Updated July 2026
French Canyon Falls
A seasonal waterfall in the St. Peter sandstone of French Canyon, the closest canyon to Starved Rock's visitor center at about 0.4 miles. Note that the French Canyon access has been subject to trail-construction closures beginning in 2026.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Starved Rock State Park (Illinois DNR) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
Frequently Asked Questions
French Canyon Falls drops about 45 feet. That makes it the 457th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 34% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
The French Canyon Trail reaches it about 0.8 miles (out-and-back), rated easy. The nearest town is Oglesby. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Starved Rock State Park (Illinois DNR) for closures and current conditions.
Spring (after rain or snowmelt). Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
More Illinois waterfalls
- Burden Falls · 100 ft
- Cascade Falls (Matthiessen State Park) · 45 ft
- Ferne Clyffe Falls (Big Rocky Hollow) · 100 ft
- Ferne Clyffe Falls · 100 ft
- Jackson Falls
- LaSalle Canyon Falls · 25 ft
- Ottawa Canyon Falls · 45 ft
- St. Louis Canyon Falls · 40 ft
Sources
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