Panthertown Valley from Salt Rock Gap by Mosley Hardy

Canon Powershot G9

Panthertown Valley is a treat for hikers, as it contains a curious mixture of threatened and endangered species and natural communities.

Panthertown is distinguished by its broad flat valley floor flanked by granite cliffs abruptly rising 200 to 300 feet. These granite domes with exposed rock are uncommon in the southern Appalachians and offer spectacular open vistas. The unusually flat valley is home to at least 11 different natural communities, including the rare southern Appalachian bog and the swamp forest-bog community. These communities harbor numerous rare plants, such as Cuthbert's turtlehead, Canada burnet, marsh bellflower, climbing fern, and spinulose wood fern.

The headwaters of the East Fork of the Tuckasegee River and 20 miles of native brook trout streams, including Panthertown, Greenland, and Flat Creeks, are located in Panthertown Valley.

This is a view from Salt Rock Gap, near the west parking area.

The text above was excerpted from the Nature Conservancy website:

www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/northcarolina/preserves/art5621.html 
imagesoftheupstate.com /