Conasauga River Trail & Panther Creek Intersection
This review is about the Conasauga River Trail intersection with Panther Creek. There is only one campsite at the intersection. It has a great fire pit and is flat, spacious, and next to the river. Definitely ideal. If it’s taken, there may be some other sites further down the trail. My loop started at Betty’s gap and then down the Conasauga River Trail. 5 miles is fine - BUT bring shoes that will get wet, water shoes if possible. You have the cross the river like 30 times in 5 miles. There are also many fallen trees, so be prepared. The next day I headed up towards panther creek. NEVER trust yourself. As of May 2024: As you go UP the canyon, there are green blazers on the trees. Follow these (about 1 mile ip, the wagon road will curve left and many people have gone down it. STAY RIGHT.) When you reach the top of the falls, the land is flat and wide, and it will be hard to find the trail. Follow any path here, and you will find that the trail is down about 7 minutes, towards the LEFT and the trees had orange tape around them. The trees then are marked with white blazers. Follow this trail up and you hit East Cowpen. I used this to loop back to my car which was at Betty’s Gap on Three Forks Road (FS 64). Not for the faint of heart. Much easier to do a long hard arduous day trip than to backpack over all the fallen trees! Be prepared for dense foliage after April. Certainly easier in the fall/winter!