Download the Starved Rock Trail Map (PDF/185KB)

Exploring the majestic bluffs and canyons is the park’s primary attraction, and there are 13 miles of well-marked trails to help you enjoy them.

The trails are open all year, but hikers are urged to exercise extreme caution and to stay on official trails. To keep you oriented, trail maps are located at all trail access points, intersections and points of interest. There are colored posts along the trails, corresponding to colors on the maps, and letter symbols on the trail brochure to further assist you. Finally, yellow dots on trees or posts indicate that you are moving away from the lodge or visitor center, and white dots mean you are returning.

Due to the park’s fragile ecosystem, camping is prohibited in unauthorized areas and all rock climbing, rappelling or scrambling off trails is prohibited. Biking is not allowed on the hiking trails. For your own safety, you must be off the trails by dark. Alcohol is prohibited on all trails.

NOTE: there are no washrooms or drinking water areas on the trails.

Trail Safety
Take only memories, leave only footprints. Your visit to an Illinois state park can be pleasant if you abide by a few simple rules.

• To prevent serious accidents, stay on the marked trails and don't climb the rock formations, which are primarily St. Peter sandstone.

• Don't pick any flowers.

• Confine your pet to a leash.

• Wear comfortable walking or hiking shoes.

• Take water with you on long hikes.

• Biking is not allowed on the hiking trails.

• For your own safety, you must be off the trails by dark.

• Alcohol is prohibited on all trails.

• Use insect repellent to help ward off mosquitos and other insects.

• Watch out for poison ivy.

• Be sure to protect yourself from wood ticks, carriers of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and deer ticks, carriers of Lyme disease. Deer ticks thrive in woods and fields with tall, dense grass. Apply insect repellent, suited for warding off deer ticks, as directed. Wear a long-sleeved shirt, button your collar and stuff your trouser cuffs into the tops of your socks. Wear light-colored clothing to better see if any ticks have attached to your clothes. Examine your clothing and skin frequently for ticks and also check your pets. Ticks prefer warm, moist areas, so pay particular attention to inspecting your groin, armpits and scalp. Carefully remove any attached tick immediately with tweezers. You may also want to preserve it in a small bottle of alcohol should symptoms appear later. Symptoms can be flu-like and some victims suffer a red, bull's-eyelike rash with a clear center around the site of a tick bite. Not all deer ticks carry Lyme disease, but if you suspect you've been bitten, contact your doctor. Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics, and patients can recover fully if treated early.