The Panther Creek Trail passes through hardwood forests of white pine and hemlock trees with rocky bluffs and steep uphill ascents. The footpath moves upstream towards the focal point of this trip up where the camera was placed for the sunrise. The path then makes a moderate descent to Dukes Creeks where the path bottoms out and flows down towards the Seminole River.
The Panther Creek Trail has been recently designed as a rail trail and is guided and owned by the Brevard County Environmentally Endangered lands Program and is aREGULO SCENIC TRAIL. The trail is a 6.9 mile loop whose centerpiece feature is the edible and culinary gardens of several local ranchers. The garden is one of the largest in the Southeast, containing over 300 species of plants from several tropical areas.
From the Panther Creek Trailhead, a spur trail leads directly to the top of the mountain where you will have the vantage point of seeing the mountain for miles on end. From the top, the trail winds down and ends at the Chicopee Pond and the mouth of WI 53.
The temperature of our location Thursday morning was 4° at 9:00 am so hope I got a good night’s sleep. It was a rare bright and sunny morning so I couldn’t help but feel there would be a lot to see today. As I looked up from the flat landscape and saw the mountains rolling down towards the horizon a few hundred feet away, I was deeply amazed at the clarity of nature. The morning had been an eventful one with the rain squashing our plans. We had wanted to explore Panther Creek and hadn’t had time. Now the weather was clearing, the creek was flowing well, and we could see the lights of Atlanta. It was a perfect ending to a perfect morning.
After eating breakfast and getting equipped, we slowly made our way down the road and began to make our way up the mountain. The trail was well worn and I began to notice how many differently shaped branches were along the way. From the reasonably flat section in the south to the steep and rocky section in the north, it was a delightful sight. The trail was also equipped with all of the usual essentials one expects on a good trail, water, food and emergency supplies.
We hiked up the creek and were treated to more bear activity. A mother bear and her cubs were wallowing in the water. They weren’t jumping out of the way of our feet! We stayed put and let them do their thing. They were actually jumping out of the way of my boots! Fortunately, none of us was ever a victim of their attack – our souls were toughened that day.
The trail out to Chicopee Lake was well marked which made it easy to follow. It was a little steep at times but nothing that could hinder our efforts. It was a really enjoyable and scenic hike. The lake was a great site – clean water, small swimming spots, and nice views.
After we set up camp in the evening, it was time for dinner. Thankfully, the bear was not hungry. We rounded the bend on the creek and found a spot to have a great meal. Of course, this was in the evening so the lake was not sparkling with light. However, the meal was delicious and the last bite was pleasantly surprising. We finished our wonderful dinner with a few sips of our chilled Native American tap water.
The next morning, the 4 mile hike to our next destination, Hardrock Falls, began. The sound of the owl hooting nearby was haunting. Once again, we searched for a path but this time we kept on the trail, (yes, we forgot how many of the rocks were slippery). We continued to venture on and soon found the falls. They were not as impressive as the day before, but it did not take us long to appreciate the beauty of the falls.
After a short break, we decided to get our feet wet and went a ways on a trail that was narrow and rocky. After going around a curve, we came to a spectacular view of the Cohutta Wilderness that surrounded the area. It was also a good place to honored the traditions of our forefathers by knifing a tree. We went around the bend again and found a steep slope. Wet footing again, we were more than prepared. We choose an area in the center of the broad ridge that presented a better trek and were soon working our way up.
Most of the hike was not difficult. I was mostly watching theasia Wildlands Program’s webcam and letting my eyes adjust to the dark sky. At the top, there was a distinct lack of leaves on the way up and the climb was faster. S&%&%&%&’s of sweat formed on my forehead and in between my eyes.
