Starved Rock, Matthiessen areas will close for 2021-2022 hunting season

The following state park areas will be closed for the 2021-2022 hunting season.

Matthiessen State Park, Hennepin Canyon parking lot at Starved Rock State Park, Starved Rock Nature Preserve, Mitchell’s Grove, Sandy Ford Conservation Area and Margery C. Carlson will be closed Nov. 19-21, Dec. 2-5 and Dec. 10-12.

The Starved Rock Campground will be closed Nov. 18-21 and Dec. 1-5.

Starved Rock Nature Preserve, Matthiessen State Park, Sandy Ford, Mitchell’s Grove and Margery C. Carlson will be closed Dec. 30-Jan. 2 and Jan. 14-16.

There is a change this year at Starved Rock. The south side of Route 71 is open for hiking in regards to Illinois, Ottawa and Kaskaskia canyons. In the past Illinois, Ottawa and Kaskaskia were closed to the public during the hunting season. Hennepin Canyon parking lot will remained closed to the pubic through hunting season on the south edge of Starved Rock along Route 71.