Categories: Play, Hiking & Backpacking, Mountain Biking, Horseback Riding, Backcountry Camping, Hikes to waterfalls, Dog Friendly Hiking Trails, Panthertown Valley Bike Trails, Back Country Horse Trails, Panthertown Valley
The Deep Gap Trail #449 is a nice trail to take a bike ride on and is very easily accesible from the West Parking Area for Panthertown valley. Pay close attention to my detailed local directions and you shouldn't have any trouble finding this relatively flat trail. You will pass Salt Rock Gap which we recommend stopping at to take in the gorgeous panorama of the valley below you. Shortly after you leave here you'll be accessing the Deep Gap Trail on your Right. If you desire to camp overnight, you should consider a nice primitive campsite that will be on you Left in a small pine grove just minutes after you've been riding on Deep Gap Trail. We would recommend setting your camp up as soon as you get to the site and then spend the rest of the day exploring the area and getting an idea of what to plan depending upon how long your stay will be. NOTE: We recommend researching the Panthertown Valley area before coming and also suggest not coming by yourself or without a map. This area is "wild" and the trail system is unmarked, you can get lost very easily if you don't know where you're going. Our best suggestion is to download and print the map we provide on this site, find the trail(s) you are interested in and plan out your day accordingly. You need to avoid any side trails you come across (and you'll come across a lot of them).
From the main intersection of U.S. Hwy 64 and N.C. Hwy 107 in Cashiers, N.C. take Hwy 64 East (towards Brevard) for 2 miles to "Cedar Creek Road" on your Left (crossing the Horsepasture River). Take Cedar Creek Road for 2.3 miles to "Breedlove Road" (S.R. 1121 or "State Road") on your Right. There will be a sign for Panthertown Valley at the Stop Sign. Take the Right and travel 3.3 miles to the end of the pavement for Breedlove Rd and where the rough, gravel road begins. Either park at the cul-de-sac here or continue on the rough but short gravel/mud road to the main parking area. To pick up Deep Gap Trail #449 from the main parking area continue past the iron gate and access Panthertown Valley Trail #474. Continue down this wide trail passing Wilderness Falls Trail #490 (faint trail) and Salt Rock Gap on your Left at approx. 0.25 mile. You're looking for the next intersection just about 2 minutes past Salt Rock Gap and on your Right. It is a predominant trail at approx. 0.55 mile and is Deep Gap Trail #449.