Illinois Historic Preservation Agency

03/22/2026 | Press release | Archived content

French Canyon access closed at Starved Rock State Park beginning March 23

SPRINGFIELD
- Trail access to French Canyon at Starved Rock State Park will be closed beginning the week of March 23. The closure will last through June to accommodate the park's ongoing trail improvement projects.

Closures include the trailhead access to the top of French Canyon, the trails from the Starved Rock Lodge parking lot, and the trail leading into French Canyon from behind the visitor center. It also includes parts of Brown Bluff and Campanula trails.

Existing closures include Tonti Canyon and Tonti Bridge, the trail from LaSalle Canyon to Tonti Canyon, and the staircase from the west entrance to the boat ramp area.

Hikers should not access areas with caution tape and construction signage blocking the trail.


The park, the Lodge and other amenities will remain open throughout the project . Construction will only impact a small area of the park, with plenty of other trails for visitors to enjoy. Access to the east end of the park will be open from the visitor center. Visitors should follow the trail to Lovers' Leap. The west end of the park to St. Louis Canyon will not be affected.

About IDNR


The Illinois Department of Natural Resources was established in 1925 as the Illinois Department of Conservation, bringing under one umbrella oversight of fish and game, forestry, public works, and lakes. Today, IDNR's work encompasses management of about 400 sites across Illinois, including state parks and historic sites; wildlife, fisheries, forestry, and natural heritage; Lake Michigan water allocation and coastal management; conservation police; mines and minerals; oil and gas; issuance of licenses, permits, and numerous grants; the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta; and the Illinois State Museum. Visit https://dnr.illinois.gov and follow us on Facebook , YouTube and LinkedIn .
Illinois Historic Preservation Agency published this content on March 22, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 24, 2026 at 16:26 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]