Visiting/Photographing Sunflowers at Matthiessen State Park, IL

Where to Find the “Starved Rock Sunflower Field”

(Yes, it’s actually at Matthiessen — here’s how to get there)

July 24, 2026 --The sunflowers are almost back at Matthiessen State Park in Oglesby, IL! Every year a field of hundreds of sunflowers bloom for a few weeks and it's a sight you don't want to miss. Here are all the details you need to make your next trip to the sunflowers a success!

Sunflower Field at Sunset

Where: The sunflowers are located at Matthiessen State Park in Oglesby, IL. Make sure to use the river entrance. Enter at the river entrance (along Rt. 178) and follow the road straight back. There are multiple parking options in small lots, or you may be able to park along the side of the road if signage allows. Click here for a Google Maps pin of the exact location in the park.

Just a heads up — many visitors refer to this spot as the "Starved Rock sunflower field" because of its close proximity to Starved Rock State Park, but the blooms are actually located within Matthiessen State Park. It’s a common mix-up, but now you’re in the know! Regardless of the name, the beauty remains the same.

2026 Update: This year, the secondary sunflower field is now in full bloom and is currently putting on the best display. While the main field still has a small number of blooms waiting to open, the secondary field is filled with bright yellow flowers and is well worth the short walk. If you're planning a visiting before August 5, 2026 we recommend making time to explore both fields for the best experience. Click here for the secondary field google maps pin of the exact location in the park.

Looking for other places to park within the park? Click here to view all parking lots at Matthiessen and Starved Rock.

How: Once you park, follow the posted signage to the sunflower field and do not take alternate routes. This year, the field is located on the west side of the model airplane field. Please remember to be considerate of others, do not cross the model airplane field, and do not trample the sunflowers. In addition, it is illegal to remove sunflowers from the park and picking them will result in a fine.

When: Time is limited! We predict that July 22 will be the first day that the sunflowers are in full bloom, and they normally last for about 10-20 days from the initial date. So, we highly recommend visiting before August 11 to maximize your chances of seeing them in full bloom. It's possible they will dissipate before or after our predicted window, but we believe that is a good general rule to follow when planning a visit.

The park is open from sunrise to sunset. People come from across the Midwest to see the sunflowers, so it may be crowded at times. We recommend visiting in the morning on a weekday for the lowest foot traffic. Official park rules can be found at the Illinois Department of Resources page (click here).

Photography Tips: The best time to arrive will vary depending on the type of photos you are taking.

If you're shooting photos with people in them, then we recommend early morning or before sunset. This helps keep the lighting balanced and results in less harsh shadows on the skin tones.

If you're just photographing the flowers by themselves, then sunrise or sunset will give dramatic lighting that will be sure to make your photos pop.

At sunrise or sunset a camera with good dynamic range will be needed to capture the brightest and darkest parts of the image.

If you're using an iPhone, try clicking on different parts of the image before taking your photo to adjust the exposure. If you're using a professional camera, then you may need to perform a process commonly referred to as exposure image stacking to stack multiple photos with different exposure levels. Read more about this here.

We hope these tips help you enjoy the sunflowers and have a great experience! We look forward to seeing the images that you capture of the sunflowers.

Looking for a memorable postcard or keepsake from your visit? Stop by the new outdoor store Hike + Camp in downtown Utica, just a few minutes from Matthiessen State Park. Take a selfie or photo of yourself at the sunflower field and show it in the store to receive 10% off the sunflower collection and a free sunflower seed packet while supplies last. The collection includes art prints, T-shirts, stationery, hats, postcards, crafts, and more!

Sunflowers Postcard

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Waterfall Flow Reporting

As a reminder, we are asking every person who hikes to a waterfall this 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 trails.