RATtreks

Waterfalls of the Panthertown Valley – 11-25-2014

Since discovering the wonders of the Panthertown Valley in North Carolina, it has became a quest to see all of the many waterfalls there. On this trip I would be going with Dave Aldridge and would be accompanied by my good friends Tommy (Bol’Dar) Warden and Derrick Hamrick. Our plan was to start at the Cold Mountain Gap Trail head and attempt to see at least 6 major waterfalls including Carlton`s Falls, Halfway Falls, Greenland Creek Falls, Mac`s Falls, Pothole Falls and if we had time, Schoolhouse Falls. Not leaving before 8am burns a lot of daylight as it is nearly a 3 hour drive one way to get there and with the short light of the Falls season, I knew we would end up walking out in the dark ! We were on the Mac`s Gap Trail around 11 am which leads down to Greenland Creek and Trail that we would follow upstream to Greenland Creek Falls. The sun was already on the top of them so as usual I would not be getting any quality pics but, luckily we had Derrick with us so I knew he would be getting some keepers.

Mac`s Gap Trail was a nice trail to take down but, the Greenland Trail lacks a lot to be desired as I found it downright rugged and in need of work. If you like really primitive wilderness type trails, then this one is for you. We spent some time at Greenland Creek Falls before taking the even steeper and rougher part of the trail to the top of the falls.

Derrick and I ventured out to the very top edge of the falls to get a view. There is also a very nice and long cascade to be found there.

From there we continued along the overgrown trail until we reached what we thought at the time to be Halfway Falls. I learned later that they were not but, rather were only an unnamed cascade ! These were tough to photograph unless you are like Derrick and wade right out into the creek !

Climbing higher up Hogback Mountain, crossing two small feeder streams and by one small shelf falls, we finally reached what we thought at the time to be Carlton`s Falls.  It was actually Halfway Falls ! Another hard to photograph falls but, we got it done and thinking we had seen Carlton`s Falls we began backtracking back down the gnarly trail to Greenland Creek Falls. Now I know I have to go back !

The sun had already moved off the Greenland Creek Falls by the time we got back down there as it was getting to be late afternoon so, we spent a little more time trying to get better pics. Not sure I was very successful at it but, I know Derrick was!

From there we continued backtracking back down the Greenland Creek Trail until we passed where we had came in at Mac`s Gap Trail and followed the now rougher trail farther downstream until we reached Mac`s Falls.

I did get my larger camera out to get a couple more shots here but, did not wade out into the creek like Derrick did !

After that it was slightly hard to follow the trail as it was very small and primitive, climbing up and over rugged places along the creek with several other faint intersecting trails that seem to lead up or down to nowhere. Soon enough after some huffing and puffing on my part, we reached Pothole Falls. These are a unique and very beautiful falls.

Of course Derrick got the best pics of all which I proudly display here:

It was getting late and there was only about an hour or less of daylight remaining but, being the die hard types that we are, decided to try and make it to Schoolhouse Falls and then take a loop trail back to the trail head where we had started at Cold Mountain Gap. This turned out to be a long drawn out affair. The trail is terrible and that is one of the longest miles I have been on lately. Some places it is hard to see which way the trail even goes. Bol’Dar wanted no part of being on this part of the trail in the dark so, he was off like a bullet and we would not see him again until we neared the trail intersections close to Schoolhouse Falls. Even then he attempted to talk us out of going down there explaining that it WOULD be dark and we would not get any usable pics ! Of course he was right yet, we would have no part of that plan and took off towards the falls only this time we would be hiking along an actual road which was a huge relief compared to the crappy trail we had been on for the last few hours. Bol’Dar gave in and went along with the crazy plan.

Although it was not that far to the falls, it did indeed get dark by the time we arrived and I was barely able to see them nevertheless take any usable pictures yet, our ace in the hole, Derrick, saved the day with his all knowing camera abilities and took an amazing shot that made it look like it was not dark. Dave was able to do the same with his SLR camera. Of course I will go back there again one day during daylight hours to get one of my own but, for now this one will have to do.

We did not stay there very long since after all it was completely dark by this time, so we all dug out our headlamps and began the long, gradual, climb back to the car. At least we were walking on a smooth, gravel, forest service road so, it was not that bad and it had been a grand day with 5 major waterfalls and numerous small falls and cascades in between and we had BBQ to look forward to on the way home for the post hike grub out ! I can not wait to get back down to Panthertown Valley to check out some more waterfalls. until next time,,,,,

To see all these falls and many more, please visit our Photo Gallery !