hiking in upper red deer drainage

[foothillzman]

Hey guys
planning on doing some hiking in the upper red deer River drainage, and wondering has anyone done any random camping in the area?

Do you need to stick to the Forestry trunk Road, or can you go into the panther River Road and set up? How far do you need to stay away from the lodges in the area?

thanks a tonne
Adam

[McLeod]

The upper Red Deer is mianly in Banff National Park. Most of it is Random camping. You could go up the Panther. Depends what your looking for .

[foothillzman]

Originally Posted by McLeod

The upper Red Deer is mianly in Banff National Park. Most of it is Random camping. You could go up the Panther. Depends what your looking for .

thx man, looking to get off the forestry trunk and random camp in a more peaceful place

[rottie]

Sheep Creek and North Burnt Timber are both in that are as well. Some nice hikes in there as well.

[sillyak]

If you're planning to follow the Panther the main trail crosses the Panther river something like 11 times in the first 5 or so km. Apparently there is a hiker trail somewhere north of the river that only involves one crossing, but we never found it. We hiked to ice lake and camped there. Very nice country.

[Grizzly Adams]

Originally Posted by sillyak

If you're planning to follow the Panther the main trail crosses the Panther river something like 11 times in the first 5 or so km. Apparently there is a hiker trail somewhere north of the river that only involves one crossing, but we never found it. We hiked to ice lake and camped there. Very nice country.

Flood of 2013 destroyed the river route up the Panther, wagon trail as well. Equine Alberta is planning on restoring both . Best way is to cross the river at the new crossing, go upstream a couple of hundred yards, till you come to the steep trail [old road] that goes up the hill, hard to miss , right at the top, go left on a trail that follows the top of the ridge. No river crossing till you get almost to the Gap. That always made a nice loop ride. Dormer Lake trail is apparently toast as well and they're going to fix it as well.
Were up Sheep last week and it's a mess as well, tough going at the upper end, but the illegal ATV use still continues. Pics and license numbers is the answer to that. Good to camp anywhere along there and even a couple of outhouses by the crossing.

Going tomorrow to see if we can get to Sheep Creek from the Panther along the old exploration road


Grizz

[foothillzman]

thanks for the info, really appreciate it! I can't wait.

So it sounds like you can random camp anywhere along the Panther rd or upper red.

can you get up fishing into the panther and sheep or are there gorges that restrict access up that far?
thx a tonne!
Adam

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams

Flood of 2013 destroyed the river route up the Panther, wagon trail as well. Equine Alberta is planning on restoring both . Best way is to cross the river at the new crossing, go upstream a couple of hundred yards, till you come to the steep trail [old road] that goes up the hill, hard to miss , right at the top, go left on a trail that follows the top of the ridge. No river crossing till you get almost to the Gap. That always made a nice loop ride. Dormer Lake trail is apparently toast as well and they're going to fix it as well.
Were up Sheep last week and it's a mess as well, tough going at the upper end, but the illegal ATV use still continues. Pics and license numbers is the answer to that. Good to camp anywhere along there and even a couple of outhouses by the crossing.

Going tomorrow to see if we can get to Sheep Creek from the Panther along the old exploration road


Grizz

[Luckwell]

Originally Posted by foothillzman

thanks for the info, really appreciate it! I can't wait.

So it sounds like you can random camp anywhere along the Panther rd or upper red.

can you get up fishing into the panther and sheep or are there gorges that restrict access up that far?
thx a tonne!
Adam

You will able able to get up both if you dont mind your feet getting a little wet. Both are easy hiking just alot of creek/river crossings. Nothing to deep.