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Sac Canyon

Description:

A favorite to visit for those staying overnight at the lodge. Just a short distance from Aurora Canyon, where the visitor has access to Aurora Canyons interior view but not Sac’s due to hazardous conditions. Sac’s waterfall can be viewed from above and on both sides of the bridge if rainfall or snow melt conditions are just right. The picture above was taken by the park’s Natural Resource Coordinator, Lisa Sons in March of 2019. The canyon was named after another local Native American tribe that frequented the areas of Illinois and Iowa several hundred years ago.

Distance from Visitor Center:

0.8 miles one way from the Visitor Center or Starved Rock Lodge. 1.3 miles from the St. Louis Canyon parking lot.

Difficulty:

Easy to moderate, involving one major staircase from the Visitor Center to the Lodge. Moderate 1.3 mile trail from St. Louis Canyon parking area involving several major staircases.

Parking:

Visitor Center main parking lot, Starved Rock Lodge, Overflow parking, or St. Louis Canyon parking lot.

Waterfall:

Yes, rain dependent

Top View:

Yes, wooden foot bridge allows the hiker to view both sides of the fall

Interior Canyon View:

No access

Flora and Fauna:

Woodland ferns, lichen, moss, and spring ephemerals including Shooting Stars grace the woodland floor and sandstone canyon walls. Tanagers, Titmice, Chickadees, Sparrows, Nuthatches, and Woodpeckers fill the canopy with their chatter as Chipmunks and Gray Squirrels travel back and forth foraging for nuts and seeds.

ABOUT

We are the nonprofit organization dedicated to serving Starved Rock State Park in North Central Illinois. Our volunteer program operates the Visitor Center, providing interpretive hikes, educational materials, and events. Funding for park improvements comes from memberships, donations, and our volunteer-run LeRocher Book Store. With an elected board, we've donated over $450,000 in the past 30+ years. 

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CONTACT

T: 815.667.4726

E: starvedrockfoundation@gmail.com

© 2024 by the Starved Rock Historical and Educational Foundation.

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