Asheville: Panthertown Valley Loop

On this 5.6-miler, see the rare granite domes and lively waterfalls that earned this Nantahala National Forest valley the nickname "Yosemite of the East."

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Trail Facts

  • Distance: 7.5

Waypoints

PTT001

Location: 35.1677284240723, -83.0398025512695

Descend old roadbed past gate. Hike .3 mi. to Salt Rock Gap for open view of Little Green Mtn.’s western granite face

PTT002

Location: 35.1649589538574, -83.0327072143555

L @ Y to drop into valley peppered with pines and hardwoods. Mountain laurel and thick-leaved rhododendron fill the sidelines

PTT003

Location: 35.1664009094238, -83.0283432006836

R @ 4-way; after .3 mi., cross wooden bridge over Panthertown Creek. These upland bogs host a carnivorous sundew which feasts on gnats and flies

PTT004

Location: 35.1633415222168, -83.0268783569336

Straight @ T. Side trip: Turn R for quick trip to Granny Burrell Falls, a natural water slide over striped rock slab

PTT005

Location: 35.1591186523438, -83.015739440918

R @ T; after .2 mi., L @ T then climb steep stairs up Little Green Mtn.

PTT006

Location: 35.1634902954102, -83.0141296386719

Little Green Mtn. (4,094 ft), a granite dome uncommon to southern Appalachia. Blackrock Mtn. is to NW. Descend E

PTT007

Location: 35.1634292602539, -83.0070571899414

S through woods to Schoolhouse Falls, spilling off overhang into wide, shallow pool

PTT008

Location: 35.1651992797852, -83.006217956543

L @ T onto narrow roadbed, swinging away from Boardcamp Ridge to NE

PTT009

Location: 35.1680488586426, -83.0123977661133

Straight @ T across wooden bridge; follow white sandy trail past beaches and pools of Panthertown Creek. Return to WPT 3 after 1 mi. and retrace steps to trailhead

Granny Burrell Falls

Location: 35.162914276123, -83.0277786254883

©Tim Johnson

View from Little Green Mountain

Location: 35.1632652282715, -83.0143966674805

©Tim Johnson

View from Little Green Mountain

Location: 35.1638145446777, -83.0137939453125

©Tim Johnson

Sandy Trail

Location: 35.1679611206055, -83.0129470825195

©Tim Johnson

Schoolhouse Falls

Location: 35.1633644104004, -83.0067520141602

©Tim Johnson

Salt Rock View

Location: 35.1670608520508, -83.0357208251953

©Tim Johnson