Panther Creek



Distance: 9 miles
Time: 1 to 2 hours
Rating: Easy to moderate
Elevation: gently rolling, 1080' to 1280'
Surface: dirt
Maps: USGS Quadrangles: Talbott
     area and trail map
     Park area map (pdf) or here
     Google map/topo/aerial view
Access: Panther Creek State Park lies between Jefferson City and Morristown on Highway 342 (west off of 11E), or exit 4 from I81. We have GPS waypoints (.gpx), maps, and driving directions for some of the trail heads at trail-head parking.

Description: Panther Creek sits on the edge of Cherokee Lake and provides numerous recreational opportunities, including biking, hiking, volleyball, softball, swimming, camping, picnic areas, boating, and fishing. The Appalachian Mtn Bike Club along with other volunteers have developed delightful single track through the forests and fields. Old Wagon Trail, Deer Trail, Piney Cove Trail, and the Farm Loops are fairly easy (5 miles). The Pioneer Trail loop (2.6 miles) off the Farm Loop is more technical. The Trout Lily Trail is a tough 2 mile loop that starts just west of the boat ramp and has some technical (walk?) rocky sections along the shoreline. During the winter when the lake is drawn down, one can ride along the north side of the Panther Creek embayment. See GPS track/elevation profile. Trail development continues on the Rice Knob section.

Bikes are not permitted on hiking trails.

12 hour-race, June 7, 2008, info and 2010 ocho GPS track/elevation profile Info on 2011 Ocho 8 hr race.


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Revised 11/22/97 by Tom Dunigan ©