Panthertown Valley is a protected 10,000-acre collection of outstanding geologic formations, forests, streams and native plant life. It's a designated Blue Ridge National Heritage Area natural heritage site and is recognized by The Wilderness Society as one of North Carolina’s Mountain Treasures. Best of all, 30 miles of backcountry trails allow you to explore the vast majority of the area.
Beginning on Earth Day, April 22, and running through May 17, Panthertown is the focus of an effort by the Friends of Panthertown to survey as much of the area as possible for its biological and geological attributes. You can be a part of that effort by participating in one of the following BioBlitz events. For more information and to sign up, go here.
- Tuesday, April 22 (Earth Day) -- Earth Day BioBlitz Kick-off at Western Carolina University, Cullowhee.
- Wednesday, April 23 -- The Panthertown Bog, David Siripoonsup with the North Carolina Dept. of Natural and Cultural Resources' Division of Land & Water Stewardship.
- Thursday, April 24 -- Panthertown Trees, Brian Kloeppel, Western Carolina University
- Friday, April 15 - Sunday, April 28 -- NC BioBlitz Weekend
- Thursday, April 29 -- Fungi of Panthertown, Gina Patton, Balsam Mountain Trust
- Wednesday, April 30 -- Understory Plants, Adam Bigelow, Bigelow’s Botanical Excursions
- Friday, May 2 -- The Geology that Created Panthertown, Bill Jacobs, author and geologist
- Saturday, May 3 -- Panthertown Birders, Topher Stephens, Wild Remembering
- Monday, May 5 -- Salamander Steps, Kyle Pursel, Lonesome Valley
- Thursday, May 8 -- Hikin' Lichin', Stephanie Contreras, H-CLT
- Saturday, May 10 -- Wild Wildflowers, Adam Bigelow, Bigelow’s Botanical Excursions
- Wednesday, May 14 -- Panthertown Fungi, Krista Robb, Appalachia Patch
- Thursday, May 15 -- BioBlitz Friend-zy, Kara McMullen, Trails & Stewardship Director
- Saturday, May 17 -- BioBlitz Celebration with Lewis Hall at The Village Green, Cashiers
Plus, the weekend of the BioBlitz Celebration there will be a backpacking and hiking weekend including:
- Friday, May 16 - Sunday, May 18 -- Backpacking weekend (including the two hikes below)
- Saturday, May 17 -- 4-mile hike in Panthertown Valley
- Sunday, May 18 -- 6-mile hike in Panthertown Valley
Details to be announced on these events.
Important Note: Again, to register for any of the above events, go here. Registering on this site DOES NOT guarantee you a spot on the above hikes.
