Skip to main content
Governor JB Pritzker Illinois.gov Contact IDNR DNR A to Z

Starved Rock Trail Improvement Project

September 

The State of Illinois is investing $18 million to improve trails, bridges, and stairways at Starved Rock State Park starting in late 2025 and continuing through 2027.

Construction will be staggered to minimize the number of trails affected at any given time. The park, the Starved Rock Lodge, and other amenities will remain open throughout the project. Read the news release for more information about this exciting improvement project. 

Visitors are urged to check here for weekly updates about trail availability and plan their hikes accordingly. Need suggestions? Stop by the visitor center!

Please view the trail suggestions and maps under the Activity tab for hiking options. 

Current status

September 2026

 
  • LaSalle, Tonti, Pontiac, Basswood, and Lonetree Canyons, including Sandstone Point are inaccessible at this phase of trail construction.  This includes the LaSalle Canyon parking lot off of Route 71.  
  • Trail access can be obtained from the Visitor Center, Lodge, Overflow parking lot, and any of the outlying parking lots such as Hennepin, Ottawa, Illinois, and St,. Louis Canyons.
  • The Park’s Visitor Center, Lodge, majority of the trails and canyons, and Campground are open daily and not affected by the trail construction project.  

Trail Project 2026-27

Trail construction is progressing! We encourage visitors to stop at the Starved Rock State Park Visitor Center which is open daily from 9 top 4.  Staff and volunteers are happy to help with trail suggestions and further park information. 

Trails inaccesible to hikers due to construction include:   

  • The brown bluff trail connecting the top of Wildcat Canyon to Sandstone Point.
  • The red river trail over French Canyon Creek and Cove.  French Canyon is open. 
  • The red river trail connecting Wildcat Canyon to LaSalle and Tonti Canyons.  This includes access to LaSalle and Tonti Canyons along the green canyon trails. 
  • The brown bluff trail over Pontiac Canyon.
  • Parkman's Plain/LaSalle Canyon parking lot off of Route 71. 

Trail accessibility (open to visitors) includes:

  • Trail access to Starved Rock, French Canyon, out to the Overlooks and Wildcat Canyon are open from the Visitor Center and Lodge. 
  • Trail access to Aurora and St. Louis Canyon is open from the west side of the Lodge or the St. Louis parking lot off of Route 178 across from the Grand Bear Lodge. 
  • Access may be obtained from any of the outlying parking lots along Route 71 such as Hennepin, Ottawa, Kaskaskia, and Illinois canyons and Route 178 to St. Louis Canyon.  

Park visitors should be aware of signs, and plan to stop by the visitor center for assistance. 

Hikers who come upon caution tape and signage blocking a trail should stop, turn around and explore a different trail during their visit.