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Panther Creek Recreation Area, Georgia, United States new article content ...

Panther Creek Recreation Area is part of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. According to the National Forest website, Panther Creek Foot Trail is a day-hiking destination, and it is "a total of 6.6 miles of moderate hiking, point-to-point. From the (northern-end) Trailhead it's about 3.3 miles to the falls. The trail consists of steep slopes, rocky paths and sometimes requires crossing very narrow and precarious stretches of trail. Please hike with caution and watch your step!"

Among the possible uses of the area are those described on the USDA Forestry Service page for the site: "Enjoy a picnic, hold a Boy Scout troop meeting or have a family gathering within the historic CCC structures of this wooded recreation area. Directly adjacent to the picnic pavilions visitors can can follow their picnic with a mesmerizing day-hike to the awesome falls on the 6.6 mile Panther Creek Trail."

Information
Panther Creek Recreation Area is a few miles north of Clarkesville, Ga and accessible via US Hwy 441.

Directions:
(Northern end)Trailhead and recreation area: from the Chattooga River Ranger office in Lakemont, travel south on US 441 for 3.5 miles to Historic 441 and turn Rt. Continue on Historic 441 for approx. 1.5 miles. The Panther Creek Recreation Area will be on the right and the trail begins across the street on the left.

(Southern end) Panther Creek Trail: Hwy 184 North (Panther Bridge Rd) which becomes Yonah dam Rd. to Panther Creek Rd. Turn Lt. and follow Panther Creek rd. until it ends at parking lot at southern end of trail.

Map
Source: http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsm9_028915.pdf [save for use with map if approved]

History
According to one hiker, Richard R. of Dacula, Georgia, "Panther Creek is located in the Chatahoochee National Forest. Georgia is divided into five distinct regions: The Lower Plains, Upper Plains, Piedmont, Ridge and Valley, Blue Ridge and Appalachian Plateau. The Brevard fault line separates the Piedmont region from the Blue Ridge and it has been said Panther Creek Falls sits nearly directly on the fault line.

[He] bring[s] up this fault line because of it's geological significance. It was once part of what many Geologist describe as a slow-motion multi-car pile-up between continents millions of years ago that created the Appalachian Mountains. So take notice that at some point in the earths formation, this might have actually been part of Europe or Africa."

Panther Creek overview
The following information comes from the USDA Forestry Service website for Panther Creek Recreation Area:

Hiking Panther Creek
Possible content for this section would be attributed comments from online reviews of Panther Creek.

Activities at Panther Creek
While there are no annual special events at Panther Creek, the USDA Forestry Service website lists Day Hiking and Picnicking among its notable activities.

Day Hikers will find a moderate trail of 6.6 miles; however, the trail does have steep slopes, rocky paths, and sometimes requires crossing very narrow and precarious stretches of trail. The website notes that hikers should not mistake the high shoals at mile 2.3 for the waterfall that the area is known for - it's another mile from the high shoals before hikers reach the waterfall.

Picnicking has been a popular activity since the CCC built picnic structures during President Roosevelt's tenure during the Depression. Among the amenities are two (2) stone picnic shelters, a group area, a trail bridge over Panther Creek, a toilet, paved parking, and 10 picnic sites.