Starved Rock State Park lower area closed, projected to flood

Main parking lot by visitor center, boat ramp access, picnic area closed

Visitors are asked to park off of the south entrance from Route 71 at the gravel overflow parking lot in Starved Rock State Park while the lower parking lot area is closed. (Shaw Media File)

June 27, 2021 at 1:08 pm CDT

The lower area/parking lot of Starved Rock State Park is closed until further notice because of projected flooding from the Illinois River.

According to the National Weather Service, the Illinois River at La Salle has exceeded flood stage and is expected to crest at 3.7 feet above flood stage by about 7 p.m. Monday.

An impact of the flooding is the lower parking lot at Starved Rock becomes inundated with water.

The main parking lot by the visitor center, the boat ramp access and parking and the picnic area between the boat ramp and main parking lot are closed.

Visitors are asked to park off of the south entrance from Route 71 at the gravel overflow parking lot.