Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area

Reserve Your Campsite

There are a variety of camping opportunities at JEPC. Prairie Lake Campground has 84 sites—19 are full hookup sites with sewer drops and water at the sites. The other sites all have electricity. There are also nine rent-a-cabins located in the campground. The cabins are located on the shore of Prairie Lake. The cabins have two rooms, with the back room containing two bunk bed frames. The front room has a double bed frame, a drop-down table, and a couple of chairs. There are bed frames; however, you must bring your own mattress and bedding (no cooking or smoking inside the cabins). A concrete patio outside each cabin has a grill/fire pit and table. All cabins have electricity, ceiling fans, and a 1000-watt heater.

Hiking

Off-trail hiking is available from parking areas positioned off public roads throughout the site. Because unmarked, open wells may exist in the area, caution must be used by individuals visiting JEPC.

A 3-mile hiking and jogging trail opened fall of 1999 around the lake shore at Gridley Lake. Seventeen miles of new hiking and mountain bike trail opened in 2001 around Prairie Lake. Seven more miles of mountain bike/hiking were opened in 2003 around Drake Lake and connecting to the Prairie Lake trail. There are 26 miles of equestrian trails in three loops. The trails have a lot of elevation changes.

Fishing, Boating, Canoeing

Sport fishing opportunities are available at JEPC at Gridley Lake (25 acres, opened 1998) Prairie Lake (210 acres, opened 2002) and Drake Lake (35 acres, opened in 2003). Several ponds within the site also have been renovated. Stream fishes include largemouth bass, bluegill and green sunfish, along with shiners, chubs and minnows. In addition, Prairie Lake is stocked with muskie.

Trolling motor and canoe access are allowed at Gridley and Drake Lakes. Prairie Lake has unlimited horsepower with a no-wake zone for the entire lake. Sail boats are allowed.

​Physical Accessibility at Jim Edgar Panther Creek

• Parking lots are oiled and chipped, but there are accessible parking spaces at the office, check station, both campgrounds, group campgrounds, all three lakes, the field trial barn, and the day-use area. All parking spots are connected to concrete sidewalks.
• There is a wheelchair ramp at the park office.
• Motorized devices are only allowed with prior approval from the park superintendent.
• There are two accessible boat ramps and fishing piers located at Prairie Lake Day Use Area and Gridley Lake Day Use Area. Fishing piers are made of wood and can be slippery if wet or icy and are approximately 100' from the parking lot. Prairie Lake is located 1 mile west of our main entrance on the south side of County Highway 11. Gridley Lake is located on Gridley Road, 4.5 miles south of the main office.