Panther Creek Falls is an 80-foot tiered cascade on Panther Creek in Habersham County, Georgia, in the Chattahoochee National Forest northeast of Clarkesville. It sits at the end of a rugged creekside hike from Old Highway 441, and its broad sandy beach and large pool draw swimmers and campers in summer.
The falls
Lidar data classes the falls as steep tiered cascades with a cumulative drop of about 80 feet in roughly five steps, the tallest about 30 feet. Only about 60 feet is visible from the base; the upper steps can be seen only by climbing farther upstream. Earlier surveys listed 50 feet. The falls are a wide cascade spilling over a rocky ledge into a clear pool.
Getting there
The usual start is the Panther Creek Trailhead at 4061 Old Historic U.S. 441 near Clarkesville. The hike from there is moderate at 7.2 miles round trip, passing Upper Panther Creek Falls, a 25-foot drop, on the way. The trail is rocky and uneven, with steep elevation changes, narrow wet sections and several creek crossings, including one ford. A shorter, harder approach of 5.0 miles round trip starts from the Yonah Dam trailhead on Panther Creek Road near Toccoa, with eroded, narrow stretches and sharp dropoffs.
A Forest Service order signed April 1, 2025 closes the Panther Creek Recreation Area north of Old Highway 441 for up to two years. The order's map keeps Panther Creek Trail 72, the route to the falls, open.
When to go
Summer sees heavy use of the beach and pool below the falls.
On site
The pool at the base is deep enough to be dangerous: on June 7, 2026, a 19-year-old drowned there in about 12 feet of water, and rescuers had to carry him nearly 900 yards over rough ground to the nearest road. Treat the deep water with caution and watch footing on wet rock. The Chattooga River Ranger District manages the area.
Nearby
Katie Falls on Wheeler Branch is about 0.3 mile away. On the Tallulah River, Sweet Sixteen Falls is about 3.9 miles away and Bridal Veil Falls about 4 miles. Toccoa is the nearest town.
Distances are straight-line.