2015 Map of Starved Rock

About this map

Starved Rock and its surrounding canyons dominate this portion of the Illinois River valley as it appeared in the mid-2010s. The landscape is defined by the sharp transition between the upland agricultural plains and the deeply incised drainage systems like Higbee Ravine and Illinois Canyon. Along the river, the historic path of the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor runs parallel to the modern waterway, passing industrial sites in Naplate and the western edge of Ottawa. Further south, the Vermillionville Cem marks the site of the Vermilionville settlement near the banks of the Vermilion River. This survey captures the complex topography of the river bluffs, where numerous named features such as Wildcat Canyon and Kaskaskia Canyon cut through the sandstone layers, creating a distinct geological corridor between North Utica and the county seat.