The Bear Den, peaceful and comfortable, perfect for wildlife and hummingbird watching.

Photo gallery for The Bear Den, peaceful and comfortable, perfect for wildlife and hummingbird watching.

A two-story building with a balcony, a sliding glass door entrance, and a small outdoor seating area with plastic chairs.
A living room with a round wooden table, a sofa, a fireplace, and mounted animal heads on the wall.
A bathroom with a large bathtub, a wooden bench, a chair, and a small table.
A room with a large window divided into multiple panes, offering a view of a grassy yard with trees and a wooden fence.
A room with a bed, a dresser, and a deer head mounted on the wall.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Made for relaxation
    Top-rated for comfort — guests feel right at home here.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Walk to Starved Rock State Park

Popular amenities

  • Spa pool on site
  • Balcony
  • Air-conditioning
  • Refrigerator
  • Internet
  • Washing machine

Explore the area

View map
UTICA, IL
  • Place, Starved Rock State Park
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Starved Rock State Park
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Matthiessen State Park
    ‪9 min walk‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Queen Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden

Add dates for prices

Similar properties

Exterior
Charming woodland villa located in a secured resort across from Starved Rock
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  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi
9.6 out of 10, Exceptional, (78 reviews)
Charming woodland villa located in a secured resort across from Starved Rock

About the area

Utica

Utica is home to this villa. Starved Rock State Park and Starved Rock State Park reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Grand Bear Falls Indoor Water Park and Mix's Trading Post. Spend some time exploring the area's activities, including wildlife walks, birdwatching and power boating.
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Map
UTICA, IL

What's nearby

  • Starved Rock State Park - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Starved Rock State Park - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Matthiessen State Park - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Grand Bear Falls Indoor Water Park - 1 min drive - 0.4 km
  • Mix's Trading Post - 2 min drive - 2.8 km

Getting around

  • Mendota Station - 27 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Love's Travel Stop - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Love's Travel Stop - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Casey's General Store - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪The Rootbeer Stand - ‬8 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Bear Den Peaceful and Comfortable Animal and Hummingbird Viewing pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at The Bear Den Peaceful and Comfortable Animal and Hummingbird Viewing?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at The Bear Den Peaceful and Comfortable Animal and Hummingbird Viewing?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Bear Den Peaceful and Comfortable Animal and Hummingbird Viewing?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The Bear Den Peaceful and Comfortable Animal and Hummingbird Viewing located?

Situated in Utica, this villa is steps away from Starved Rock State Park and Starved Rock State Park. Grand Bear Falls Indoor Water Park and Matthiessen State Park are also within 10 minutes.

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 135 out of 147 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 8 out of 147 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 147 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 147 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 147 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Staff & service

9.8/10

Amenities

9.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place to stay and fun area to be in!
Stayed 76 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place for a weekend trip. Well equipped kitchen and dining area, and the rooms are quite spacious. Coffee machine is available and the complimentary muffins and bananas from the host were a nice surprise. It also has a backyard area to enjoy. Starved Rock State Park is just a short drive away! Overall, would recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We rented this for a ladies hiking weekend. It was perfect for us.The location is excellent and close to the parks & Utica.The only things that could have made it better are a hot tub and a fire pit.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We felt very comfortable and at home. Highly recommend!
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The location was perfect for hiking at Starved Rock. The rental was nice and plenty large for four adults. I would consider using this property in the future.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Was a good time away
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The place was beautiful well equipped and the host was great! Would definitely recommend and return with my kids as this was an adult adventure this time.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This was the perfect place to recharge between hikes. Spacious, clean, stocked kitchen and there wasn’t anything else we needed the host hadn’t thought of!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Place to Stay

Great Place to Stay when visiting Starved Rock
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Clean, comfortable, quiet!Amenities were much appreciated. We had a great stay!!
Stayed 32 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Really enjoyed my stay! Great host and property.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Yes, Mark is a great host!!
Stayed 28 nights in Jan 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great trip for the family

Nice and clean, close to parks and great hiking
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Our stay was amazi
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
It was wonderful! This was our 2nd stay and we will come back again and again. This villa is beautiful and super, super clean. Mark, thank you so much for the muffins and fruit. We felt right at home. Peaceful and cozy. I highly recommend this villa to anyone looking for an alternative to stuffy hotel rooms AND the fact it is a much better value. Thanks again!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place to stay

The place is very nice inside. Very well stocked with everything you need to cook and feel like your at home
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Weekend getaway

Great place to stay! It was very clean and comfortable. It was in a great location for going to Starved Rock state park.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

perfect weekend

It was the perfect place to hike and stay!!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing stay

Cozy cabin, very spacious! Kitchen worked wonderfully and we were very close to the state park
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Comfortable, clean accommodations

Very clean, comfortable and centrally located accommodation to local attractions. Host was very responsive and thoughtful with treats and water provided for our stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a great stay for the second time now at this cozy property in the beautiful Starved Rock state park area of Illinois. Mark was easy to work with and everything went smoothly.
Stayed 8 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Amazing property. Will be staying again.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fun weekend getaway

Quiet and super clean. Highly recommended!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Well kept and full of amenities! Great place to stay with thoughtful preparations!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice place

Plenty of room and nicely decorated
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023
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