Take A Tour At Starved Rock State Park! – Shaw Local

On the lookout for the right method to expertise Starved Rock State Park this Father’s Day weekend? Ebook a trolley tour, guided hike, or river cruise. These small-group excursions are led by knowledgeable guides, granting you three new methods to counterpoint your keep on the legendary state park. Excursions depart from the famed Starved Rock Lodge, and are provided each week all through the summer season season. Be part of us as we check out a few of the guided excursions presently on provide at Starved Rock.

The easiest way to acquaint your self with the paths at Starved Rock State Park, and to study a bit in regards to the area’s fascinating historical past and ecology, is to e-book a guided hike provided by Starved Rock Lodge. On these small group mini-expeditions, you’ll discover Starved Rock’s canyons, bluffs and seasonal waterfalls, with the assistance of a educated path information. Excursions begin at 9:45 a.m. within the Starved Rock Lodge’s lodge foyer, for a meet-and-greet along with your information, adopted by the distribution of pre-packaged lunches – that are complimentary with the value of admission for the hike. You’ll have your selection of turkey, ham or veggie wrap, together with a bag of chips, granola bar, piece of fruit and bottle of water.

Your group then will depart at 10 a.m, mountain climbing towards such widespread sightseeing and photo-op spots as Wildcat Canyon, Eagle Cliff and Lover’s Leap. Contributors can anticipate to return to the lodge round midday. Alongside the way in which, your path information will level you towards all one of the best photo-ops, whereas peppering in thrilling historic and nature info – leaving you with a greater understanding of the park’s historical past and ecology. Teams will return to the lodge at about 1:30 p.m. Correct footwear, mountain climbing sticks and extra water are really useful for the outing. Excursions run by means of November each Saturday and Sunday, and price $22 per individual, together with your meal.

The Historic Trolley Tour, one in every of Starved Rock Lodge’s signature occasions, is a good way to sightsee on the park and its surrounding area, with out embarking on a strenuous hike. These expansive 90-minute trolley excursions embody stops on the Starved Rock State Park Customer Middle and the Illinois Waterway Customer Middle, and even take you thru lovely downtown Utica.

On board, the trolley driver will narrate the historical past and legends of the area – highlighting historic occasions and must-see factors of curiosity. These all-ages excursions are held aboard buses with trendy climate-control methods, guaranteeing you’ll have a cushty journey all yr spherical.

Excursions start at 3 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Admission prices $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, and $10 for kids age 10 and youthful. It’s free for kids age 3 and youthful.

Starved Rock Lodge additionally supplies water cruises with unbeatable views of the Illinois River and the state park’s majestic sandstone bluffs. This fascinating group tour is studded with historic and geological info, in addition to glorious birding alternatives. The thrilling sightseeing tour is held aboard the Eagle I, a specialty tour boat that gives lovely panoramic views of the river. The guided tour begins with a narrated trolley journey from Starved Rock Lodge to the close by boat launch. As soon as on board the boat, you’ll be handled to some thrilling tales and legends in regards to the park, in addition to a close-up view of the gargantuan rock formations which have made it so well-known. The one-hour river cruises run June by means of October, and are held each Saturday and Sunday, departing at 1 and a pair of p.m. Tickets value $32 per individual, for ages 4 and up.

Seeking to expertise much more at Starved Rock State Park? Contemplate reserving a Land and Water Cruise bundle. The package deal begins with lunch on the Starved Rock Lodge’s famend restaurant, adopted by a full, narrated trolley tour, and concludes with a journey aboard the Eagle I. These packages are provided Monday, Wednesday and Friday from June by means of September, and final from 11 a.m. to three p.m. Tickets value $55 per individual. These journeys, in addition to the opposite trolley excursions and boat rides, are a superb method to expertise the sights and sounds of Starved Rock State Park with minimal strolling.

For those who’re in search of an abridged strolling tour of Starved Rock State Park, adopted by a calming boat journey, the lodge’s Go to a Canyon & a Boat Experience package deal is simply what you’re in search of. You start by boarding a trolley certain for the doorway of one in every of Starved Rock’s most scenic canyons. On the temporary, 45-minute stroll, an knowledgeable path information will regale you with historic and nature-related data. Following the quick trek, you’ll have the ability to chill out with a ship journey on the picturesque Illinois River. A snack, bottle of water and memento drawstring backpack are included with the tour. This tour runs June by means of October, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday. Tickets value $50 per grownup.

To order your spot on the enjoyable and family-friendly excursions, merely name 815-220-7386 or go to www.starvedrocklodge.com/activities. There you’ll discover a full calendar of occasions and prolonged descriptions of the excursions and different excursions provided by Starved Rock Lodge.