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.

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 Hike

After checking in, we did our first hike at the park going to where the park was 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 go up and down the 150 stairs by the lodge or park near the Visitor’s Center down by the river.

We opted to park down by the river.

The hike from the parking area is a short 6/10 of a mile roundtrip. Yet, the hard part was going up and down 65 stairs, so expect to climb doing even the shorter way.

Heading out of the parking lot go towards the woods and then make a left to the trail. You pass by some cliffs on the way. Then come to the stairs and go up.

At the Top

At the lookout are signs about Starved Rock and the Illinois River below and the dam in the distance.

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

We came up here when the sun was coming down and in one of our photos it looks like the river is on fire, but it is just the reflection of the sun in the river.

You can also see the lodge from up here.

Heading Back

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

Learn the Native American history of Starved Rock 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 passed through the area on their way 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 from small war parties of Iroquois in 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 all remains of the fort had disappeared.

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

*Sunset through the trees above the Illinois River*

DETAILS

Before doing the hike stop by the Visitor’s Center for maps, and information and it includes a gift shop. Check the website for hours which vary depending on the season.

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 closes by dark.

Address: 2668 East 873 Road, Oglesby, IL 61348

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 historic section of the lodge and made use of the pool and ate in the Main Dining Room.

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

On the grounds, there are 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 and with miles of numerous trails you can.

Address: One Lodge Ln, Oglesby, IL 61348

(In the next two blog stories I will share seeing waterfalls and canyons on our hikes at Starved Rock State Park.)

Starved Rock State Park has many activities to do such as river cruises or trolley tours and is listed on the website.

NEARBY PLACES TO EXPLORE

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.