Franklin County: Rend Lake, Nature and History

Franklin County combines expansive waterscapes with hiking trails, local history and unusual museum experiences. Rend Lake is the defining feature, with nearly 19,000 acres of water and 162 miles of shoreline. Those planning a trip with varied interests can spend days by the water, observing nature, staying active and exploring the region’s culture.

Rend Lake for Active and Relaxing Days

Rend Lake offers more than 21 miles of paved multi-use trails for hiking and cycling. Six water trails provide another way to experience the landscape actively. Each of these trails can be reached via a boat-ramp access road. For a day at the beach, two public swimming areas are available: South Sandusky Beach and North Marcum Beach.

The Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area covers 3,300 acres, and three-quarters of its perimeter borders Rend Lake’s shoreline. It offers opportunities for water sports, picnics and hiking. For visitors who want to combine a nature-focused trip with a stay in a holiday home, this combination offers different focal points without requiring every day of the trip to be the same. The area also has 243 campsites with electrical hookups and sanitary facilities.

Nature, Fishing and Other Outdoor Experiences

The Rend Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area encompasses 3,000 acres of impounded water in subimpoundments managed primarily for waterfowl. Approximately 5,000 acres of this area are managed as a waterfowl refuge. Fishing is possible there for most of the year; the refuge area is closed during periods of waterfowl use. Visitors who want to take these special conditions into account should include their planned nature and fishing destinations in their daily itinerary.

The Blackberry Nature Trail was extended from 0.75 to 2 miles by adding the Pine Trail and Gobbler Trail loops. For a different kind of active experience, the Rend Lake Shooting Complex, with trap, skeet, 5-stand and sporting clays, and the North Marcum Archery Complex are available. Jackie Branch Recreation Area offers an ADA-accessible fishing pier and an ADA-accessible kayak launch. Rend Lake Golf Course is also part of the region’s offerings, with a lighted driving range and a pro shop.

History and Local Discoveries

Franklin County can be discovered through more than just its landscapes. The 1905 Franklin County Jail Museum was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. It displays memorabilia connected with George Harrison’s first trip to the United States. It also contains the actual cells where Charlie Birger was held, as well as a replica of the gallows and rope used for his execution.

At the West Franklin County Museum, housed in an old school building, artifacts, memorabilia and hundreds of photographs tell the story of life and the people in the early days of Franklin County. Silkwood Inn was built in 1827 along the Shawneetown-Kaskaskia-St. Louis Trail. The Silkwood Inn Museum displays furnishings and artifacts from the 19th century. Another historic address is the 1910 Franklin County Garage & Auto Museum, housed in a restored 1910 Ford garage.

Planning Your Trip Around Your Interests

For a holiday apartment in Franklin County, you can choose to focus on water, trails, nature, sports or history. Rend Lake Golf Course, the nature preserves and the museums represent different travel interests. Pheasant Hollow Winery is located on five acres of woodland on the eastern side of Rend Lake and offers wine tastings as well as more than 16 different wines from Southern Illinois. Benton also hosts the annual Rend Lake Water Festival.

Franklin County is accessible via Interstate 57, which connects to Interstate 64 and Interstate 24. To compare other places within the broader selection, see West Frankfort, Coles, Piatt, De Witt, Edgar, Cook, Lee County and Whiteside County. This allows you to tailor your accommodation search to the experiences that will make the biggest difference to your trip.

For the broader travel overview: Illinois.