Eagle Watching on the Mississippi Flyway

Eagle Watching on the Mississippi Flyway

It’s eagle watching season. As the weather becomes colder and bald eagles migrate south down the Mississippi Flyway, people travel to those same places in hopes of catching a glimpse of the national bird. Some of the best places to eagle watch are near locks and dams along the Mississippi River, where water continues to run and eagles can feed on fish

Cities all along the Mississippi River embrace eagle season, celebrating with festivals and welcoming visitors. Read more

3 Great Places in Illinois for Eagle Watching

3 Great Places in Illinois for Eagle Watching

Once on the Endangered Species List, the American Bald Eagle has rebounded and is once again flourishing in the United States. In Illinois the peak season to catch glimpses of eagles is late December through early March. Since eagles eat primarily fish, they migrate south as rivers freeze, searching for free-flowing water. Dams along the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers are common areas to spot them. Here are some of the best places in Illinois for eagle watching: Read more

Hiking Starved Rock State Park in the Winter

Hiking Starved Rock State Park in the Winter

I’ve been to Starved Rock State Park in Utica, Illinois, in every season, each season with a beauty of its own.  Spring brings the promise of warm summer days, life bursting forth again after dormancy, the bright green of new leaves on trees, tiny wildflowers poking through the ground, the scent of spring in the air.  In the summer, a canopy of shade cools, the sight and sound of rushing waterfalls mesmerize, and coneflower and black-eyed Susan add bursts of color to the green foliage.  In the fall, the most popular time to visit, leaves turn to shades of crimson and amber, leaves that have already fallen crunch under your feet with every step you take.  My favorite time of year to visit, though, is winter.

woods

A feeling of stillness envelopes the winter woods as you hike some of the 13 miles of snow blanketed trails, the shining sun warming the brisk air enough to keep you comfortable.

TrailClimb to the tops of sandstone bluffs to take in breathtaking views of canyons with waterfalls of solid ice, as still as if frozen in time, and the wide Illinois River that flows adjacent to the park, eagles soaring overhead, diving into the water to catch their next meal, roosting in nearby trees.

Eagle_in_flightThen hike down to the bottoms of the canyons—there are 18 of them within a four mile area—and walk on the frozen streams to see the waterfalls up close.

waterfallWhen you’re ready to warm up, head to the rustic Starved Rock Lodge, built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps and now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, where you can relax in front of the two-sided fireplace in the Great Hall.

FireplaceEnjoy a meal in the dining room, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Dining_roomOr choose to dine in the casual Back Door Lounge.

Back_Door_Lounge

I had the Chief Pontiac sandwich, shaved prime rib and smoked cheddar on Focaccia bread with barbecue cilantro sauce, served with homemade chips.  it tasted as good as the description sounded.

Sandwich

If you need something a little warmer to wear when you go back outside, pick up a colorful scarf, hat or sweater in the gift shop.

gift_shopBe sure to stop in the visitor center while you’re in the park, too, where you can get information on park activities and learn the history of the park, about the Native Americans who inhabited the area and explorers Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet.

dioramaYou can purchase a souvenir or snack at the Trailheads Concessions in the visitor center, too, like fresh fudge made right there.  The orange-chocolate flavor was delicious.

fudgeNo matter in which season you choose to visit Starved Rock State Park, you’ll find natural beauty in surroundings unlike any other park in Illinois.

Starved Rock State Park, less than 100 miles from Chicago, is a popular day trip for Illinoisans, but you may want to make a weekend of it.  Stay in one of Starved Rock Lodge’s 69 guest rooms or in a cabin, some of which have fireplaces.  (Saturday night stays require a two night booking.)  Check the Starved Rock Lodge and Conference Center web site for details.

Thank you for reading Midwest Wanderer.  If you enjoyed this post, click on the Subscribe2 button to the left to be notified whenever another post is published.  (Be sure to click the link when you get the e-mail asking you to confirm.)  Visit the Midwest Wanderer Facebook Page, and check out my Examiner.com page, too, where I’ve had over 80 articles published.