Rend Lake lures RV campers with its 13,000-acre reservoir brimming with bass and walleye. Campers launch kayaks and bass boats from North Marcum Day Use Area or South Sandusky Day Use. These parks position you amid southern Illinois' prime fishing grounds and hiking trails.
Rend Lake dominates southern Illinois as the state's largest reservoir, created in 1973 across Franklin and Jefferson counties. Fishermen chase trophy bass near the Rend Lake Dam, while boaters zip across open waters from Gun Creek Marina. Families explore 13 miles of shoreline trails in Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area, spotting bald eagles overhead.
North Marcum Day Use Area fits groups and families with showers, water hookups, pet-friendly sites, and group areas. South Sandusky Day Use appeals to boaters needing a dump station, plus showers and pet-friendly group sites. Both parks anchor your trip to lake adventures, just off Illinois Route 37.
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Rend Lake excels in fishing and boating on its 13,000-acre waters. Anglers target bass, crappie, and walleye in deep channels near the dam. The reservoir hosts sailing regattas and draws birdwatchers to eagle nests along the shore.
Find them at North Marcum Day Use Area and South Sandusky Day Use. North Marcum sits on the north shore with showers and water hookups. South Sandusky offers a dump station on the south side, both pet-friendly and near Route 37.
Yes, both North Marcum Day Use Area and South Sandusky Day Use allow pets. Keep leashes handy on trails around the lake. These sites provide space for dogs to roam amid the shoreline scenery.