Rend Lake

The Rend Lake Visitor Center area provides boat ramp access to Rend Lake, a major recreational water body located in southern Illinois near Benton in Franklin County. This non-reservable access point is part of the larger Rend Lake recreation area managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Paddlers and boaters can use this facility to launch kayaks, canoes, and other boats onto the lake.

Rend Lake offers multiple access points with developed facilities, including several launch areas with accessible 20-foot fishing docks featuring textured aluminum surfaces at locations such as Bonnie South, Waltonville Dam, Bluegill Hole, and Nason South. The lake is known as a wildlife and recreational haven, making it suitable for kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and general boating. If you plan to camp nearby, three reservable campgrounds are within 10 miles: South Sandusky, North Sandusky, and South Marcum Campgrounds.

For specific details about current facility conditions, hours of operation, amenities, and any fees, contact the Rend Lake Visitor Center or check with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources before your visit.

This recreation area is part of Rend Lake