, Oglesby, IL 61348
Hours: 6:30 a.m. until dark
Admission: Free
Hiking: French Canyon is a 0.8-mile out-and-back hike
Difficulty: Moderate, with stairs, slippery rocks, and uneven terrain
Main Attractions: 45-foot canyon walls, a small creek, a waterfall, and a small pool
Parking: Park at the Visitor Center or use the overflow parking near Starved Rock Lodge
Best For: Family hiking, exploring canyons, photography, waterfalls, and experiencing the natural beauty of Starved Rock
What to Know: The trail takes you through wooded areas and down into a rocky canyon with towering walls. Watch your footing as you explore because the rocks can be slick, and some sections have footholds and handrails. You’ll also find plenty of stairs, so be prepared for a workout. This short hike is a great way to experience what canyon hiking at Starved Rock is all about.
The Drive From St. Louis: Take Interstate 55 out of St. Louis toward Bloomington-Normal and take exit 164 for Interstate 39 North. Take exit 48 and turn right onto Ray Richardson Road, which becomes North 2101st Road. Turn left onto Illinois Highway 178, then turn right into Starved Rock State Park and follow the signs to the Visitor Center.
The Drive From the Chicago Area: Take I-55 South and then take Interstate 80 going west. Next, take exit 81 and go south on Illinois Highway 178, then turn right into Starved Rock State Park and follow the signs to the Visitor Center.
Starved Rock Trail Improvement Project: Throughout 2026, some Starved Rock State Park trails could be closed or have limited access to accommodate construction for a major trail improvement project at the park. The Starved Rock Lodge, park campground, and visitor center will remain open and operate on normal hours. Project updates, including current trail availability and other information, can be found online. Visitors are encouraged to review this information before visiting the park.

*Map of the area from* https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/Parks/Pages/StarvedRock.aspx

OUR TIME HERE

Hiking to the Canyon

You can hike from the Visitor’s Center or descend 150 stairs from the Starved Rock Lodge parking lot. We started the hike from the Visitor’s Center since we had more hiking to do that day.

It is a 0.8-mile out-and-back hike on a natural surface.

Starting the Hike

From the visitor’s center, head straight to the trail and follow signs for French Canyon.

My son Andrew showed the direction to go on the right. — *My son Andrew pointed to the right.*

The first junction you come to is one for Starved Rock, and the other way goes to the lodge. Keep going straight ahead.

Down below here is a small creek with orange water.

You will come to another turnoff that leads to Pontiac Canyon. Keep straight ahead, and you will start to see the canyon.

Just before the canyon, stairs on the right lead back to the overflow parking by the lodge. If you wanted to do a round trip from the lodge, then these are the stairs you would use to go back up.

In the Canyon

Careful walking as you go across the slick rock, with handrails on the side in places.

At one point, you come to footholds that go deeper into the canyon.

*My son Andrew is by the small pool by the waterfall.*

Then finally come to the waterfall and a small pond. Rock walls are high above you here.

Next, we headed back down through the steps, marveling at the rocky terrain.

A lot of stairs to walk through in this area. — *There are a lot of stairs to walk through in this area.*

We started to head to Pontiac Canyon. This involved a lot of stairs. Our son didn’t want to keep doing it, and I wanted us to explore other canyons.

We headed back the way we came to the visitor’s parking lot for our next adventure at the park: Council Overhang, which I will talk about in my next blog!

Another view of French Canyon — *Another view of the French Canyon*

Final Thoughts

Be aware that a lot of the canyon area involves many stairs. So be prepared for a workout.

The French Canyon hike is near the lodge and is an excellent way to get a sense of what it is like to hike the canyons at the park.

Creek flowing through the canyon — *A creek flowing through the canyon*

MORE OF OUR ADVENTURES AROUND STARVED ROCK

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: 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.