MIDDLE WARDEN FALLS

Panthertown Valley is a 6,311-acre wilderness located in the Nantahala National Forest in Western North Carolina. It is on the Eastern Continental Divide and located between the Great Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Mountains. The National Forest Service acquired Panthertown Valley in 1989 from Duke Power in a deal coordinated by the Nature Conservancy.

Panthertown Valley is open to both hiking and backpacking, and there are a number of waterfalls to explore in this relatively small area. Most have pools at their base which make for great swimming and/or fishing. Panthertown is also a bear sanctuary and their has been increased bear activity in the area over the last decade. On this hike, we started on the eastern side of the valley at the Cold Mountain Gap trailhead, made a short stop at Schoolhouse Falls then continued on to Middle Warden Falls on the Tuckasegee River.