Eagle Cliff Overlook - Starved Rock State Park
Starved Rock State Park (SRSP) is a world apart from anything else in Illinois! Amazing, seasonal waterfalls are active in the spring and after heavy rains. There are 13 miles of trails to explore and the Illinois River offers fishing, boating, extraordinary views and great places to relax. From December through February bald eagles can be viewed at the park, either fishing below the Starved Rock Dam where turbulent waters stay unfrozen during the cold winter months or roosting on the Leopold or Plum Island to the west of the dam. SRSP is free to visitors and open daily from 7:00 AM to sunset year around although the Visitors Center is closed on all Federal and State of Illinois holidays from November through February.
The various hikes into the canyons are great and offer visitors a chance to get away from the more crowded sections of what can at times be a very crowded park. However, the various river overlooks offer stunning views of the Illinois River and the cliffs and canyons that are unlike anything else in the area. From Eagle Cliff Overlook you can see Leopold and Plum Islands to the west which is where bald eagles call home in the winter. You also have a great view of the 125 high cliffs that form Starved Rock to the west. Looking north you can see the Starved Rock Lock and Dam which help boat traffic navigate the Illinois River from Lake Michigan to/from the Mississippi River. And looking east you can see several miles of the Illinois River valley.
The view looking east from Eagle Cliff Overlook
The view looking northwest from Eagle Cliff Overlook
Logging Requirement - Post a photo at the Eagle Cliff Overlook that includes and a piece of paper with your caching name and date on it. You can be in the photo if you want but you don't have to be. Instead include a personal item such as your gps, a trackable, or some other signature item. You must actually visit the coordinates to get credit for finding this cache. As the name Eagle Cliff Overlook implies the posted coordinates are 125 feet of elevation above the parking coordinates so be prepared for a hike of about 1 mile each way including paved and unpaved sections as well as boardwalks and stairs. The terrain rating is based on dry conditions so if the weather is wet or snowing reaching Eagle Cliff Overlook can become significantly more difficult. Plan on an hour to complete the round trip hike, longer if you take any spur trails or stop to enjoy the views, of which there are many.
For additional details about Starved Rock State Park consult the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website.
Link to CIGA Facebook group
Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.