The west entrance - also called the Cedar Creek or Salt Rock Gap entrance - offers numerous possibilities for excellent hikes, but you need a map! Again, none of the trails are currently marked and there are several ways to get to the waterfalls I cover here. Begin the hike through the Valley on the Panthertown Valley Trail #474 which is the main trail that runs through Panthertown and connects both parking areas. Less than 10 minutes down the trail on the left is the beautiful view of Panthertown Valley pictured above. That's Big Green Mountain on the right, Little Green Mountain in the middle left, and Cold Mountain in the background. Just before you get to this point is the Wilderness Falls Trail #490 on the right that heads towards Wilderness Falls. I was previously calling this falls the waterfall on Double Knob Gap Branch as it didn't have an official name. The trail is marked on the Kornegay map with small dots and looks like a small drainage. Once on the trail, it becomes fairly obvious and is easy to follow. (The Panthertown Trails decision shows that this trail will be rerouted in the future.) After about 1/4 mile, the trail comes out on a small steep rock bald area. Head down towards the far side and pick up the trail which heads steeply down next to the creek. You are near the top of Wilderness Falls at this point. The trail continues down to the base of the falls and a small side trail leads down to a very small viewing area.

Wilderness Falls is probably about 60-70' high and flows over some banded rock. It's one of Panthertown's hidden treasures. If you are following on either map, the trail continues down creek and meanders through the forest. It's still fairly easy to follow, but there are a couple of smaller side trails. Stay on the one that looks the most used. In less than 1/2 mile the trail ends at the wider Deep Gap Trail #449. Frolictown Creek will be on the opposite side of the trail. Just to the right will be the waterfall pictured below, but look just a tad to the left for the trail that leads down the bank to the base of the falls. This waterfall isn't very big, but is a nice place to hang out for a bit.

An alternate route to both of these falls would be to come down the Pantherown Valley Trail, take a right on the Deep Gap Trail, go to Frolictown Falls first, then take the Wilderness Falls Trail up to the base of Wilderness Falls. This is where hiking in Panthertown Valley can be confusing. If you have the Kornegay map and compare it with the Forest Service map, you'll see there are a lot more trails in this area shown on the Kornegay map. Having a compass and knowing how to use it will help. If the map shows a trail heading west and your compass indicates you are heading south or north or east, you have problems.

From Frolictown Falls, climb back up to the trail and head to the right on the Deep Gap Trail #449. Next stop on the waterfall tour would be Granny Burrell Falls. The Deep Gap Trail immediately forks - take the right fork which is the Granny Burrell Trail #486. In less than 1/4 mile, the trail crosses Panthertown Creek and you may have to get your feet wet to cross. Once across, bear left to pick up the trail that follows the creek down stream. If you turn right, this is now the Great Wall Trail #489 that leads to a large primitive camping area and the shelter marked on both maps. The trail down to Granny Burrell Falls is about 1/4 mile and the viewing area is an area of bedrock below the falls. Again, this waterfall isn't that big either. It's maybe 10' high, but then the creek flows over about 100' of bedrock and into a big shallow pool. The 2 shots below are from Granny Burrell Falls.

Granny Burrell Falls

Granny Burrell Falls in winter

From here there are numerous possibilities of where to go next. To get back to the parking area, continue on the Granny Burrell Trail down creek a short distance until it ends at a wider trail - the Mac's Gap Trail #482. Turn left, cross the creek on a bridge and continue on this trail through a young pine forest with a small camping area. In about 1/4 mile, it interescts with the Panthertown Valley Trail that runs through the valley. Turn left and stay on this trail for about 1 mile back to the parking area.