Panthertown Valley Backpacking & Trail Maintenance

** Rescheduling due to change in trail maintenance date **
Join us for a backpacking and trail maintenance weekend at Panthertown Valley in North Carolina. Panthertown is a beautiful high-altitude valley with amazing trails, waterfalls and overlooks. This is a great way to both enjoy and help care for this amazing resource.

Friday we will meet at the Meijer’s in Florence KY where individuals can arrange car pools. We’ll stop for a fast food lunch on the way, and then arrive at the Salt Rock Gap Trailhead and backpack in about 2 miles (with a water crossing) to camp at the base of the Great Wall.

Saturday after breakfast we’ll hike back to the trailhead to join a Friends of Panthertown workgroup for a US Forest Service trail maintenance project from 9AM to 2PM. They supply all the tools (bring your own work gloves), and the details on what you’ll need are found here. I don't have the details yet, but this is their Trail Days celebration so there will be some kind of after-party. Afterwards we’ll return to camp and do some optional hiking to nearby waterfalls and overlooks as time permits.

Sunday we’ll have all day to explore spectacular Panthertown Valley. From our basecamp we will day hike 8-10 miles.

Monday we backpack out to the cars and return home.

You’ll need backpacking meals for Friday dinner through Monday breakfast, and will need to treat your water. You’ll be asked to sign both a Sierra Club and a Forest Service waiver, and we recommend you print and complete a medical form here to carry with you in case of emergency.

If you have questions, call Barry Randall 513-607-4515