Level: Beginner
Length: 24 mi (38.6 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Network
Elevation: -
Total: 8 riders
Mountain Biking Jim Edgar Panther Creek
#82 of 128 mountain bike trails in Illinois
Tweny four miles of mountain bike trail are available consisting of two loops and a connecting trail. The Prairie Lake loop is 17 miles, the Drake Lake loop is 5 miles, and 2 miles of trail connect the two loops. Trails are open noon to dusk April 16 - May 15 and sunrise until sunset May 16 - October 3. November 1 - April 15 trail are closed to mountain bikes but are available for hikers. The rolling scenic trail travereses forests and grasslanda and has many overlooks along the lake. From http://www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/PARKS/R4/jepc.htm#Biking.
First added by TrailAPI on Oct 29, 2013. Last updated Apr 28, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
- Drinking water: unknown
- Lift service: unknown
- Night riding: unknown
- Pump track: unknown
- Restrooms: unknown
- Fat bike grooming: unknown
- E-bikes allowed: unknown
- Fee required: unknown
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Located in Cass County 25 miles northwest of Springfield off State Illinois Route 125, 10 miles northeast of Virginia, 10 miles west of Petersburg and New Salem State Historic Site, and 10 miles northwest of Ashland.
Access JEPC from Interstate 72 by taking the Ashland/Jim Edgar Panther Creek exit at State Route 123 and traveling north through Ashland to State Route 125 then west to Newmansville Road.
Travelers on Interstate 55 have easy access to JEPC by taking the Sherman exit to Veterans Parkway then west on 97 to the intersection with 125. Continue west on 125 through Pleasant Plains and past Ashland. Just west of Ashland turn north on Newmansville Road and follow the signs.
Tried to ride this twice and ended up spending twice the amount of time fixing flats. Tubeless is a must!!! It's a work out but the trail is covered with thorns and debris from the brush hog. Not well maintained and some of the signs are confusing which direction to go.
| ThankI gave this trail at Drake Lake in Jim Edgar Panther Creek park a low rating do to it's poor maintenance and lack of true single track. This trail doesn't appear to have had a bike on it in years. The interesting thing is that it has unbelievable potential. 4.5 miles of very wide trail (4-5 foot mowed) it was muddy so I couldn't get up to speed, huge climb up the back side of a dam to finish it up. There are thousands of acres here that could become one of the best trail systems in the midwest. The facilities are the best your and my money could buy due to the fact that this is a state owned park! Please someone help this place, it could be awesome!!! If CILTA took this place over it would be epic.
| Thank