Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area in Illinois, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-26. Check linked official notices before travel.

Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area is a network of fishing waters and managed wetland habitat along US 24 southwest of Peoria, Illinois. Fishing, boating, hunting and wildlife observation share the site. Waterfowl season changes fishing access, and overnight stays are limited to organized youth groups.

Fishing waters within a managed marsh

• Many water bodies: former mining land now supports a freshwater marsh, grassland and shrub habitat.
• Shore or boat fishing: public access areas give anglers different ways to reach the fishery, subject to seasonal restrictions.
• Waterfowl habitat: migrating and resident birds are central to the site's conservation and hunting purposes.

Check the activity season first

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Bring drinking water

Banner Marsh has no potable water. Bring enough for your visit rather than relying on a drinking fountain. Hunting is an established use of the site, so check the activity areas and current hunting arrangements before choosing where to spend the day.

Respect the habitat and other users

Keep pets leashed. Follow posted size and harvest limits at the fishing access areas. Read the site's activity rules before boating, hunting or training a dog; each activity has its own conditions.

Group visits and permits

Register your outing with the office if it includes at least 25 people. Youth parties must provide one responsible adult for every 15 minors. Youth group camping requires advance arrangements through the Rice Lake office; ordinary individual camping is not offered here. Dog training requires a free Rice Lake permit, and field trials require Illinois DNR permission.

US 24 access southwest of Peoria

The site is approximately 25 miles southwest of Peoria on US 24. Its listed address is 19721 North US 24, Canton, IL 61520. The official location and history page gives regional approach directions. Confirm the specific public access area you need rather than treating the office address as every boat ramp.

Nearby protected areas

• Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area: another US 24 destination southwest of Banner Marsh, with a separate signed entrance.
• Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area: on the opposite, eastern side of the Illinois River southwest of Peoria. Check road routing and construction notices; South Lake access is closed for rehabilitation, and North Campground access has intermittent disruptions.

Match the outing to current access

Choose bank fishing for a short visit or use a ramp for a boat-based outing when boat fishing is allowed. Boat motors over 25 horsepower must operate at no-wake speed. Bass, bluegill, crappie and channel catfish are among the fish described in the official fishing guidance. Check posted harvest limits before keeping a catch.

Picnicking, wildlife observation and photography provide alternatives to fishing. Hunting includes waterfowl, dove, upland game and archery deer opportunities under site-specific rules. Contact the office for the requirements of the particular hunt, rather than treating general recreation access as hunting permission.

Ramps, restrooms and picnic areas

The main visitor access areas have parking, boat ramps, restrooms and picnic areas. Shaded picnic tables are available, but there is no drinking-water supply. Camping arrangements are limited to youth groups and do not create a conventional public campground.

Reclaimed ground and wetland habitat

From farming and mining to conservation

The Illinois DNR acquired tracts here during the 1980s after earlier farming and surface coal mining. Those earlier land uses help explain the many water bodies that now characterize Banner Marsh.

Waterfowl, grassland and open water

More than 200 water bodies lie among grassland and shrubland. The mixture supports local and migrating waterfowl as well as the managed fishery. Wildlife observation and seasonal hunting use the same broader landscape, making the timing and location of a visit important.

Contact Banner Marsh

Call 309-647-9184 for access, group arrangements and activity questions. The Illinois DNR site page links to the official park closure list.