Banner sits between Rice Lake and Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Areas, both of which offer a variety of outdoor recreation activities, and is located along Copperas Creek. The walls of a historic lock on the Illinois River, near the mouth of Copperas Creek, can still be seen at the end of Dike Road, just a 5-minute drive from Banner. This is an excellent location for eagle watching during the winter months and Dike Road provides sportsman’s access to a public boat launch and deer and waterfowl hunting in the Copperas Creek Unit of Rice Lake. Banner also offers two restaurants/bars for the hungry or thirsty traveler.