Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area
Is your pup ready for their next adventure? Then make your way over to Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area. This gorgeous park sprawls across a whopping 6,000 acres! But it’s not all land. About half of this park is made up of various bodies of water. It’s the pawfect place for some furrific exploring!
Since it is so large, Marshall State Fish and Wildlife
Area is divided into three units. Marshall Unit is the main section. It sits
east of the Illinois River and is home to the park's headquarters. Here you will find a boat ramp and pawsome places to fish. The waters are full of bluegill,
crappie, bullhead and channel catfish. So cast away! The Marshall Unit also has
a small campground. Most importantly, this area has a 3.5 mile hiking trail.
Your four legged buddy will be in heaven as they follow this trail and discover
the bottomland lakes, islands, sloughs, and bluffs. Sounds puptastic!
The Spring Beach Unit is also worth checking out. It’s
half the size of the Marshall Unit, but it has a furrific picnic area. Bring a
sandwich along and enjoy a leisurely lunch with your pup. You can also fish or
hunt in this unit. Follow the hiking trails through upland forest and river
bottom habitats. The Sparland Unit is the smallest of the three. It’s mostly
used for waterfowl hunting. If you have a sporting breed, put them to work and
flush out some birds. They’ll love the chance to put their skills to the test!
Before leaving home, grab some clean up bags. While you are out and about in the park, be sure to pick up after your beloved pet. Also, have plenty of drinking water on hand, your pal is bound to get thirsty during their visit. This is one place your dog will want to visit again and again!
