Starved Rock trail upgrades face delay to June 2027
An $18 million project in the park is more than halfway complete, but weather and terrain have pushed the final finish past the original holiday target.
By Matthew Brooks ·
Trail improvements at Starved Rock State Park in the Illinois River Valley will not be finished by New Year's Day, according to park officials. The $18 million project is scheduled for completion on June 1, 2027. Superintendent Monty Bernardoni confirmed on Friday that the work is more than half finished. He expects officials to announce a new set of trail reopenings by Thanksgiving.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources launched a $33.8 million upgrade program for the site. Approximately half of those funds went to the sewage treatment plant and other infrastructure. The remaining half is dedicated to trail improvements. Bernardoni noted that many materials on the marked trails had reached the end of their life cycles. Wooden beams and other components required replacement to ensure safety and prevent further erosion.
Matthew Klein, president of the Starved Rock Foundation, stated that the improvements had been needed for a long time. He pointed to Tonti Canyon, which had been closed for years due to poor conditions and an unsafe bridge. A new bridge was recently airlifted into place in three pieces. Klein described the structure as a major upgrade for visitors accessing the canyon trail.
Two main factors complicated the original year-end completion schedule. The first was weather. The year featured a mix of dry spells and heavy rains that kept workers off the trails. Bernardoni observed that temperatures were generally favorable, with only a couple of weeks of extreme heat during the summer.
The second factor was the park's terrain. Starved Rock is filled with native plants and sandstone formations that required workers to move carefully around sensitive areas. Klein acknowledged that the challenging weather and difficult terrain explained why the project was taking slightly longer than planned. He reminded visitors that a project of this scale has not occurred at the park in decades.
The construction has had an effect on visitor numbers. Starved Rock remains on pace to welcome two million visitors in 2026. However, this year is shaping up to be the slowest in 13 years. Bernardoni noted that the trail closures caused disruption for tourists. He also noted that the reduced foot traffic gave workers more space to operate during the typically crowded summer months.
The next major milestone is the announcement of additional trail openings. Park officials plan to share those details before the Thanksgiving holiday. The full project is set to conclude on June 1, 2027.
