Staying at Starved Rock Lodge and First Hike

Our family spent a night at Starved Rock Lodge, then walked to watch a bright orange sunset over the Illinois River bluffs.

Staying the night at the lodge at Starved Rock State Park means being close to the trails, taking a dip in the large pool, eating at the restaurants, and having a place to relax after hiking.

Starved Rock Lodge Stay Overview

Location: Starved Rock State Park, near Oglesby, Illinois
Address: One Lodge Ln, Oglesby, IL 61348
Park Hours: 6:30 a.m. until dark
Admission: Free
Main Attractions: Starved Rock Lodge, sandstone canyons, scenic overlooks, waterfalls, and wooded hiking trails
Hiking: Multiple trails are available throughout Starved Rock State Park, ranging from short walks to longer hikes
Dining: Starved Rock Lodge offers on-site dining options
Best For: Weekend getaways, family trips, hiking, nature photography, and exploring the Illinois River Valley
What to Know: Staying at Starved Rock Lodge makes it easy to experience Starved Rock State Park, including its hiking trails, scenic overlooks, and sandstone canyons. The lodge is a great base for a weekend getaway, especially if you want to spend time outdoors without driving to the park each day. Plan to explore the trails and enjoy the scenery during your stay.
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 Starved Rock Lodge.
The Drive From the Chicago Area: Take I-55 South, then take Interstate 80 west. Next, take exit 81, head south on Illinois Highway 178, then turn right into Starved Rock State Park and follow the signs to Starved Rock Lodge.
Starved Rock State Park offers many activities, including river cruises and trolley tours. More information is available on the website.
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 maintain normal operating 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.

Hike To Starved Rock

After checking in, we did our first hike at the park, going to the place the park is named after.

***This map shows the route going from the Starved Rock Lodge with 150 stairs or driving down to the Visitor Center and starting the trail from that trailhead without having to do all those steps.***

There are two ways to reach Starved Rock. You can either take the 150 stairs up from the lodge or park near the Visitor Center down by the river.

We parked down by the river near the Visitor Center. Before hiking, stop by the Visitor Center for maps and information; it also has a gift shop. Check the website for hours, which vary by season.

The hike from the parking area is a short 0.6-mile round trip. Still, the hard part is climbing and descending 65 stairs, so expect to climb even on the shorter way.

Head out of the parking lot, go toward the woods, then turn left onto the trail. You pass by some cliffs on the way. Then come to the stairs and go up.

At the Top

At the lookout, signs describe Starved Rock, the Illinois River below, and the dam in the distance.

A man near us had binoculars and saw some eagles along the shoreline, though it was hard for us to see them.

We came up here as the sun was setting, and in one of our photos it looks like the river is on fire, but it is just the sun’s reflection on the water.

You can also see the lodge from up here.

Heading Back

We retraced our steps, headed to the lodge for a swim with the kid, and got a night’s sleep.

Final Thoughts

This hike was short, but well worth it with the views. Also, at sunset, the river can be vibrant with color.

Warning: If you come here for sunset, don’t stick around too long. They close the gates at dusk, and if your car is still here, they will tow it.

Learn the Native American history of Starved Rock at the lookout. — Learn Starved Rock’s Native American history at the lookout.

MORE TO THE STORY

The Naming of Starved Rock

Starved Rock State Park derives its name from a Native American legend of injustice and retribution. Chief Pontiac of the Ottawa tribe was slain by a Peoria brave (the Peoria were a sub-tribe of the Illinois Confederation) while attending a tribal council in southern Illinois.

According to the legend, during one of the battles that subsequently occurred to avenge his killing, a band of Illinois, under attack by a band of Potawatomi (allies of the Ottawa), sought refuge atop a 125-foot sandstone butte (today’s Starved Rock). The Ottawa and Potawatomi surrounded the butte and held their ground until the hapless Illinois tribesmen died of starvation, giving rise to the name “Starved Rock.”

The river was a gateway for exploration and commerce.

French Come Here

In 1673, French explorers Louis Jolliet and Father Jacques Marquette traveled up the Illinois River from the Mississippi River.

The French built Fort St. Louis atop Starved Rock in the winter of 1682-83 because of its commanding strategic position above the Illinois River. Pressured by small Iroquois war parties during the French and Indian Wars, the French abandoned the fort by the early 1700s and retreated to what is now Peoria, where they established Fort Pimitoui. Fort St. Louis had been a haven for traders and trappers, but by 1720 the fort’s remains had disappeared.

*Sunset through the trees above the Illinois River*

My son Andrew is in the lodge's lobby. — *My son Andrew is in the lodge’s lobby.*

Starved Rock Lodge

We stayed in the lodge’s historic section, used the pool, and ate in the Main Dining Room.

My son enjoyed checking out the Society Finches in the hotel’s historic lobby.

The grounds feature statues and works of art. A deck area also serves as an outdoor restaurant high above the Illinois River.

*Looking down into the canyon from the parking area.*

If you walk out to the extended parking area, you can even look down into a canyon below.

This is a great place to stay if you plan to do a lot of hiking; with miles of trails, you can.

MORE AREA HIKING

Starved Rock State Park: Hiking French Canyon

French Canyon has 45-foot walls and is the first canyon you reach from the Visitor’s Center parking lot.

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

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

Hike Among Waterfalls at Matthiessen State Park

Find a canyon with waterfalls, cascades, and pools that delight 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.