Middle Warden Falls
Nantahala National Forest
Highlands Ranger District
2010 Flat Mountain Rd,
Highlands, N.C. 28741
(828) 526-3765
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.
- click to see trail photos from this hike to Panthertown Valley: July 3, 2015 (password required)
- click to read a trip report from this backpacking trip to the Tuckasegee River: July 3, 2015 (password required)
- click to purchase the Nantahala and Cullasaja Gorges Trails Illustrated map which includes Panthertown
- click for a topo and profile map of this hike to Schoolhouse & Middle Warden Falls (password required)
- click to see a map of the entire Panthertown Valley trail system (password required)
- click to view a topographical & profile map of Middle Warden Falls (password required)
- click to see the Panthertown USFS project map
- click to view more hikes to this waterfall in Panthertown Valley
- click to see a side hike to Granny Burrell Falls from Middle Warden Falls
- click to access the guidebook North Carolina Hiking Trails which has details on this destination
- click for other North Carolina hiking and backpacking books
- click for other hikes in Panthertown Valley