Red Deer River in Alberta

Trip Overview

The Red Deer River, also known as the "Big Red" is one of the most underrated and unknown white water rivers in western Canada. It has held national canoe and festivals through the years. It is a great trip for rafters, kayakers and canoeists. Places of interest: Sbend for its numerours surfing areas with little or no traffic. Big Rock for the shear drop (plus a nice place to surf if you have a 4 in the front of the raft, the trick is to pile everyone in the front and stick it right in there) The nationals are great for a shear 1/4km of terror and the other numerous ledges and holes along the river.

If you are rafting, its best to take a paddle raft and leave the rowing frame at home. Except for the last 2weeks of June and the first 2 weeks of July where soloing on a raft is a thrill ride in itself.

Kayakers and canoeists might as wells just camp at Sbend and stay there the whole time, you wont want to leave.

Best place to put in is at mountain aire lodge and take out at cache hill. There is plenty of free camping but you are going to have to bring your own water

Directions:

#2 highway, go past olds to sundre, go past sundre up to coal camp road the rest is easy, find a put in and giv'r