Starved Rock, Lover's Leap, Eagles Cliff, Wildcat and French Canyon

Hiking days are fun days!

It was a little drizzly today, bringing the number of hikers to 26 people. We left the Lodge and headed to Starved Rock, into French Canyon, up Jacob's Ladder and onto Lover' s Leap and then Eagle's Cliff.  To finish off the hike we went into Wildcat Canyon and then back to the Lodge via the Pontiac Canyon trail. Excellent.

26 hikers set out on this drizzly day.

22 steps, an incline and then 66 stairs to the top of Starved Rock.

Joe is telling the group about when the steps were put in.  His mother was here when the CCC workers were putting in the steps. 

View of Lover's Leap from the Top of Starved Rock

View of the Locks from the top of Starved Rock

No eagles today.  Leopold Island

Close up of Leopold Island

Flags at Half Staff through Wednesday, November 23rd to Honor Private First Class Tyler R. Iubelt

View of the Lodge from Starved Rock

View of the Lower Park picnic area from the top of Starved Rock

French Canyon

Most of the Walkers Club today (some didn't come in the canyon)

Regina and her grandkids coming out of French Canyon

A bridge across the stream from French Canyon.  Jacob's Ladder is coming up.

View of Devil's Nose in the distance

Barge going through the locks

View of a barge from Lovers Leap

View looking East from Eagles Cliff. "Best View in the Park"

Foggy view of the Illinois River from Eagles Cliff

 

We generally don't go to the top of Beehive Overlook.  Today we had some extra time.  Not much of a view with all the Pine trees.

Wildcat Canyon Waterfall from the floor of the canyon

Wildcat Canyon from the East Overlook, looking down into the Canyon

Small waterfall on top of Wildcat Canyon

Coming back via the Pontiac Canyon trail

New directional signs, that hopefully won't get overgrown

Only deer we saw today.  They were scarce today, especially with the hunting last week.

Snow will be here soon to keep this snowman healthy.

Some of the hikers enjoying a cool drink or a hot cup of coffee/hot chocolate in the Cafe after the hike.

Inspirational sign in the Cafe. They change the sign about once a week.

I will leave you with this: Be thankful for your entire family. Be thankful for what you will have.  Be grateful for those difficult times that made you who you are.  Be thankful for your friends that hike with you in the rain.