Panther Creek Trail Waterfall — Attraction in Toccoa

Ok so this address doesn’t lead you to the trail head. Type into google Panther Creek Recreational Area for trailhead. Review below:

As many have said this is an advanced hike! If you go out there without proper shoes, plenty of water, a snack you will be hurting.

The trail is all over. I would have got lost if other hikers weren’t there. My google maps worked on and off but if you can get a signal it will lead you to the falls.

When I was leaving I saw two ladies with small dogs going to the trailhead. I asked were you going to hike to the falls and they said yes. I had to tell them no. It was 5pm and you can not bring animals on this hike. You have to cross multiple streams and need both hands to scale different areas. You could maybe walk a dog half a mile in but that’s it.

Also don’t start this hike late. You should get there as early as possible. Hiking this trail even in dim light as the sun sets is crazy risky. You will be super tired heading back and I almost made a few miss steps that could have caused me serious injury.

If you are moving with pace you could get there in 1.5 hours and another 1.5 hours back. But that is pace. If you are enjoying the scenery and taking breaks you are going to be 2 hours there and 2 hours back if not longer.

Don’t bring kids. If your kids don’t listen, are not fit, you should not bring them. When I was there a family had a 15 year old with them. I guess he was upset having to go there. The mom and dad made it down to the falls but for whatever reason this kid thought it would be good to scale down the waterfall to the bottom. I couldn’t believe my eyes. He wasn’t listening to his parents so I got up and yelled you will die if you keep going down. Which he would have or at least had several broken bones. They have a trail that leads safely to the base of the falls. There are some areas in the falls that people sit but you CAN NOT CLIMB DOWN THE WATERFALL. You will slip and have to be air flown out.

Again this hike is not for beginners. You need to be prepared and you need to pay attention. The day I went a couple hikers saw copperhead snakes and a couple other snake breeds. Idk if they were poisonous.

If you are prepared, respect nature, take it slow, the view is amazing, that water is cool and refreshing and it is...

I would give this place 6 stars if I could! First let me say that Google Maps took me down a gravel road that was a dead end. I turned back around and used Apple Maps which led me to the correct location. I parked on the side of the road and was confused on which way to enter (there was a sign for the trail on the side where I parked my car but there was an entrance to the rec area on the other side of the street). After going over to the rec side and reading a notice that said the entrance was on the OTHER side of the street, I proceeded to the trail. It’s hard to describe how beautiful and picturesque the hike was. AND secluded. I ran into maybe 10 ppl total there and back. The creek is to your right almost the whole first half of the hike with the trees shading you from the sun and flowers every so often along the way. The trail DOES end suddenly and I came upon 2 other families that were confused about which way to continue as well. I backtracked a little and saw the markers I had been following suddenly appear on the OTHER side of the creek so I found an area that had enough rocks in the creek to make it easier to cross. From there on the creek was to the left of me the rest of the way. Boy what a hike! With being lost/turned around a bit it took me about an hour and 50 mins to finally make it to the falls but it was well worth the hike! Right where the falls start (at the top) you can walk on the rocks to see where the falls start at the first drop off then gather strength to make up the actual falls. Finishing the hike down to the bottom, you see how stunning they really are with the trees lined along both sides. And it was relatively empty. There were 2 other couples then when I first got there and maybe 5 total the whole time I was there. I wish I had eaten prior to starting the hike because at a total of about 4 hrs in and out and some rough/steep terrain, it took a lot out of me but just being in solitude with the creek as my soundtrack and enjoying the sights along the way it made it bearable. This is so far my favorite waterfall...

Hiked 04-July 2025 - Pretty Strenuous hike. Difficult level 7/10. There is a very small section of “parking” , may fit 4 vehicles. If ur SOL , youll need to park along side the road. There is a QR code to scan to pay $4 for the Trailhead. Mentally prepare yourself for a 2-3 hike down. & 3-4 hiking back up. Bring PLENTY of water. I HIGHLY recommend wearing shoes with cushion and ankle support (I did not and suffered). I also recommend NOT doing this hike if ur clumsy lol. There are A LOT of roots, rocks, climbing, balancing, and going back UP was a battle in its itself. I mean i seen little kids passing by me having the time of their lives and I was struggling. So, my difficultly level might be your easy level. Just saying.

Oh! Youll encounter a split path, a barely legible “waterfall” sign with pink letters —Take the path to the left. Someone in passing said the path to the right is a 10 mile trek to a dam.

Reaching the falls was beautiful. Like a very small “beach”. Dirty rocky sand and swimming hole. You can sit directly under the waterfalls too, Also , there are little fishys swimming around, They will eat ur feet, LOL believe me.

** Reading other peoples reviews: *I have not seen any piece of trash along the hike. *Waterfall is marker Mile 21 *The address to put into GPS: 4061 Old Historic U.S. 441,...