Starved Rock State Park

VISITOR CENTER

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

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

Areas Currently Closed to Visitors

• Brown Bluff trail above French Canyon is CLOSED 
• Tonti Canyon and Tonti Bridge are CLOSED.
• The west side trail from LaSalle Canyon to Tonti Canyon is CLOSED. 
• Owl Canyon Overlook is CLOSED.
• Trail from West Entrance to Boat Ramp Area is CLOSED.

Shotgun (Deer): 11/22-24 & 12/5-8
CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC.
Starved Rock Nature Preserve (not in the park)
Matthiessen State Park
Sandy Ford Nature Preserve
Margery C. Carlson Nature Preserve
Mitchells Grove Nature Preserve

DOO Hunt (Deer): 11/22-24 & 12/5-8
CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC
Starved Rock Campground

Muzzleloader (Deer): 12/13-15
CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC
Starved Rock Nature Preserve (not in the park)
Matthiessen State Park
Sandy Ford Nature Preserve
Margery C. Carlson Nature Preserve
Mitchells Grove Nature Preserve

CWD Firearm (Deer): 12/26-29 & 1/17-19
CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC
Starved Rock Nature Preserve (not in the park)
Matthiessen State Park
Sandy Ford Nature Preserve
Margery C. Carlson Nature Preserve
Mitchells Grove 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 prior to 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 prior to 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