🥾 ActiveWeekend · from Chicago, IL

Canyons, Cliffs & Glacial Waters

Plunge into emerald waters beneath towering canyon walls and scale dramatic cliffsides where ancient glaciers carved unforgettable landscapes.

Day 1 — Devil's Lake State ParkDay 2 — Starved Rock State Park

Day 1 — Devil's Lake State Park

🚗 3 hr 5 min driving📍 5 stops

🌅

Morning

🚗

Drive

Chicago, IL → Devil's Lake State Park

2 hr 40 min8:00 AM → 10:40 AM

Devil's Lake State Park

★ 4.8

Cliff jump into Wisconsin's deepest natural lake surrounded by 500-foot quartzite bluffs and scenic hiking trails.

10:40 AM📍 See location

🍽️

Lunch

🍽️ Lunch11:40 AM

Baraboo Burger Company

A Wisconsin Dells-area burger spot with quality local beef, creative build-your-own options, and an unpretentious atmosphere that fits the outdoor adventure region perfectly.

★ 4.7Hamburger Restaurant📍 Maps →

2 options · tap to switch

☀️

Afternoon

🚗

Drive

Devil's Lake State Park → Mirror Lake State Park

14 min12:40 PM → 12:54 PM

Mirror Lake State Park

★ 4.7

Paddle the spring-fed lake, hike the surrounding pine forest, or find a quiet spot on the sandy beach — Mirror Lake is one of Wisconsin's most scenic and accessible state parks.

12:54 PM📍 See location

🌙

Evening

🚗

Drive

Mirror Lake State Park → Broadway Diner

11 min5:00 PM → 5:11 PM

🍽️ Dinner5:11 PM

Broadway Diner

Indulge in nostalgic Route 66 charm with classic diner fare and retro decor that transports you back to mid-century Americana.

★ 4.7Diner📍 Maps →

3 options · tap to switch

🛏️

Camp Aramoni

Upscale glamping cabins perched above the Baraboo Hills, minutes from Devil's Lake State Park — fire pits, handcrafted beds, and a genuinely forested setting. One of the most thoughtfully designed nature stays in the Midwest.

Day 2 — Starved Rock State Park

🚗 3 hr 31 min driving📍 4 stops

🌅

Morning

🚗

Drive

Devil's Lake State Park → Starved Rock State Park

1 hr 40 min8:00 AM → 9:40 AM

Starved Rock State Park

★ 4.7

Hike among 18 stunning canyons carved by glacial waterfalls and spot bald eagles soaring above the Illinois River.

9:40 AM📍 See location

🍽️

Lunch

The Rootbeer Stand

★ 4.5

A Chesterton, IN roadside institution where the house-made root beer in a frosted mug is the main event. Burgers and hot dogs complete the classic Midwest roadside experience.

10:40 AM📍 See location

☀️

Afternoon

🚗

Drive

Starved Rock State Park → Matthiessen State Park

6 min12:00 PM → 12:06 PM

Matthiessen State Park

★ 4.8

Hike scenic sandstone canyons and cross wooden footbridges over Vermilion River on the main trail loop. Cool off at multiple waterfalls cascading through limestone bluffs while exploring interconnected ravines.

12:06 PM📍 See location

🌙

Evening

🚗

Drive

Matthiessen State Park → Starved Rock Lodge Restaurant

7 min5:00 PM → 5:07 PM

Starved Rock Lodge Restaurant

★ 4.3

Dine with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Illinois River valley while savoring comfort cuisine in a historic 1930s lodge.

5:07 PM📍 See location

🚗

Drive

Starved Rock Lodge Restaurant → Chicago, IL

1 hr 38 min6:07 PM → 7:45 PM

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