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.

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

Hiking to the Canyon

You can either hike from the Visitor’s Center or descend 150 stairs from Starved Rock Lodge parking. We opted to start the hike from the Visitor’s Center since we had more hiking to go that day.

It is a .8 mile out and back hike along 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.*

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, there are stairs on the right that 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.*

We started to head to Pontiac Canyon. This was involving 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 .8-mile hike is near the lodge and is an excellent hike to gain an idea of what it is like to hike the canyons at the park.

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

DETAILS

Drive: Take Interstate 55 out of St. Louis. In Blooming-Normal take exit 164 for Interstate 39 north. 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. Make a right into the state park and look for signs for the Visitor Center.

Hours: 6:30 a.m. and close by dark.

Address: 2668 East 873 Road, Oglesby, IL 61348

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.

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.