Canyon hiking & state parks · Illinois

Starved Rock & Matthiessen day trip

Starved Rock & Matthiessen

A canyon-hiking day trip from downtown Chicago to the Illinois River: the sandstone butte and overlooks at Starved Rock, French, Wildcat and St. Louis canyons, lunch at the 1930s Starved Rock Lodge, the lock and dam across the river, and the waterfalls of the Matthiessen Dells, timed around the weekend parking-lot closures.

Time: 11–12 hour day
Driving: About 4 hours of driving in total
Best time: Late March to May, or mid-October
Updated: October 13, 2026 at 10:27 PM Pacific

$4 USD

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The wide Illinois River curving past a long wooded bluff in red, orange and gold fall color, with dark green pines at the water's edge and two small motorboats leaving wakes — Lotzman Katzman · CC BY-SA 3.0. October 2012 photograph; resized and displayed with crop.

Suggested times, not bookings

Your day at a glance

6:45 amLeave downtown Chicago
8:30 amStarved Rock and the river overlooks
9:45 amFrench and Wildcat canyons
11:45 amStarved Rock Lodge
1:00 pmSt. Louis and Aurora canyons
3:15 pmIllinois Waterway Visitor Center
4:00 pmMatthiessen Dells
5:45 pmUtica and the I&M Canal
6:30 pmReturn to downtown Chicago

Highlights

Worth the trip

The view over the Illinois River from the top of Starved Rock
Seasonal waterfalls in French, Wildcat and St. Louis canyons
The narrow, mossy Matthiessen Dells after the weekend crowds leave

What’s in the guide

Detailed stop guidance, rules, practical pitfalls, a route map, Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps links and weather alternatives. Read it online any time, or keep it offline in the Greg’s Guides app for iPhone and iPad. See an example guide →

Plan for the conditions

Expected seasonal weather

In April and May, north-central Illinois is usually mild to warm with frequent rain and thunderstorms; that rain feeds the waterfalls but leaves trails very muddy, and storms can bring flash flooding in the canyons. Mid-October is typically cool and often dry, with color peaking in the second or third week of the month. Summers are hot and humid, with the most sun on the overlooks, and January is cold, with icy trails and frozen falls. These are seasonal expectations, not a forecast for your travel date; check the NWS forecast the evening before and the morning of your trip.

Admission and parking are separate. Check current conditions before departure.

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