Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area

Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area is a large protected region in Illinois featuring ravines, bluffs, bottomland lakes, and forested areas across 6,000 acres. The terrain varies widely, with wetlands, islands, and upland woods creating diverse habitats for wildlife throughout the space.

Illinois purchased the original land in 1925 and gradually expanded it to protect both forests and water environments. These incremental additions shaped the area into the diverse protected space it is today.

Hunters and anglers gather here regularly, keeping time-honored traditions alive in a landscape designed for both activities. The morning permit drawings create a seasonal rhythm that draws people back year after year.

The main entrance at Illinois Route 26 near Lacon provides access to camping, boat ramps, and fishing areas throughout the site. A 3.5-mile trail system allows visitors of different abilities to explore and move through the terrain comfortably.

The area preserves hardwood forests of oak, hickory, and walnut trees that few visitors expect to find so well protected. Wetland sections provide nesting and feeding grounds for great blue herons and bald eagles that draw bird watchers year-round.