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Prairie River Lake

Burr Oak · Sherman, Michigan — St. Joseph County.

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139Surface acres
1Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 155637493).

Location & fast facts

Where Prairie River Lake is in Michigan

The red circle marks Prairie River Lake.

Fast facts

About Prairie River Lake

  • County: St. Joseph
  • Shore towns: Burr Oak, Sherman
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 125 mi from Detroit and 78 mi from Grand Rapids and 338 mi from Marquette, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline.

Fishing in Michigan

Official Michigan DNR pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Paddling. 1 public access site, no trailer ramp listed
  • Camping. 6 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • Non-native/invasive species. Zebra mussel recorded. Clean, drain and dry your boat and gear.
  • Cold water. Water stays cold well into late spring and turns cold again in fall. Wear a life jacket when paddling in the shoulder seasons.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Official lake data (Michigan DNR)

57 ftMaximum depth

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Institute for Fisheries Research inland lake deepest-point data (lake 78-128). Lake depth maps are on the DNR inland lake maps page.

Lake map

Prairie River Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Prairie River Lake boating access site (Boat launch)1¼ mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch
  1. 1Prairie River Lake boating access site
    Boat launch · Burr Oak

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 155637493), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: Michigan DNR boating access sites. Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Prairie River Lake

We found 6 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Prairie River Lake, 3 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

All campgrounds & RV parks in Michigan

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (41.8588, -85.4026). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Prairie River Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Prairie River Lake

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in ET (America/Detroit), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    1 public access site listed, 1 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Prairie River Lake boating access siteBurr OakMichigan DNRBoat launch · Yes ramp——Boating41.8547, -85.4129

    Michigan DNR boating access sites

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Non-native/invasive species

    Reported on or near Prairie River Lake

    Clean, Drain, Dry. Remove plants and mud, drain all water, and dry your boat, trailer and gear before moving to another water.

    USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database

    USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Prairie River Lake

    How big is Prairie River Lake?

    Prairie River Lake covers about 139 acres in Burr Oak and Sherman, Michigan (St. Joseph County).

    How deep is Prairie River Lake?

    The maximum recorded depth is 57 feet, according to the Michigan DNR stocking and lake depth records.

    Is there a public boat launch on Prairie River Lake?

    No trailer ramp is listed, but there is 1 public access site for car-top boats or shore access.

    Are there campgrounds near Prairie River Lake?

    Yes. We list 6 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 3 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Prairie River Lake?

    Prairie River Lake touches Burr Oak and Sherman in St. Joseph County, Michigan.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Prairie River Lake? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Michigan lakes & ponds · All waters in Burr Oak