Georgia Natural Wonder #85 - Panther Creek Falls – Cohutta Wilderness. 791

[Top Row Dawg]

Georgia Natural Wonder #85 - Panther Creek Falls – Cohutta Wilderness

Spanning an enormous stretch of North Georgia, the Cohutta Wilderness is filled with some of our state’s finest forests and wilderness. Crystal-clear rivers meander through its remote acres, carving through lush valleys filled with abundant ferns, wildflowers, and blooming laurel and rhododendron. Enormous waterfalls cascade over rocky bluffs, tumbling into deep pools of crystalline water below.


My photo of Panther Creek Falls (Cohutta Wilderness) Quite an adventure to get this photo. Panoramic turned out nice.

Tall mountains reach skyward, offering beautiful views into the valleys below. And a number of outstanding trails bisect the Wilderness, offering some of Georgia’s most beautiful, remote, and challenging hiking and backpacking adventures. We have already dipped into the Cohutta for four previous Georgia Natural Wonders

Jacks River Falls Trail GNW #21
Falls on Emory Creek  GNW #30
Mill Creek Falls  GNW #32
Fort Mountain  GNW #34

This hike explores a particularly beautiful stretch of the Cohuttas, following two connecting trails through a fern-filled hardwood forest to a rocky creek valley. The hike’s highlight is a visit to the tumbling cascades of Panther Creek Falls, catching views of the surrounding rolling mountains from the waterfall’s crest, and spectacular views from the base of the falls.



There are actually two waterfalls in North Georgia named for the giant wild cat that once roamed these mountains. This is not the fairly easy hike to the Panther Creek Falls near Tallulah Gorge – the one that’s the ultra-popular summertime swimming hole and backpacking destination. This Cohutta Wilderness hike is a totally different adventure. As with many hikes in the Cohuttas, the route to these cascades is much less frequently traveled, offering a more serene and remote experience. And the views from the crest of the falls, and the hike’s route through a lush forest, make it entirely worth the journey.



As with most hikes in this vast, remote stretch of forest, this hike is moderately challenging and requires some careful wayfinding, so be sure to pack day hike essentials, a paper map and compass, and don’t rely on a cell phone to find your way. It’s a beautiful hike, rewarding with mile after mile of classically beautiful Appalachian forest, and a refreshing change in terrain from start to finish. And it makes for a fantastic long day hike or overnight backpacking adventure.



There are 2 ways to reach the falls from above and one way below. The adventure begins at the Three Forks Trailhead west of Blue Ridge, following the East Cowpen Trail northbound from the trailhead. The hike begins a steady ascent, climbing through a lush forest filled with towering hardwoods, vibrant-green ferns, and colorful wildflowers. Signs of damage from the 2016 Rough Ridge wildfire sporadically dot the trail. Signs of regeneration are equally prevalent, too, as the forest thrives in its newly-renewed, rich soil.



The hike passes an intersection with the Rough Ridge Trail at .4 mile, continuing the climb. Through-the-trees views extend from the trail as it climbs through swaths of dense fern, cresting a small knob at 1.25 miles.



The hike descends from the knob, beginning a nearly-continuous descent to the falls. The East Cowpen Trail follows the path of a former highway through the forest, now a narrow gravel-laden path, thanks to the designation of the Cohuttas as a highway-free Wilderness area in 1975. Continuing northbound, the hike passes through sporadic clusters of pine and gnarly-branched mountain laurel, reaching a grassy clearing flanked by backpacking campsites at 2.25 miles.



From the clearing, the hike departs from the East Cowpen Trail, following the Panther Creek Trail southbound. Ferns and wildflowers thrive beneath the hardwood canopy above, carpeting the sun-dappled forest floor. The trail arcs to the west, and the descent to the falls resumes as the path begins to pitch sharply downward. The pungent, onion-like scent of galax fills the air as the trail plunges through a rocky forest peppered with dense mountain laurel and rhododendron thickets.



The trail arcs southwest at 3.5 miles, and the sound of falling water echoes through the forest as the hike passes under fragrant hemlock trees. The hike makes several usually-shallow creek crossings beginning at 3.8 miles, passing clusters of campsites just above the waterfall. The trail reaches the crest of Panther Creek Falls at just over 4 miles, catching stunning views into the surrounding Cohutta Wilderness from the boulder-laden overlook above the falls.



At the crest of the falls, be sure to keep a generous distance from the edge. As inviting as the view may be, the waterfall’s moving water and bare rock can be exceptionally slippery, and the drop off is sudden and steep.



The route to the base of the falls follows a trail to the northwest, descending alongside a towering rock outcropping framed by hemlock and enormous fallen boulders. The trail carves through several sharp switchbacks as it descends, meandering southbound, to the west, and then southbound again to approach the waterfall’s base.



The hike reaches waterfall’s base at just over 4 miles. Large, tumbled boulders and fallen trees litter the area beneath the falls, offering the perfect place for a mid-hike breather with a stunning view of the waterfall.


My panoramic view of falls. Too big for one photo (See magnificent first image of post).

From here, the trail continues following its namesake creek downstream, eventually reaching the lower Conasauga River Trail to the west. After soaking up the views beneath the towering falls, this hike turns to retrace its outbound route in reverse, navigating to the waterfall’s crest and making a workout-worthy climb to the northeast. Reaching the East Cowpen Trail at just over 6 miles, the hike turns southbound, following the East Cowpen Trail back to the trailhead. At 8.4 miles, the hike reaches the Three Forks Trailhead, completing the adventure.



To approach Panther Creek Falls from below you need to come in at the Forest Road 630 Hickory Creek Trailhead, which takes you to the eastern(high elevation ) Hickory Creek Trailhead located at the end of Forest Road 630. From this trailhead Hickory Creek Trail goes 1.9 miles before intersecting with the Conasauga River Trail and continuing south upstream for the next 1.3 miles to the four way trail intersection at Bray Field.


Otis and my daughters hang out at base of falls. Look at this crazy boulder climb we had to take to get to these falls from the bottom way.

At Bray field where the Tearbritches, Conasauga River, and Hickory Creek Trail come together the trail will continue on the Conasauga River Trail south approximately .4 miles briefly going up a steep spur and then down where the Panther Creek Trail junction is on the left edge.


Panther Creek reaches the Conasauga River.

Now I did this hike years ago when we camped out at the Lake Conasauga overflow camp field. This field is the start of the Emory Creek trail. Great open vistas for star gazing.



This was one of the most exhausting hikes of my life as we went down the Tearbritches Trail, part of the 87-mile trail system within the 35,000 acre Cohutta Wilderness. It begins with a short climb to the top of Bald Mountain (4,005 feet), then drops all the way down to Bray Field at the Conasauga River (1,920 feet). 2000 freaking feet! The trailhead for this hike is found on Forest Service Road 68, northwest of Ellijay.



The trail length may suggest this is a day hike, but due to the rugged terrain and large trail intersection at its end leading in four directions, a backpack trip seems more appropriate with many options for a final destination. The hike begins with a half-mile uphill hike to summit Bald Mountain. An unusual site here is non-native spruce, which have been mysteriously planted, and seem to thrive. Also of interest regarding Bald Mountain, is its name that is derived from its usage as a ball field by the Cherokee, and it is the westernmost peak above 4,000 feet in the Eastern United States.



From this point the trail descends steeply to its end at Bray Field and the Conasauga River at mile 3.4. This, in addition to being a large camping area, is a major trail intersection. The Conasauga River Trail, also the Hickory River Trail at this point, leads left 1.3 miles without a river crossing, to Hickory Creek Trail's departure left. The Conasauga River Trail then begins a series of river crossings to its end in 6.4 more miles.



From Bray Field leading right, the Conasauga River Trail goes one half mile to the Panther Creek Trail intersection, then another 4.9 miles with many river crossings, to its end at Bettys Gap. The Panther Creek Trail crosses Conasauga River once, then climbs strenuously 1.4 miles to the base and then the top of Panther Creek Falls.


It is crazy going up these boulders for a half mile.

Panther Creek Trail then continues to climb another two miles to its end at East Cowpen Trail in the middle of the wilderness just like above directions. Or you can go back down to Bray Field on the Conasaga River. The Hickory Creek Trail crosses the river once, and continues to its end in 5.7 miles as also noted above.


Lot of river crossing this trail.

Because this area is so remote, challenging, and the trails are sometimes sporadically blazed or not marked at all, always tell someone where you’re going and pack an official paper map and wayfinding essentials, such as a GPS and compass (and know how to use them if you’re lost). Always pack emergency essentials. And it’s always best to avoid trails along the rivers and creeks in the weeks following a heavy rain.

GNW gals for today.


My daughters and their friend Macy. Macy all grown up now with two kids of her own.