Starved Rock State Park, including the Starved Rock Lodge and other park amenities, will remain open to visitors during a $18 million trail improvement project that is expected to get underway this winter and continue through 2026. The work will allow the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to reopen several closed trails and expand the hiking and recreational opportunities at Starved Rock, which is Illinois’ most visited state park, attracting more than 2 million visitors annually. The park, in LaSalle County, features numerous timber trail bridges, stairways, boardwalks and retaining walls that have deteriorated over the years and require repairs or replacement. Trails and canyons where work will take place include:

• Tonti Canyon and LaSalle Canyon trail system – Renovate or replace 10 separate trail bridges, install three new timber stairways, and install new timber boardwalks with fence.

• Lower French Canyon River Trail Bridge and Jacob’s Ladder – Replace three existing trail bridges, replace several timber stairways, install new timber stairways and fence, and expand the boardwalk from the bridge to the existing stairway on Jacob’s Ladder.

• Pontiac Canyon – Replace the trail bridge and replace the timber stairway and fence.

• River Trail – Replace several existing trail bridges and install new timber boardwalks with fence.

• Campunula Trail – Install a concrete path and replace the existing trail bridge.

• Lodge Bridge to St. Louis Canyon – Replace existing decking. 

Most of the visible construction, which may include transporting materials to remote areas of the park via barge and helicopter, will happen in 2026.