Panthertown Valley Crown Loop Hike Route Map

Panthertown Valley is fast becoming my go-to 'backyard' destination when I'm looking for a few hours on the trail without travelling too far. Located only about 15 miles from my house I have, over the past year, managed to hit most of the highlights of this remarkable valley. This time, however, it was my intention to tie everything into one big loop...hitting the three highpoints which surround the valley; Blackrock Mountain, Little Green Mountain, and Big Green Mountain. In another trip report I based this hike on this approximate route was referred to as the "Panthertown Crown Loop" so I adopted the title for this hike.

Panthertown Valley, part of the Nantahala National Forest, is 10,000 acres of some of the finest natural beauty the southern Appalachians has to offer. This high elevation valley boasts dozens of waterfalls and mountains which contain some of the highest cliff faces in the region. All but unknown a decade ago the area has now lost its 'hidden gem' status but still provides enough rugged backcountry to keep it from feeling overcrowded. The most difficult aspect of visiting the valley is deciding just where to go. So today, I was just gonna go everywhere...come on along with me...

Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 35.168203, -83.039668

Route Type: Loop + spurs Difficulty: EXTREME (Petzoldt Rating: 17.00 )

Hike Length: 13.0 miles Hike Duration: 5:45

Trailhead Temp: 40'F Trail Traffic: 10-25 people

Min. Elevation: 3,640' Max. Elevation: 4,490'

Total Vertical Gain: 2,000' Avg. Elevation Gain / Mile: 154'

Trails Used (blaze color): Big Green (unblazed), Blackrock (unblazed), Blackrock Spur (unblazed), Carlton's Way (unblazed), Granny Burrell Falls (unblazed), Great Wall (unblazed), Little Green (unblazed), Mac's Gap (unblazed), North Road (unblazed), Overlook (unblazed), Panthertown Valley (unblazed)

10-28-2014

Panthertown Valley - Crown Loop (13.0 miles; d=17.00)

Panthertown Valley Crown Loop Hike Route Map
The approximate track of my hike around the Panthertown Valley Crown Loop as depicted a la Google Earth...
Panthertown Valley Crown Loop Hike Route Map
The approximate track of my hike around the Panthertown Valley Crown Loop...
Salt Rock Gap - 4,050'
Salt Rock Gap marks the western access point to Panthertown. In the summer this 'lot' can fill up real quick but on this crisp Tuesday morning I had it to myself...
Blackrock Spur Trail - 4,150'
The first of many trails this day, the Blackrock Spur is a quick 1/4 mile connector that provided just enough of an incline to quickly warm me up...
Blackrock Spur Trail - 4,150'
A bit of early morning mist still lingers in the valley below as I am treated to my first views of the day from the rocks in the previous photo...
Blackrock Spur Trail - 4,150'
A bit closer shot looking a tad further west reveals Laurel Knob (right) and the mountains beyond...
Blackrock Spur-Blackrock Trail Junction - 4,220'
Warmed up nicely now, I made the right turn onto the Blackrock Trail for the mile-ish ridge top hike over to the summit of Blackrock Mountain...
Blackrock Trail - 4,300'
Approaching from the west, the climb, if you can call it that, up Blackrock is rarely steeper than this...
Blackrock Trail - 4,400'
Where a week before there was a forest bursting with peak color, on this day I had to be satisfied with pockets of hold-out color like this...
Overlook-Blackrock Trail Junction - 4,450'
Just below the summit of Blackrock Mountain the Overlook Trail (which I'd now be turning onto) veers off the the summit itself...
Blackrock Mountain Summit - 4,490'
The tree covered and vine-choked summit of Blackrock Mountain. I hardly slowed down, Blackrock's cliffs lay just ahead...
Overlook Trail - 4,380'
The trail drops somewhat steeply off the south side of Blackrock...
Overlook Trail - 4,300'
Breaking out onto the Overlook Trail's namesake vista...the high cliffs on the south slopes of Blackstock...
Overlook Trail - 4,300'
The heart of Panthertown Valley spreads out before me from the cliffs along the Overlook Trail. Beyond the high-elevation bog seen below rises the broad northern slopes of Big Green Mountain (4,200') with Hogback Mountain (~4,600') rising even higher just left...
Overlook Trail - 4,300'
The trail continues along the open, sloping cliffs for maybe a tenth of a mile making it hard for your eyes to decide whether they'd rather take in the view or watch where you're stepping...
Overlook Trail - 4,300'
The early morning sun was my nemesis for eastern shots from the cliffs. Here the high dome with cliffs glinting below its summit is Cold Mountain (4,650') which marks the far eastern extremity of Panthertown...
Overlook Trail - 4,300'
Below me is the high-elevation bog community which marks the heart of the Panthertown Valley. I have yet to visit the bog (and would missout on this hike as well) but I'm anxious to correct that. Big Green Mountain is the broad dome which rises behind the bog...
Overlook Trail - 4,270'
Heading back into the woods...normally I would be tempted to stay longer but many, many other sights awaited today...
Overlook Trail-Carlton's Way Junction - 4,160'
Now it was time to drop into the valley for a while. I'd follow the seldom-used Carleton's Way for my descent...
Carlton's Way - 4,000'
For much of its steep, 3/4 mile length I found myself stooped over to stay beneath the overhanging branches of laurel...
Carlton's Way - 3,900'
I could see just how much elevation I was loosing as I looked to my left through the trees back up to Blackrock Mountain...
Carlton's Way - 3,800'
Last time I visited Panthertown I used this trail for the ascent of Blackrock...I must say now, I prefer taking this short, steep trail in the opposite direction much more...
North Road Trail-Carlton's Way Junction - 3,740'
North Road Trail - 3,740' - Hanging a right yet again, I needed to backtrack west for a short bit on the North Road Trail to get to the Panthertown Valley Trail which I'd need to take to reach the heart of the valley...
North Road Trail - 3,720'
One thing about Panthertown...if your lucky enough to get a bridged river crossing, its likely gonna be a really good bridge. Like this one at the crossing of a tiny stream near the west end of the North Road Trail...