Fall Colors Weekend returns to Starved Rock State Park

If you haven’t visited Starved Rock State Park recently, this could be a fun weekend. It’s Fall Colors Weekend and there are plenty of color to see at the state park in Utica.

Hikes will begin at the Visitor’s Center at 9am and 1pm Saturday and Sunday. Special hikes that include a lunch will be offered for $17. You’ll need to make reservations at the lodge if you would like to be part of that. Otherwise, hiking at the park is free.

You may want to get to Starved Rock early this weekend because parking will be at a premium.

More canyons and trails reopen at Starved Rock

A lot more parts of Starved Rock State Park have reopened.

As of Monday, trails to French, La Salle and Wildcat Canyons had reopened to hikers. Places like the boat ramp, Starved Rock Lodge, Lover’s Leap, Ottawa Canyon and Council Overhang are also open.  St. Louis Canyon and the walking bridge from the lodge remain closed.

A company out of the Quad Cities was hired to remove downed trees at Starved Rock following storm damage that happened June 30.

Starved Rock’s loss is Matthiessen’s gain

Trail closures at Starved Rock State Park have meant more visitors to the neighboring Matthiessen State Park.

Mark McConnaughhay is superintendent for the two parks. He says the 100 cars in Matthiessen’s parking lot on Tuesday were more than usual.

Trails have been closed at Starved Rock since storms on June 30th downed trees. McConnaughhay says the Starved Rock trail closures have “put more people on the trails at Matthiessen” than he’s seen in “quite some time.”

Police issued tickets to hikers using closed trails and marijuana at Starved Rock

You will see deer, hawks and sometimes a fox when you’re walking the trails at Starved Rock State Park. You may even spot a Conservation Police Officer.

Officers were patrolling the park over the weekend much to the surprise of many hikers who were walking on closed trails or smoking marijuana.

Sgt. Hank Frazier says they issued 102 tickets for trail violations, 22 tickets for marijuana, and nine tickets for alcohol.

Frazier says many people used the excuse that it was their first time at the park and they didn’t expect to see a police officer. Many hikers didn’t think they could get ticketed for walking on the closed trails.

The closed trails are still dangerous according to Frazier. He says he watched two oak trees fall due to the wind Sunday.

Some trails still off limits at Starved Rock

The cleanup continues ten days after storms hit Starved Rock State Park.

Crews are still cleaning up debris including damaged trees and hanging limbs. Trails are open on the east end of the park but some remain closed on the west end.

Signs are up warning hikers of closed trails. You can get ticketed if you’re found walking on closed trails.