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More Trails Reopen At Starved Rock State Park!

August's powerful derecho storm closed numerous trails and parking areas throughout Starved Rock State Park. Now, more than a month after the windy event, one of the park's most accessible trails will be reopening to the public. The Campanula Trail, which runs from the top of French Canyon to the top of Wildcat Canyon, is a convenient route between two of the park's most beautiful photo-ops. Primarily a wood-lined boardwalk, this trail is much easier of the legs than the paralleling Bluff Trail. Located only .5 miles from the visitors center and another .5 to Wildcat Canyon, this recently reopened trail is an excellent way to see a large swatch of the park in one easy trip.

By Ryan Searl

August's powerful derecho storm closed numerous trails and parking areas throughout Starved Rock State Park. Now, more than a month after the windy event, one of the park's most accessible trails will be reopening to the public. The Campanula Trail, which runs from the top of French Canyon to the top of Wildcat Canyon, is a convenient route between two of the park's most beautiful photo-ops. Primarily a wood-lined boardwalk, this trail is much easier of the legs than the paralleling Bluff Trail. Located only .5 miles from the visitors center and another .5 to Wildcat Canyon, this recently reopened trail is an excellent way to see a large swatch of the park in one easy trip.

Parkman's Plain parking lot, one of the newest and most convenient parking areas for exploring some of Starved Rock's most popular canyons, has also reopened to the public for the first time since early August! This large parking area spills out into a beautiful forest trail, which eventually gives way to a series of large wooden stairs (a dizzying photo-op that can't be missed), before taking guests down the park's north eastern riverbanks. From there, you can easily hike to popular sights like LaSalle Canyon (previously accessible only through a long hike bluff hike) and the nearby Owl Canyon.