Panthertown Valley was one of my favorite finds in the Cashiers, NC area.\u00a0 The valley contains a network of hiking trails that travel to a variety of popular destinations within a 6700 acre tract of high-elevation Forest Service land. At least 8 major waterfalls and countless smaller ones lie along the area’s streams.\u00a0 It has not been determined that any permanent settlement ever existed in the Valley.\u00a0 Pioneers termed the valley “Paintertown” (local for “Panthertown”) due to the wildness and (undoubtedly) the number of panthers, or Eastern Cougar, living in the area.<\/p>\n
The main trails and old roadbeds were very obvious.\u00a0 However, the area is somewhat remote and trail guides are sketchy.\u00a0 Underbrush, especially Rhododendrons, were very thick off trail, so we spent a lot of energy and time backtracking after wondering off trail in pursuit of various falls.\u00a0 It was a lovely combination of traditional trail hiking and adventurous excursions along the way.<\/p>\n
Schoolhouse Falls is one of the better known and fairly easy-to-locate waterfalls in Panthertown.\u00a0\u00a0 Carl and I arrived just after dawn, only to find a couple of campers who had spent the night on the beach area across the pool from the falls.\u00a0 The water volume was down due to the dry summer and autumn, but it was still high enough to make a beautiful cascade.\u00a0 The surrounding colors were great, too.<\/p>\n
The scale of the falls is a little deceiving in this particular image.\u00a0 Stay tuned for more of Schoolhouse.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/marksisco.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/NC10_107-109-700x466.jpg\" "\\"NC10_107-109\\"")
Schoolhouse Falls at Panthertown Valley, NC<\/p><\/div>\n
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here<\/a>. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.<\/span><\/p>\n