5 Mistakes Most People Make When Camping at Starved Rock

With more than 2-million visitors every year, Starved Rock State Park is one of the top attractions in Illinois. People flock to explore the deep canyons, waterfalls, and scenic views over the Illinois River.

It really is a lovely place. It can also be very crowded because it is about 2 hours from Chicago.

For campers who like something more serene, however, you can still enjoy Starved Rock if you avoid making these 5 mistakes.

Mistake 1: Visiting Over Holiday Weekends

Starved Rock State Park may have 13 miles of trails to hike. When you’re sharing those trails with 1,000 of your “closest” friends over a holiday weekend, however, it may not be your cup of tea.  There can be upwards of 10,000 people over a holiday weekend.

Mistake 2: Camping Without Shade

There are 113 campsites at Starved Rock. Most of these campsites are primitive (with electrical connections for small RVs or campers), but about a third have no shade or trees whatsoever.

When you reserve your campsite, make certain that you get a wooded campsite. They are located in the back of each camping area.

Mistake 3: Hiking Western Canyons

St. Louis Canyon, Starved Rock, and Lover’s Leap are beautiful places to visit. Just expect to be amongst everyone else who wants to “experience nature.”

If you want to enjoy a hike with less human contact, hike the Eastern Canyons such as Hennepin, LaSalle, and Kaskaskia Canyons. These areas are not difficult to reach, but most of the public won’t wander this far away from the primary parking and picnicking areas.  Here’s a map of the park.

Mistake 4: Kayaking in the Illinois River

Kayakers have all but written off Starved Rock because of the prevalence of the Asian Carp. Kayaks (and other personal watercraft) easily frighten the big fish, which causes them to leap high in the air. Asian Carp can jump up to 10 feet in the air, and numerous kayakers have been severely injured by collisions with the fish.

Mistake 5: Camping in August

Illinois can be a hot, sticky, and steamy place in the Summer. The average temperature in August is 83 degrees. Potable water isn’t easy to come by at Starved Rock, so you should bring a hydration pack with you even if you’re in dense trees and foliage.

Bonus Mistake: Buying Firewood from a Bar

I made the mistake of purchasing fire wood for our campsite from the first roadside place I found. It was a bar on the corner of Route 178 and Route 71. They sold me wet wood.

Instead, go to Jack’s Camp Store at 815 N 25th Road in Oglesby. Jack runs the place out of his garage. He’s friendly and offers a good amount of wood for the price. He also has other provisions, such as ice that is less expensive than the Starved Rock Campground Store.

What about you? How do you make the most of popular state parks?