Introduction

I recently took this amazing fall trip to Illinois. If this post inspires you to travel to Illinois, make sure to check ahead for up-to-date events, exhibits and opening hours at any attractions. I had been to the Windy City once many years ago, but I’ve never explored the rest of the state. As a weekend warrior always on the hunt for my next adventure, a Google search of the hikes, waterfalls and bike rides in the Illinois Valley area quickly piqued my interest. I saved recommendations I found online and worked with the Enjoy Illinois team to craft an incredible itinerary to fully experience the area. From the best hikes with peak fall foliage to mouth-watering meals and sustainable spirits, here’s my guide on how best to explore the Illinois Valley and Starved Rock Country, truly an underrated destination from what I discovered.

Planning the Trip

What to Pack

The fall season in the Illinois Valley means cooler temperatures, so definitely plan on bringing layers. I highly recommend a pair of good hiking boots for the trails in case it’s wet and slippery from the rain. My favorite go-to hiking boots are from Oboz because they have terrific traction and grip. 

I never travel without my rain gear from The North Face either. Pack a good waterproof rain jacket and rain pants that will keep you dry as you explore Starved Rock Country. I packed my Patagonia fleece, which came in real handy on early morning hikes and after the sunset when the weather turned chilly. 

As far as camera gear, I packed my Sony α7R III along with a very versatile travel lens, the 24-70mm, which is great for landscape photography.

When to Go

Visiting the Illinois Valley in fall means you’re blessed with stunning fall foliage. Honestly, this is one of the best times to visit this area if you love eye-popping autumn color, crisp air, and cozy orchard visits for apple picking and apple cider donuts. Spring on the other hand means gorgeous waterfall hikes in places like Starved Rock State Park, spring flowers are in bloom. Summer is warm with thunderstorms, and after a hard rain, the waterfalls are really flowing. Winter is the best time to spot eagles and see frozen waterfalls as the temperature drops below freezing.

Where to stay

When you land at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, you’ll need to rent a car and drive about two hours to Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock. The two-bedroom villas at the resort are the perfect spot to unwind after a long day of travel or after an invigorating hike in the state park. 

Illinois Valley Fall Travel Itinerary

Day 1

Breakfast

Start your morning with a hearty breakfast at Lock 16 Café inside the I&M Visitor Center before exploring the Illinois Valley by bike. This is a cozy café that offers window seating as well as a browsing section of knick-knacks, including some lovely candles. I opted for a hot chocolate plus an egg and a slice of toast before heading right outside to a row of parked bikes available to the public. 

Morning Activity: Biking

Download the Movatic app on your phone and unlock a bike for a ride along the many trails in the Heritage Area. My favorite trail is the LaSalle to Ottawa on the I&M Canal State Trail. This 15-mile trail is great for beginners because it’s all flat terrain. Whether you’re a seasoned biker or just like to pedal on your vacation, you’ll love this trail. I mean, you are biking along the river with fall foliage on either side of you, which just adds to the picturesque autumnal ride, right? 

Lunch

Thyme Craft Kitchen is a farm-to-table restaurant in Illinois Valley sourcing produce and ingredients from 25 local farms and small businesses, and specializing in bold, creative and regional flavor combinations you might not think to mix at home. Owners Rob and Anthony develop all of the recipes for the restaurant, with stand-out dishes like the plantains with guava avocado sauce, Korean chicken wings, delicious roasted tomatoes and red pepper soup (mildly spicy), and phenomenal birria tacos. If you like beef, these tacos are a must-try! Overall, the flavors are bold, and the restaurant isn’t afraid to experiment. If you didn’t already guess, this restaurant ended up being one of my favorites during my trip to Illinois.

Afternoon Activity: Distillery Tour

Drive over to Star Union Spirits for cocktails and an inside look at the distilling process. As I walked in I couldn’t help thinking that this was the kind of spot I’d expect to find in Chicago, not in the Illinois Valley. However, after meeting co-owner Jeff Yosowitz and taking a tour of the distillery with him, I have a better understanding of why he and his co-owner, Bob Windy, made Peru, Illinois the home base for making their signature Star Union Spirits Rested Agave Spirit, Star Union Spirits Vodka and Single Barrel Immature Brandy.

Through their tasting room, the main goal has been to elevate the cocktail experience, and they have certainly achieved just that, while still maintaining sustainability practices, like repurposing barrels and donating byproducts to local farms. I would highly recommend the Twilight Hour (made with sweet butterfly lavender tea). This is their most popular cocktail and I can see why. The lavender essential oil, along with the lemonade, mint and their signature brandy makes this drink simply refreshing. 

Late Afternoon Activity: Apple Picking

Boggio’s Orchard & Produce is a family-owned orchard and produce farm. In the fall, you can pick your own pumpkins in the pumpkin patch, and for just $15 you can pick an entire bag of apples to take home. This is THE place to go if you want to have the best apple cider donuts too. Their donuts were fresh, soft and did not taste too sweet (which was perfect for my palette). Wash it all down with one of their home-pressed apple ciders and you have the perfect autumn snack. 

Kids of all ages can enjoy the tunnels of fun, petting zoo, pony rides, hay rides, peddle carts and the corn maze throughout the season as well. Don’t forget to say hi to the goats and visit Caramel the Camel. The owner of the orchard bought Caramel as a present for his wife. Don’t be surprised if Caramel will come toward you (don’t worry, he’s fenced in) if he thinks you’re going to feed him something. Feeding is allowed, but make sure you (and your children) pay attention to the signs stating what NOT to feed the animals.

Dinner

Unwind back at your villa for a few hours and then head to dinner at the Canal Port Bar & Grill over on Mill Street, a cute area with string lights that showcase the local restaurants and a wine tasting room. My favorite dish here was the chicken piccata. It was fresh, lemony and the capers added the zing needed for this lightly flavored pasta. The owner said the mushrooms are also great, as well as their fish and chips, so do try those if you end up visiting.

Day 2

Breakfast

Start your second day exploring Illinois Valley, with breakfast at Nonie’s Bakery & and Café before you go hiking at one of the Illinois Valley’s gems– Starved Rock State Park. I like to load up on breakfast before a hike, especially for the increased energy and stamina that the food gives me on the trail. They have some great egg scramble options plus a mean avocado toast, which will give you the protein and carbs you need to keep hiking throughout the morning in the park. 

Morning Activity: Hiking

Starved Rock State Park is known for its numerous waterfall trails. One thing to keep in mind is that typically during the autumn months the waterfalls will not be running, especially if they haven’t had enough rain during the summer months. The best time to see running falls is during spring (March and April) after the snow melts and spring rains roll through the region. For fall, I suggest the two hiking trails below that are filled with fall foliage and would make for a fantastic morning hike. 

Ottawa Canyon Trail

Ottawa Canyon Trail is a great hike for beginners and families. The trail is overall flat with a few steps about a ½ mile into the hike. The creek was pretty dry, so there was no actual creek crossing, but approaching the waterfall, or where a waterfall would have been, is just spectacular. You are also hiking alongside the canyon walls with the deep yellow and orange foliage all around you.

Parking is available at the Ottawa Canyon parking lot, and the hike is just about 2 miles total out and back. Or if you start the hike from the visitors center it is an eight-mile round trip hike. So, depending on the time, choose your hike length to fit your skill and fitness levels.

French Canyon Trail

The French Canyon Trail starts off at the visitors center parking lot and meanders its way through some beautiful golden foliage before leading down into the canyon to where the waterfall would be flowing in spring. It’s a stunning and dramatic hike, but always remember, what goes down must come up; be prepared for the uphill climb back to your car. I would still rate this as a family-friendly trail, and it’s also a great one for beginners.

Lunch

If you have booked the River Cruise through Starved Rock Lodge, it includes lunch before your tour begins. We loved the Strawberry Pecan Salad and the Penne Primavera. If you have any food allergies, call ahead to let the lodge know so the staff can make sure you have an amazing lunch too. 

Afternoon Activity: River Cruise

If you don’t want to hike in the state park, or you simply want a different vantage point, but you still want to see foliage, then a cruise might be perfect for you! I had gotten tickets for the Autumn on the River Cruise, which departs via a cute red trolley from the Starved Rock Lodge. Make sure you book ahead of time as the lodge boat tours do sell out. 

Unfortunately, because the winds were too high, they routed our cruise away from the state park, but from a distance, the autumn leaves looked very lush and golden, with hints of red, yellow and orange. You can see some more photos below from the area we ended up cruising. 

One of the most exciting things on the cruise that we spotted was an eagle. I had no idea that both Starved Rock and Matthiessen State Parks attract large eagle populations in winter, thanks to the nearby Plum Island Eagle Sanctuary on the Illinois River. You can watch eagles soar overhead from the top of Starved Rock or from aboard your cruise. 

After our boat ride, the trolley took us around town to see some of the local sights, including historical buildings. If you love history and wildlife, this is a great way to spend some time outdoors learning more about the area surrounding Starved Rock State Park.

Pitstop: Shopping Illinois Made 

After the cruise, I recommend you drive over to the Illinois Made Visitors Center, which is located in an old, repurposed school building. I always encourage buying from and supporting local businesses, and if you share that sentiment this is the place for you. Just a few of the locally-made items you can buy are soup mixes, reading pillows, pottery from local business Fine Field Pottery, handmade Nordic gnomes, mugs and so much more. If you are here in the fall, it’s the perfect time to load up on Christmas presents for everyone on your list. 

Late Afternoon Activity: Wine Tasting

Wait, what?! The Illinois Valley has wineries?! I normally don’t think of Illinois and wineries together.  However, when I walked into the Illinois Sparkling Co. and saw their incredible selection of sparkling wines, I knew I was in for something special. 

Illinois Sparkling Co. was born out of sister company August Hill, after co-founder and award-winning winemaker Mark Wenzel realized that four acres of their grapes were high in acid and low in tannins, which were similar to the grapes used in French champagne. In 2007, Wenzel began learning the Traditional Champagne Method to produce his own Illinois-sparkling wine. Fast forward to 2021, when Wenzel won the Governor’s Cup Trophy for Best Rosé Wine, Best of Class, & Double Gold Medal at the 2021 Illinois State Fair Wine Competition for his Brut Ombré Rosé, which just piled onto the number of other prizes he’s won since 2019.  

One big thing that sets this winemaker apart is the infusions he adds to the wines. To make the infusions, Wenzel takes still wine and forces CO2 into the bottles, kind of like a soda process, instead of the usual natural yeast and sugar process you typically would do for a sparkling wine. Their almond and raspberry-infused wines were out of this world. You might want to check a bag to bring some home.

Tip: On weekends (seasonally), August Hill Winery has picnics, wine flights and live music! The winery is just about 10-13 minutes away from the wine-tasting room on Mill Street.

Dinner 

End the day with dinner at the Tangled Roots Brewing Company in Ottawa with some beer flights and Oktoberfest specials. OR if you’re not feeling the pretzels and sauerkraut, try the dishes on their regular menu. Their jalapeno-fried cauliflower is a winner, while the pepperoni flatbread was delicious and comes with jalapenos if you like those spicy flavors! The vibe is super cozy and fun.

Day 3

Breakfast:Sherwood Oaks Pancake House and Family Restaurant is a diner-style eatery that serves up some of the best pancakes you could ever want. They make their own batter and the toppings include glazed apples, blueberries, strawberries and chocolate chips. They also have a signature French toast, and of course, a variety of omelets.

Morning Activity: Explore a Midwest Prairie

If you know nothing about prairies like me, then you need to make a stop at the visitors center at the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. I quickly learned that a prairie is an ever-changing ecosystem and not some monotonous place. There are even different types of prairies, including sand, dolomite, grass, and wetlands. The Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie is the largest island in the archipelago of protected areas that collectively comprise the Chicago Wilderness. While the conservation of the prairie lands is important to several animals, flora and fauna, maybe the most impressive action being taken is the reintroduction of bison to Illinois.

The bison, which had largely disappeared from the area due to excessive hunting and farming, have been imported from South Dakota and Colorado. You can see exactly where the bison are currently grazing via the visitor center’s webcam of the pastures. Knowing where the bison are could help you decide which trail to take or which overlook to drive to for bison spotting. Just keep in mind that the bison might not always be viewable from a road or trail. If you are looking for a good hike to tackle while you are there though, I recommend the Henslow trail, but always check in with the park guides to get the latest news about the trails. 

Before Lunch Activity: Visit Antique Shops

My next stop was North Water Street. This is a cute street filled with several antique shops, a wine-tasting room and a bakery. The whole area has shopping options and it’s a great place to pick up a unique gift or souvenir to take home.

Lunch 

On your way to the airport, grab a bite to eat at the classy HopScotch & Vine restaurant. The interiors are welcoming and the food pairings are exceptional. I loved the flatbread and their artichoke and spinach dip is sublime. The fried chicken, tofu sandwich and the Billy Goat flatbread are all top sellers, so definitely make time for a meal here before you head home.

I had no idea that the Illinois Valley, southwest of Chicago, had so much to offer. If you enjoy the outdoors as  I do, then this is a good area to wander, especially if you like exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations. Starved Rock State Park will delight especially if you time your visit during spring or fall. The cuisine is delicious and you will find some unique foods in this region. The people are kind and the area feels untouched by mass tourism. I would highly recommend a trip to this part of the state. I hope my itinerary was helpful. As always if you have any questions, please let me know in the comments.

This post was created in partnership with the Travel Mindset and Enjoy Illinois. As always, all views and opinions are our own.