Warning: This data is out-of-date. Trails, roads, and landmarks change.
You should obtain current information before attempting any hike.
Date Hiked: January 11, 1992
Length: 5.0 miles
Type: backtrack
Difficulty: 4
Scenery: 3
Blaze: blue
Main Features: Panther Creek Falls plus a second falls downstream from the main falls
Animals: chipmunks, owl, deer (3)
Location: Chattahoochee National Forest, Georgia
Directions start from the intersection where alternate 17 crosses highways 123 and 365 in Toccoa. Take alternate 17 west about 0.6 miles and turn right on Prather Bridge Road. Go 9.7 miles until you cross a bridge at Yonah Park. Directly after the bridge, bear left staying on the main road. Go 0.6 miles and turn left on a dirt road. Drive about 1.7 miles to a fork where the left fork fords the creek. (At about 1.6 miles there is a wide spot in the road with a dangerous drop-off straight ahead and a curve to the right. Bear right.) Park at the fork where the left road fords the creek. The road on the right is the trail.
Note: The trail is often dangerous with awkward footing and drop-offs beside the trail.
Approximate Altitude Changes
Ascend 625 feet to ridge top at 1.4 miles
Descend 375 feet to waterfall at 1.9 miles
Ascend 75 feet to boulders above main waterfall at 2.5 miles
Total Ascent (round trip): 1,075 feet
Miles
0.1 bridge
0.3 bridge across panther creek
0.5 bridge
0.6 overhanging boulders on left could serve as rain shelter
0.7 cable handrail
bridge
0.8 bear left ascending narrow ridge away from creek
1.4 gain high point of ridge
1.5 begin descent on left side of ridge
1.6 bridge
bridge
sharp right (non-blazed trail continues straight), then sharp left
bridge
1.8 begin following Panther Creek again near where the stream
you've been following merges with Panther Creek
1.9 waterfall below trail on right
cable handrail
2.0 campsite on right
2.1 cable handrail
2.2 trail crosses sandbar at edge of Panther Creek
2.3 cable handrail
campsite on right
2.4 camping area near base of main falls
bear left and ascend beside falls
cable handrail
2.5 boulders among scenic cascades at top of falls
backtrack
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