Panthertown Valley near Cashiers in western North Carolina has been called the Yosemite of the East. Even its most ardent supporters will acknowledge that’s a bit of a stretch. Which isn’t to say it’s not a memorable place to explore.
At just 6,311 acres, this pocket of the Nantahala National Forest is full of great views, numerous waterfalls, and mountain streams noted for their trout. It also has 30 miles of trail to help you see it all. It may not be Yellowstone; rather, it’s a microcosm of what Yellowstone is known for. It’s also one of the most ecologically diverse areas of the country.
How diverse?
On Saturday, you’ll have a chance to find out. For the past month or so the Friends of Panthertown have been conducting a Biolblitz, an effort to catalogue as much of the valley’s flora, fauna and geology as possible. It’s the first such effort ever, and the results will be shared at the Bioblitz Final Celebration Saturday in Cashiers from 2-5 p.m.
Hearing about Panthertown’s naturally occurring virtues is great; seeing them is even better. That’s why, as part of my day job with the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, I’ll be leading 5-mile hikes into the valley on both Saturday and Sunday, commencing both days at 9 a.m. from the Salt Rock Gap trailhead. The hikes:
- Saturday’s hike: Panthertown Valley Trail to Mac’s Gap Loop, 5.4 miles. This hike starts with a pleasant downhill, then includes a loop taking in the popular Schoolhouse Falls and a well-earned view from atop Little Green Mountain. Lots of variety on this hike, which you can check out here on AllTrails. Find details on the hike and sign up (spots are limited) here.
- Sunday’s hike: Blackrock Mountain, Granny Burrell Falls, Frolictown Falls and Wilderness Falls, 5.5 miles. We hike out to Blackrock Mountain, then drop down hike to three waterfalls before returning to the trailhead. Find details and sign up (spots are limited) here. Piece together these two hikes on AllTrails — this one and this one — and you’ll have a good idea of the hike.
Are you a backpacker? We’ve got you covered, too.
- Weekend backpack trip: Get both hikes AND a night or two of camping in the valley. We meet at 5 p.m. Friday, May 15, at the Salt Rock Gap Trailhead, then hike a mile downhill to camp for the weekend. After setting up and eating dinner, we’ll take a short hike to the Salt Rock Overlook to enjoy sunset. Saturday and Sunday we do the hikes listed above. You can also join us Saturday morning, if you like. Find details and sign up (spots are limited) here.
Both day hikes should end around 12:30 p.m.. On Saturday, that’s to allow time to get into Cashiers by 2 p.m. for the Biolblitz festivities, on Sunday that’s to give folks time to drive home in daylight.
Panthertown Valley is a must-explore for the adventurous Southeasterner. This is the perfect weekend to mark it off your list.