Panther Creek Falls is located in North Georgia and extends into the Chattahoochee National Forest. It is just north of Clarkesville. From Athens, it is just a short hour and a half drive north up historic Highway 441. Once you arrive there is a gravel parking lot across from the trailhead. You can also park alongside the road as long as it is permitted.
From the trailhead, it's a 3.5-mile hike to Panther Creek, and then it is a 3.5-mile hike back in the same direction as to where you parked. If you plan on going in hot weather, remember to bring plenty of water because a 7-mile hike will take you several hours. The hike is not recommended for pregnant mothers or young children because of the very uneven terrain.
According to http://www.atlantatrails.com, the hike is rated as moderately difficult. There are quite a few inclines and lots of fallen rocks that you will have to climb over. The trail is very uneven at times and is littered with roots and rocks. It's recommended that you come fully prepared if you want to get the most out of your experience. For any experienced hiker, you won't find this trail difficult at all, but those who are beginners can find it very challenging.
I went this past weekend, and Panther Creek Falls is very beautiful. The entire experience was very enjoyable. The trees were fully green and the flowers had just started to bloom. The creek water was refreshingly cold, and it made for a great swim. There wasn't much wildlife to see, and it was probably because this is such a heavily traveled trail. You are more likely to see critters on a weekday rather than the weekend.
When I got to the falls there were around 50 to 100 people there. The pool below the falls was full of people enjoying the crisp mountain water. Along the trail (at every point) there were many campsites set up. Regardless if it's busy, the trail is spread out so you will never really notice how many people there actually are. You will still be able to enjoy the seclusion from the outside world.
The trail starts where you under a bridge, and once you get deeper into the woods you begin to see the Panther Creek. There are many campsites along the side of the river. About less than a mile in you encounter one of the more difficult parts of the hike. There is a steep incline of fallen rocks that you must climb over. My group and I decided it would be best to go one by one, and that seemed to be the safest way to do it. After a while, the trail comes to your first wooden bridge that crosses over the creek.
From that point on the trail starts climbing, and you start to notice how much higher you are than the creek. The trail also starts to become extremely narrow, and it continues through a series of huge boulders. There are cables along the edge of the cliff you can grab onto to make sure hikers don't fall. Once you get past this obstacle then you are closer to the falls.
Right before you get to the falls the trail takes you above them to where you can see the river. It is a steep drop but is a very beautiful spot. You climb your way down a few rocks and there is a resting point. Be warned, the hike to the bottom is steep but is very doable as long as you are being careful. At the bottom of the falls, there is a large sandy beach. I recommend bringing a lunch, and some swimming trunks. The waterfall flows over many boulders making it a great place to take pictures.
The beach is probably the best place you can camp on the trail. It would be totally worth it trekking down all that way with large, heavy equipment just to wake up to the falls the next morning. It is said that you can see the stars (very clearly) at night from the beach, and imagine how soothing it would to listening to the sound of the rushing water. The hike to Panther Creek Falls is definitely one of the most enjoyable experiences I have ever had.
