By:
Submission
The United States Congress designated Panther Den as a wilderness area in 1990. It now has a total of 1195 acres, 1081 acres is National Forest System and other portion is the Crab Orchard Wilderness. The primary trail system is the River to River Trail. This trail is well marked and has several loops are in the system. Several other trails branch off the River to River Trail and support the main trail system.
Primitive camping is allowed within designated wilderness. There is no fee for primitive camping, however visitors are limited to camping a maximum of 14 continuous days. Camp and wash 150 feet away from lakes and streams. Primitive camping is NOT allowed within designated natural areas or research natural areas (boundaries are marked with yellow posts)
Directions:
Driving Directions to Panther Den Trailhead:
From Carbondale: From Hwy 13 and Giant City Road go south 7 miles to Grassy Road, turn left and go 2.5 miles to Rocky Comfort Road and turn right. Go south 4.5 miles to Panther Den Road, turn left go 1.5 miles to Panther Den Lane, turn left go north to trailhead.
From Interstate-57: take exit 40 (Goreville exit) west take Goreville Road 1 mile to North Lick Creek Road. Turn right, go a quarter mile to Mt. Hebron Road, turn left. Go 2 miles to Robinson Hill Road, turn right on Panther Den Lane and go north to trailhead
We started on the southwest trailhead. It was no problem for our truck, but driving to this location in a car might be a little rough, especially if traveling during the rain season as the road was washed out. The beautiful winding pathway was easy to hike although occasionally slick in a few muddy sections in the lower areas of the trail. Expect great views including a few waterfalls along the wooded hillside during fall and winter and maybe a few small deer or a big buck if you’re lucky. The kids really enjoyed the creek side and could’ve stayed there for hours searching for salamanders and crawfish and for the perfect rock to skip across the crystal clear water. It was very quiet during our visit and I highly recommend this nearly 3 mile round trip hike through the Shawnee National Forest!
I gave one star only because I had to.
So we drove 45 minutes, down dirt and gravel roads, on extremely narrow roads, only to come to the end of a road, which ended at someone's driveway.
Now I'm not sure if you have to offer the Gods a live chicken in order for the portal to open up to this place or what, but there are absolutely no signs, no parking, no trails, no anything here to even come close to pointing you in the direction of where you may be going.
We were extremely disappointed to say the least.
The panthers must have been away on vacation when I visited. Still neat though.
Very cool hike, about a 3 mile hike with 300’ of elevation. Great bluff section and creek area 👍
Great little hike. If you want to complete the loop make sure to download the All Trails app. It is a little difficult to find where the trail loops. You have to go up a hill to find the loop. The end of the loop is not marked.
