Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area

Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area offers a **free boat ramp with no horsepower restrictions**, making it an accessible launch point for kayakers, canoeists, and motorboaters. Located adjacent to Route 26 in Lacon, the Marshall Unit encompasses 3,000 acres and includes amenities such as a small campground, fishing channel, hiking trails, and area headquarters. The ramp provides direct access to the Illinois River, a major waterway suitable for various paddling and boating activities.

The Illinois River at this location is a substantial waterway with an average flow of approximately 27,210 cubic feet per second and moderate current of 4.3 feet per second. Paddlers should be aware that the river features adjacent backwater lakes and a half-mile man-made fishing channel. However, backwater areas can become shallow and nearly impassable during low water periods, even for small craft like paddleboats—conditions worth checking before trips. Fishing is popular throughout the area, and the site serves as a staging point for exploring this 273-mile river system.