Waterfall Hero Hikes: Salt Rock Gap Waterfalls (Panthertown)

Salt Rock Gap is the western access to Panthertown Valley, closest to Cashiers in Jackson County. Three waterfalls are accessed from a moderate 4-mile hike. Wilderness Falls is a tall sliding waterfall on Double Knob Gap Branch. Frolictown Falls is a 15-foot waterfall on its Frolictown Creek. Granny Burrell Falls is a 12-foot sliding waterfall on Panthertown Creek

Hike Length: 3.8 miles
Estimated Time: 2 to 3 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Location: Panthertown Valley (Nantahala Ranger District in Nantahala National Forest)
Trail Users: Hiking only, though a section is open to bikes and horses
Dogs: Yes
Features: Waterfalls (3)
Crowds: Moderate
Warnings: The rocks around the waterfalls are very slippery
Trailhead GPS: 35.16793,-83.03980
Waterfall GPS: 35.16384,-83.04229 (Wilderness Falls); 35.16204,-83.03814 (Frolictown Falls); 35.16284,-83.02870 (Granny Burrell Falls)

Directions:

To visit the falls, head east on US-64 from Cashiers for about 2 miles and turn left on Cedar Creek Road. Drive 2.3 miles and turn right on Breedlove Road. Drive 3.5 miles to the end at the Salt Rock Gap parking area in Panthertown Valley.

Map:

Hike Description:

Hike down the old road behind the gate, which is Panthertown Valley Trail (#474). Turn right at the first inersection onto Wilderness Falls Trail (#490). It's just over a half a mile to Wilderness Falls on the right.

The waterfall is in two sections; go out to in the middle to see the upper section or at the bottom to see the entire thing.

Continue on Wilderness Falls Trail to the end at Deep Gap Trail (#449). Turning right on this trail would cross over Frolictown Falls above the waterfall. Go straight on a short scramble to go to the base.

Back on Deep Gap Trail (#449), go east 0.1 miles and the trail becomes Granny Burrell Falls Trail (#486). At 1.5 miles from the trailhead, bear left to stay on Granny Burrell Falls Trail after the bridge and the waterfall will be on the left. A path leads out to the creek downstream of the falls.