Starved Rock State Park
State park · Illinois
Eighteen sandstone canyons cut into the bluffs above the Illinois River near Oglesby, many holding seasonal waterfalls that run heaviest after fall rain. Maple and oak color the canyon rims through October across roughly 2,630 acres of trails, Illinois's signature fall hiking destination.
Don’t miss
Peak: October 16–October 20
Color builds from October 10 · mostly bare by November 9
Sampled at Starved Rock State Park’s own coordinates and elevation (143 m) rather than a regional average.
Illinois is sampled at 27 weather points, then moved 2 days later so the model agrees with 1 published peak date from smokymountains.com and almanac.com. Illinois is running 7 days earlier than its own average this year. How the forecast works
When to go to Starved Rock State Park
The color window runs about 17 days, holding until around October 27. That runs roughly 5 days earlier than the rest of Illinois.
Starved Rock State Park on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of Illinois, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
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Frequently asked
- When does Starved Rock State Park peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 16–October 20 (best estimate October 18). Color starts around October 10 and is mostly bare by November 9.
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