Spring Flowers Have Arrived

Wildflowers are blooming throughout the parks.

Bluebells along Illinois Canyon Trail

Flowers are never more beautiful than in the spring season, so be on the lookout for blooming petals and bright colors! As you walk on the trails, be sure to take some extra time to take in the scenery around you. Hundreds of wildflowers, in an array of colors including white, yellow, purple, blue, and more, bloom every year in Illinois. Many of these wildflowers are native to Illinois, and Starved Rock boasts many of these flowers in the park.

Looking for a specific trail to see wildflowers? Check out Illinois Canyon, as it is known to have bluebells blossom every spring. Along with wildflowers, trees will be coming back to life, appearing in colors ranging from purple to green. Be sure to check out overlooks such as Sandstone Point and Lovers Leap to see the park nestled in beautiful trees from above. Come out and enjoy a nice hike, whether in the canyons or from up above, surrounded by beautiful flowers and trees.

We estimate 2024 peak viewing for the bluebells, among others, will be between April 18-April 30.

Spring is one of the most beautiful times to hike, and the melting snowfall and rain lead to rainbows and waterfalls.

We encourage you to hit the trails this spring, but make sure you are prepared for changing weather and trail conditions.

---

Waterfall Flow Reporting

As a reminder, we are asking every person who hikes to a waterfall this spring/summer to submit a waterfall flow rate report on our website at www.starvedrockhikers.com/waterfall-report. This takes less than 60 seconds and can be completed for all the major waterfalls within Starved Rock State Park. You can also attach photos/video clips of the waterfall.

Don’t forget to tag us and use the hashtag #starvedrockhikers when sharing all your spring hiking adventures! We’ll also do our best to keep hikers informed via our Hikers group on Facebook. Click here to join for free!

See you on the trail