Probably the best outdoor place to take a family in the state . Come prepared to walk, bring your own lunch (all the food is expensive ), and spend a day hiking the trails and seeing the canyons!

The Illinois Canyon Trail , a 9.4-mile round-trip, is the ideal day hike . We especially love it in fall, when you can catch both the turning leaves and the tiny waterfalls scattered throughout. Read more

Appropriate footwear and clothes a must since this park is NOT flat and getting from point A to point B may change your elevation a hundred or so feet. For physically prepared, great scenic workout!

It was one of the most amazing places that i have ever been. I'll go there again someday for sure. Perfect trip ????.

Hike along one of Starved Rock’s 13 trails and you’ll find 18 colorful canyons, along with sandstone overhangs and cascading waterfalls . Read more

Love hiking here. Very beautiful and peaceful . Stays pretty cool on the trails even on hot days. You have to at least see St Louis canyon and starved rock.

Starved Rock is a beautiful destination that offers oodles of family fun. With just over 13 miles of well-marked trails to explore, fishing in the Illinois River and waterfalls in 14 of the 18 canyons Read more

We were here in July, a few days after storm did a lot of damage to almost all hiking routes but we were lucky to see this beauty regardlessly.

Beautiful surroundings. The trails are a bit confusing at first and not real marked. Prepare to go up a lot of stairs but the views are so worth it.

Get here early (6:30 or 7) on weekends to avoid the hordes. Bring good shoes and water and be ready for some mud.

Beautiful park -- PACKED on a holiday weekend- difficult to find parking . Requires a ton of patience. Worth the drive from Chicago for an escape.

The state park is absolutely huge! Skip starved rock and go hiking in the canyons!

Make sure to walk all the way down to the bottom of St. Louis canyon so you can get an awesome photo like this one.

The name comes from all the starving artists and models that are striving to make it in Chicago by posing in nature on giant rocks.

Gorgeous park !!! Lots of stairs ! Not good for anyone out of shape! Bug spray a must!! Overall great experience!!

Go after a heavy rainfall so u can see the waterfalls , the waterfalls were dry but it was still beautiful clean and relaxing! I call it sanitized hiking .

Great place to exercise the pups! But PLEASE: keep them on a leash and pick up after them! Park has several dispensers where you can pick up 'bags'

Beautiful place to go enjoy nature! Only downside is often crowded and scum of the earth have littered a lot of places.

Such a beautiful place to explore but sadly littered w/ trash. Please don't bring in any trash you don't want to properly dispose. And stop with the graffiti all over everything!

Just a wonderful place overall. If you go early enough during the week it's a great place to run some stairs and trails .

Protip: If you see a cool looking dried up riverbed, take a picture in it.

Come prepared with a map and bug spray and a bathing suit to get fresh in the beautiful falls

Illinois canyon is nice, a few creeks to cross on the trail , but a nice short hike from the parking lot on rt. 71. Great for kids.

Order the Bloomin' Onions at the lodge with your burger and ask for Steve.

Beautiful and great visitor's center with friendly volunteers.

Great place for a picnic . The waterfall was dried up when we went (August 2014).

Beautiful all year round! Wear proper shoes and you will enjoy the hike !

Best place to hike year round see Eagles in the winter.

Everything, food, accommodations people and the scenery.

Bring water and come prepared for a beautiful trail and and awesome work out!

Go for an all day hike !

Wear good shoes , some rock climbing might be involved!

Love the view !

Is a madhouse on nice weekends. Keep that in mind if you don't like crowds

Pesky raccoons! Don't give them any reason to come by your camp site. Throw away garbage, don't leave ANY food out and burn off any food left-overs on the grill, if applicable. Enjoy!

So many trails ! Bring water with you!

wear comfy shoes and be careful for tripping hazards in the paths

Beautiful hiking trails ! Be prepared with proper footwear.

Biking around the park is a great time but be prepared for the hills !

The visitors center needs public wifi .

Take your dog on a hike with you!

The best hike is to St Louis canyon !

Beware the cyclone of doom!

Not sure why four square didnt post while there, park is in Utica, Il! Take you're walking shoes and some trails are okay for strollers.

Bring a trash bag to pack your waste in. If you forget, the rangers usually have one if you ask!

Be very aware of raccoons. They are friendly and will approach your campsite from dusk through the night.

go for a walk closer to dusk for cooler temps & less people. take your map with.

Check out the frozen waterfalls . Breathtaking.

Go to Starved Rock, but take Route 71 east of the main entrances to Council Overhang. It's an awe-inspiring formation and pictures just don't do it justice. Read more

Beautiful place to boat