Panthertown Valley - Laurel Knob (5.8 miles; d=8.30)
Read MoreLaurel Knob from Lonesome Valley - 3,200'
Part of the reason Laurel Knobb is not more well known is that it's not easily seen from any public road. This shot, taken from the entrance to the gated Lonesome Valley subdivision, is about the best view of the Knob (its the far peak) that you can get...
Salt Rock Gap Trailhead - 4,075'
It had been a while since I had entered the valley from Saltrock Gap so it felt good to be back...
Panthertown Valley Trail - 4,050'
The PVT, as it enters the valley, isn't so much a trail as a road. Before its acquisition by the USFS, Panthertown was open to vehicles of which this route is a remnant...
Panthertown Valley Trail - 4,000'
The PVT from Saltrock Gap is in no hurry to get down into the valley...
Panthertown Valley-Wilderness Falls Trail Junction - 3,960'
The Wilderness Falls Trail arrives on my right. If all things went as planned I'd be finishing up my hike from that direction in a couple hours or so...
Panthertown Valley from Salt Rock. All the major peaks of the valley are visible here...the cliffs of Blackrock (4,440') are on the left, the high dark dome of Cold Mountain (4,650') is in the distance, the broad low ridge of Little Green (4,040') is front and center across the valley, while Big Green (4,200') and the Great Wall can be seen to the right...
Panthertown Valley Trail - 3,920'
Continuing the descent...
Panthertown Valley-Deep Gap Trail Junction - 3,850'
About 3/4 of a mile I reached, and made a right turn onto, the Deep Gap Trail...
Deep Gap-Great Wall Trail Junction - 3,740'
The Deep Gap Trail as it passes the path to the Great Wall of Panthertown...
Deep Gap-Great Wall Trail Junction - 3,740'
I debated making the short trek over to see the Great Wall again but I decided time was unfortunately too short...
Deep Gap-Wilderness Falls Trail Junction - 3,660'
The lower end of the Wilderness Falls Trail. From here it would be an out-and-back to Laurel Knob whereas upon my return I'd be making a turn here to stop by Wilderness Falls on the climb back to the car...
Deep Gap Trail - Panthertown Creek - 3,660'
After my waterfall stop it was now 'into the unknown' as I crossed Panthertown Creek...