“18 stunning canyons carved by glacial meltwater floods, featuring 100-foot sandstone walls, frozen waterfalls in winter, lush fern grottos, and the Illinois River bluffs. One of the most visited state parks in the Midwest with exceptional year-round visual drama.”
About This Location
STARVED ROCK STATE PARK RANKS AMONG THE MIDWEST'S MOST CINEMATICALLY DRAMATIC NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS. EIGHTEEN STUNNING CANYONS — CARVED BY CATASTROPHIC GLACIAL FLOODS 16,000 YEARS AGO — FEATURE 100-FOOT SANDSTONE WALLS, EMERALD FERN GROTTOS, AND WATERFALLS THAT FREEZE INTO TOWERING ICE FORMATIONS IN WINTER. THE ILLINOIS RIVER BLUFFS ABOVE PROVIDE SWEEPING VALLEY VISTAS. THE CANYON LIGHTING CREATES NATURALLY DRAMATIC CHIAROSCURO EFFECTS WITH DIFFUSED CANOPY LIGHT IN SUMMER AND DRAMATIC WINTER ICE
Color Palette
Permit Information
Permit Required
Type
Commercial Use Permit
Fee
Contact for fee
Contact
Illinois Dept of Natural Resources / Park Superintendent
Contact Permit Office
📞 815-667-4054Largest state park in IL by visitation. Coordinate with park superintendent for commercial permits.
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