How old is starved rock

According to the legend, those Illiniwek survivors took refuge atop a foot sandstone butte and were surrounded. The proud Illiniwek stayed there, preferring death by starvation to surrender. When the Ottawa and their allies finally scaled the rocks, they killed off the few remaining survivors. Days later, traders en route to Canada, wondering why swarms of buzzards had gathered there, scaled the butte and bore witness to the carnage. Although it is difficult to know whether the legend of Starved Rock is true, archeologists have documented several different Native American groups that inhabited this area for more than 10, years before the arrival of Europeans.

The first non-native people to pass through this area were Father Jacques Marquette and fur trader Louis Joliet, who traveled up the Illinois River in Soon after, the French established Fort St. Louis at the summit of Starved Rock to serve as headquarters for French-Indian trade.

At the Starved Rock State Park Visitors Center , you can learn about the history of the place, the plants and wildlife that call it home, and, of course, its defining characteristic: those rocks. The massive sandstone formations here were carved out thousands of years ago by melting glaciers whose water raced across Illinois and then headed south towards the Gulf of Mexico. In the spring, waterfalls retrace that watery path, rushing into most of the 18 canyons found in the park.

In the winter, many of them transform into icefalls. The canyons can be reached only on foot, and the most reliable spring waterfalls and winter icefalls are to be found in the St. From to , a large frame hotel stood at the south bluff base at Starved Rock.

There was an artesian fed swimming pool, a dance pavilion, and a concession area. Visitors coming to the park from Chicago would take the train to Joliet to transfer to an interurban electric railway to the Illinois River. Once there, they would take a ferry boat to cross the river to the park. Throughout Starved Rock State Park, most canyons have very tall waterfalls.

Still, the most popular lookout points can be found in St. Since the seasonal waterfalls depend on snowmelt and spring rains, the best time to visit the park is the end of winter thaw. A Starved Rock State Park trail map can be downloaded and printed for your own hike planning. We found the remoteness of St. Louis Canyon one of the best walking trails in the park. The canyon draws few visitors, and it was worth venturing away from the visitor center to check out its sandstone bluffs and vertical walls of moss.

At the canyon base, hikers are treated to a wide vista with mini caverns and overlook to explore. The total hike out and back was just under an hour. Waterfalls at Starved Rock tend to be seasonal and dependent upon local rain or snowmelt.

The best times to view the waterfalls are in the early spring and after heavy rainfall. However, access can be hampered due to washouts of trails. While waterfalls are something many people come to see at Starved Rock, the sandstone canyons and river overlooks are quite stunning to see no matter what the weather. So if you happen to be hiking Starved Rock during a dry season, there are many beautiful views and views of the river throughout the park.

One word of caution when hiking at Starved Rock is to stay back from the steep ledges and banks, they are prevalent, and the edges give way easily. Also, use care when taking selfies. Our only regret is that we did not venture out to the east end of the park. There resides the famous Council Overhang and the Kaskaskia canyon. Its proximity to the Ottawa Canyon makes it worth visiting both.

Kaskaskia was named after a Native American tribe that used to live across the Illinois River. Staying on the marked trail is a must in this section of the park. We had a great time there! The Lodge and its conference center, cabins, and restaurant are open all year. There are 69 guest rooms in the old stone-and-log Lodge.

The historic Lodge, erected by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the s, has an architecture that matches national park lodges. Guests can enjoy the gift store, cafe, lounge, outdoor dining, and entertainment on the veranda while staying at the Lodge. A total of 21 dog-friendly cabin accommodations several with wood-burning fireplaces are located just outside the Lodge, surrounded by towering pines and century-old oak trees. The Civilian Conservation Corps erected these original log cottages in the s.

All rights reserved. For permissions information, contact the Illinois State Geological Survey. Terms of use Privacy Statement. Skip to main content. New map spotlights geology of Starved Rock State Park.