Home - Starved Rock Lodge



Frequently Asked Questions about Starved Rock Lodge & State ParkQ: Are there restaurants in the park? A: Starved Rock Lodge’s Main Dining Room is open daily to the public for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Outdoor dining is offered for lunch and dinner on the Lodge’s Veranda which overlooks Starved Rock and the scenic Illinois River Valley. The Back Door Lounge is open daily as well. Seating is limited and masks are required to enter the Lodge. The Café is located just off the lobby and is open daily for breakfast, lunch, fudge and ice cream (made at the Lodge). The Café also has bottles of Illinois-made wine and locally brewed craft beer (sold by the can) along with travel accessories, pool toys, souvenirs and more. Trailheads Concessions is located in the Visitor Center. Hours are posted by the restrooms. Trailheads features lunch items, popcorn, nuts, ice cream, fudge, souvenirs, sunglasses, hiking supplies, rain ponchos and more. Limited indoor and outdoor seating is available. Masks are required to enter. Q: What can you tell me about Starved Rock Lodge? Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center was built, in part, by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930’s and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Great Hall is located in the center of the building and features a massive, two-sided stone fireplace made of Joliet limestone. The Lodge has comfortable rooms within the hotel and cabins in the woods. There are also banquet facilities for weddings (indoor and outdoor), meetings, family reunions and corporate events. Some of the cabins are pet-friendly (restrictions apply). Lodge guests are guaranteed a parking place in a gated parking lot. WiFi is free. The indoor pool complex is open to overnight guests at the Lodge and features a large lap pool, hot tub, two saunas and a shallow-depth toddler pool. Q: Where are the trolley tours and boat rides? A: You can purchase tickets for guided hikes, boat tours, trolley tours, Land & Water Cruises and “Visit a Canyon with a Boat Ride” at the Activities Department (Room 101 in the Lodge) or by calling 815-220-7386. You can also book online at: activities. A complete list of tours, departure times, prices and details are on the Lodge website.Starved Rock State Park HoursQ: What time does the park open and close? A: All parking lots (except for the Lodge and campground) and trails are open by 6:30am and close by dark (summer = 8pm, fall =6-7pm, winter = 5-6pm, and spring = 6-7pm).Hiking, Trails & WaterfallsQ: Are the waterfalls running?A: Waterfalls are seasonal and produced by heavy rainfall or snowmelt. The best time to visit a waterfall is in the spring from March through May.Q: Where can I find the waterfalls?A: Waterfalls are produced in our canyons when rain flows along the land to the Illinois River. You can view the waterfalls in the canyons along the Green Interior Canyon Trails leading to the following canyons: French, Wildcat, LaSalle, Ottawa, Kaskaskia, Aurora and St. Louis.Q: Can you swim in the park or in the waterfalls?A: No. Swimming and wading is strictly prohibited in the park due to the nature of the water which is farm runoff and the current Illinois River by the Lock & Dam. Q: Is rock climbing allowed in the park?A: No. All canyons and overlooks are composed of St. Peter’s Sandstone which is a very fine grade of sandstone that crumbles and erodes easily. Rock climbing, carving into the stone, and scaling the rocks is illegal in the park and extremely unsafe.Q: How many miles of hiking trails are in the park and what are the lengths of the trails? A: We have 13 miles of hiking trails in the park. Each map at the park as well as hand-held maps list one way mileage from the Visitor Center to each location in the trail system.Q: How do I find my way around the park?A: A yellow “You are HERE” dot is located on each freestanding map at every intersection and parking lot in the park. Q: What trail is the most scenic?A: That is subjective and hard to answer because every site at the park is beautiful in its own way. It all depends on how many miles you are willing to hike. All trails start from the Visitor Center or smaller sections from individual parking lots located off Routes 178 & 71. You can make a loop out of the Visitor Center to Wildcat Canyon area or hike a loop from the Visitor Center to Lone Tree Canyon but once you pass Lone Tree Canyon, it all turns into the same trail with side trails to various locations listed along the trail. -Follow the brown informational signs at every trail intersection (trailhead) stating the name of the site you are approaching as well as directional arrows. Q: What do the colored dots mean? -Color coded trail maps with yellow “you are here” dots are located at each intersection. -Green = Canyon Trail-Brown = Bluff Trail-Red = River Trail-Yellow dots on the trail markers mean you are moving further away from the VC and Lodge.-White dots on the trail markers mean you are moving closer to the VC and Lodge. Q: What trail can you recommend for small children or the elderly?A: The state does not rate or trails at the park nor mark them as easy, moderate and difficult. Our only recommendation regarding trails for children or the elderly are mileage /distance. There are major staircases throughout the park, but there are benches to rest at along the way. CampingQ: How do I make a camping reservation?A: Go to Q: Where is the Starved Rock Campground?A: The campground is located off of East 950th Road. This is outside of Starved Rock State Park, off of Route 71 just south of the entrance to Starved Rock State Park. The gates open at 8:30am and close at 10pm. Q: Are walk up sites available if I would like to camp tonight? A: Walk up sites are usually available except for weekends during the summer months. Please view the self-registration information and the availability postings at the campground permit booth. Q: What do I need to know about the campground? A: There are 133 camp sites. Walk-up sites are usually available (except on weekends in the summer). There is self-registration information and availability postings at the campground permit booth.-The permit booth is not manned 24/7.-Camping information can be found at: drn. through the “Park & Recreation” tab.-Campground sites are non-refundable if cancelled within 3 days of staying in the park. The $5 reservation is non-refundable regardless. Reservation fee may not be transferred. Refunds are not given for weather or after the fact of the stay.-Youth Group reservations as well as accessible reservations must be placed over the phone with the park office by calling 815-667-4726 (Monday-Friday only between 8am and 4pm. The park office or Visitor Center does not place any other reservations over the phone or in person. Visitors must go to -Campers may check in at 3pm and check out at 3pm.-There is a campground store located just beyond the permit booth. During the summer, the store is open from 11am to 7pm (Wednesday-Sunday). An outdoor firewood dispenser is available 24/7 for $7 per bundle. -A campground host is on site at Lot # -In case of a tornado warning, head to the cement shower house. IDNR Camping Guidelines?Effective Date: June 29, 2020These guidelines apply to recreational camping on all public campsites within Illinois and are applicable to each region upon transition to Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan.? If campers are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 they should not attempt to stay at the campground? All campers are encouraged to reserve camping online prior to arrival through ? Campers assume personal responsibility and should abide by set guidelines? No overnight group or youth camps will be permitted? Normal park hours resume and are posted site specific? All walk-in campers are encouraged to have exact change or a check for the payment of their campsite at the time of their arrivalSafety and Cleansing Precautions:? All sites will be required to have a “Silent Host Box” for cash or checks, OR a protective barrier at all times to ensure a contactless transaction? All campground hosts must wear a facemask covering their nose and mouth when handling a transaction or dealing with the public on any issue? Campground hosts will be required to sanitize or wash their hands after every transaction? Social distancing measures of 6 feet remain in effect and should be observed? Campers are encouraged to use any self-contained restroom in their own camper for restroom or shower use? Showers are available as social distancing/spacing permits; site by site guidelines may vary. Bathers should bring their own sandals to avoid direct contact with the floor? Restrooms and shower houses will be cleaned and checked twice dailyFor More Information:? All campers are encouraged to visit family/camping for updated best camping practices? Please refer to the DCEO guidelines for private campground restrictions which may differ from IDNR?*Campsite capacity cannot exceed 10 people.*Per IDPH guidelines, no site may have a gathering of 50 persons or more; gathering sizes may be further limited by site size and ability to maintain social distancing guidelines.Social Distancing6 ft Social DistancingFace Coverings to be worn except for children <2 years old when 6’ social distancing cannot be maintained or in an indoor area. Campers will follow all IDPH guidelines regarding PPE and additional best healthy practicesFace Coverings to be worn except for children <2 years old when 6’ social distancing cannot be maintained or in an indoor area. Campers will follow all IDPH guidelines regarding PPE and additional best healthy practices Hygiene RequirementsPersonal sanitization materials should be brought with you. Barriers may be temporarily erected where needed.Personal sanitization materials should be brought with you. Barriers may be temporarily erected where necessary. Access to EstablishmentsLimited re-opening of concession amenities and lodges (sleeping amenities). Limited re-opening of concession amenities and lodges (sleeping amenities). Restaurants/Bars may operate consistent with DCEO guidelines. Disinfecting/Cleaning ProceduresFollow guidelines set by CDCThe campground is open all year?round (but for the weekend before Thanksgiving for the DOO Deer Hunt).?Campground gates are opened from 8:30 am until 10:00 pm. The Campground Permit Booth lists information on self-registration for walk-in sites (first come- first serve) on the outside of the building upon entering the campground.? All sites are available for reservation.?Reservations must be made more than 3 days in advance and out to 6 months prior to the date of your arrival.? Reservations are made online at .? Please contact the Visitor Center/Park Office at 815-667-4726 if you are a?non for profit youth group such as Scouts and need to place a camping reservation in our youth group area at the campground.Starved Rock's campground has 129 Class-A Premium campsites.??All sites come equipped with a cement pad for RV or camper, area for tent (allowed up to 2 tents total), picnic table, fire pit with grill grate on top, and electric hook-up.?Campers are allowed up to 2 vehicles at their campsite.? All extra vehicles will have to park in the small lot at the entrance of the campground.? Water hydrants can be found throughout the campground for use.?Porta potties are located throughout the campground as well as two separate shower houses with flush toilets.? The dump station and trash containers can be found upon entering and exiting the campground.? The campground also contains a playground area and shelter.??Do not bring firewood in from areas outside of LaSalle County please.?Firewood can be purchased at the campground store as well as at local gas stations in Utica, IL.?Please view the campground brochure below for information on each site, such as; shaded, sunny, or partially shaded, and proximity to the shower houses.? Reservations for regular campsites and youth group sites require a $5.00 non-refundable reservation fee and payment of the full camping and utility fees at the time the reservation is made. The camping fee for a regular campsite is $25.00 per night unless it is a holiday at which time the campsite fee is $35.00.?? Alcohol is ALWAYS prohibited in the campground. Quiet time in the campground is 10 p.m.? There is a camp store in the campground that operates seasonally (usually May 1-Oct. 31) that sells firewood, ice, soda and other camping supplies.? Hours for the store are:? 11am to 7pm Wednesday-Saturday (subject to change). During firearm deer seasons, the campground will be closed. Please download and view the campground brochure for further information on rules, regulations, sites, and reservations at the Starved Rock State Park Campground. Q: Are there any accessible trails in the park?A: No. Unfortunately, due to the topography of the park, there are no handicapped/accessible trails to the canyons or waterfalls. The most accessible trail would be the sidewalk at the lodge where visitors can view the “Art in the Park” collection, see the cabins, woods and the shelter built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. There’s a great view of Starved Rock from the Veranda. If you head to the east end of the Veranda and look down, you will see an arrow carved out of flagstone which points directly at Starved Rock. The view of the scenic Illinois River Valley from here is a perfect place to take photos. ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download