Lover’s Leap Trail Leads To Incredible View Of Illinois Park

Don't let the falling Illinois temperatures stop you from enjoying all the natural beauty it has to offer.

I personally enjoy camping but only when the temps start to fall. Camping and hiking in June, July, or August is for the birds, literally. October and November are easily my favorite months to get out and enjoy nature. The leaves are changing, you can wear protective clothing without getting too hot, and most importantly, most of the bugs have died.

We've reached that great point of the year and you should celebrate by exploring Starved Rock State Park's Lover's Leap trail.

Starved Rock State Park is located by North Utica, Illinois and is one of the crown jewels of Illinois when it comes to natural beauty. The park is gorgeous year-round, but it especially pops during the fall months when the leaves are changing.

The 1.8 mile Lover's Leap Trail is rated as a moderate hike by the website AllTrails.com. It is of the Out & Back variety with an elevation gain of about 250 feet.

Some of the elevation is along trails, but there are some stairs that will need to be climbed.

The juice (the view) is definitely worth the squeeze (the climb) however. Once you reach the top you'll be rewarded with a boardwalk to the clouds. A scenic overlook that you will have to spend some time with to fully appreciate.

Along the way you'll encounter many other natural features like waterfalls.

There are multiple spots you'll want to stop and enjoy the view. Don't forget to take some social media pictures.

Dogs are allowed on leashes, as long as they're alright climbing stairs, they should be fine.