Rend Lake

The Rend Lake Visitor Center provides boat ramp access to Rend Lake, a significant recreational destination in southern Illinois near Benton in Franklin County. This non-reservable access point serves as a gateway to the lake's 18,500+ acres of water. The area is part of the Rend Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area and offers opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, and motorized boating across a large, scenic impoundment popular with anglers and recreational paddlers alike.

Rend Lake features multiple well-developed access areas with several equipped with accessible 20-foot fishing docks and boat ramps, including nearby launches at Bonnie South, Waltonville Dam, Bluegill Hole, and Nason South. These facilities make launching straightforward for most watercraft. For extended trips, three reservable campgrounds are located within 10 miles—South Sandusky, South Marcum, and North Sandusky—providing convenient overnight options for paddlers planning multi-day outings. Visit the interactive Rend Lake guide to compare launch locations, check wind conditions, and identify access points near your desired paddling area.

This recreation area is part of Rend Lake