Starved Rock State Park

VISITOR CENTER

The Visitor Center exhibit hall, park office, and information desk are open dailyThe  9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

The Visitor Center is CLOSED on: 

• Election Day 
• Veterans Day
• Thanksgiving
• Day after Thanksgiving
• Christmas Day 
• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Lincolns Birthday 
• Presidents' Day 
• Juneteenth 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Public Trail/Area Closures Hunting Season 2025-2026

• November 21-23, & December 4-7 Shotgun Season and DOO (Deer)

Starved Rock State Park hiking trails are open!!

CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC (except for hunters): Starved Rock Campground (11/18-11/24 & 12/2-12/8), Starved Rock Nature Preserve, Hennepin Parking Lot, Matthiessen State Park, Sandy Ford Nature Preserve, Mitchell's Grove Nature Preserve, and Margery C. Carlson Nature Preserve.

• December 12-14 Muzzleloader Season (Deer)

Starved Rock State Park hiking trails are open!!

CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC (except for hunters): Starved Rock Nature Preserve, Hennepin Parking Lot, Matthiessen State Park, Sandy Ford Nature Preserve, Mitchell's Grove Nature Preserve, and Margery C. Carlson Nature Preserve.

• January 1-4, & 16-18, 2026 CWD Firearm (Deer)

Starved Rock State Park and Matthiessen State Park hiking trails are open!!                                                                         

CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC (except for hunters): Starved Rock Nature Preserve, Matthiessen Nature Preserve, Sandy Ford Nature Preserve, Mitchell's Grove Nature Preserve, and Margery C. Carlson Nature Preserve.

ACTIVITY PERMITS

REQUIRED FOR ANY GROUP OF 20 OR MORE

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Office of Land Management, requires any group of 20 or more persons who use Department facilities to have advance written permission from the Site Superintendent.

Regardless of group size, the Department may require additional liability coverage to be provided through an Activity Permit. Release of Liability can be used if your organization, family, or school does not have liability insurance. Site managers may deny the request if the facilities are not adequate to handle the size of the group, if public health or safety might be compromised, if the liability risk to the Department is too great, or if there would be adverse impacts on natural resources at the site.

Activity Permits are to be used whenever a non-traditional use of any facility is requested (for example, a family reunion in the picnic area) and/or any activity that might increase potential liability to the Department (for example, search and rescue teams practicing on rock faces). These requests need to be made at least 21 days in advance of the activity and forwarded to the Regional Office for processing.

A Permit to Sell is needed if food or goods are sold, fees are charged, or when money changes hands in any manner among the organizers, spectators, and/or participants.

• Activity Permit
• Release of Liability
• Permit To Sell

Guidelines for Completing Activity Permits

1. Complete the Activity Permit at least 2-3 weeks before the scheduled visit. 
2. Acquire Proof of Liability Insurance (business, school, or organization can ask their administrator or main office) or have each participant sign the Release of Liability Form ahead of time. 
3. Email, mail, or drop off the completed Activity Permit and Proof of Liability Insurance together (or, Release of Liability) to DNR.StarvedRock@illinois.gov at least 2-3 weeks before the scheduled visit.

Starved Rock State Park Visitor Center
PO Box 509
Utica, IL 61373

4. The Site Superintendent will respond within 2 weeks from the time the permit was handed in with an approval or denial of the group visit through email (DNR.StarvedRock@illinois.gov) or phone at 1-815-667-4726.

Common Park Questions and Answers Booklet