Schoolhouse Falls and Swimming Hole

The most well-known waterfall of Panthertown Valley, 18-foot Schoolhouse Falls, a mix of small cascades ending in a free fall from Greenland Creek, is best visited on a sunny summer day.

Botanical enthusiasts will be right at home among the cascade’s rare plants, but watch out for the slippery algae coating the rocks you might feel inclined to climb on. As you might imagine, the name stems from the fact that a small schoolhouse, built almost a century ago, once sat nearby. While the logging families cleared out of the area after the Depression, the schoolhouse often served as a home for those down on their luck.

Hike Description

A map is highly recommended to hike in Panthertown Valley. Learn more here and get trailhead directions. Once at the Cold Mountain Gap trailhead:

Take the trail to the right of the information kiosk and follow it 0.15 mile to an old dirt road. Turn left on the road. You’ll go on a moderate descent for about 0.9 mile to a trail intersection at a small, level clearing. You’ll pass some side paths along the road, some cutting the switchbacks and one leading down to the top of the falls. The easiest route to the falls is to follow the road all the way down.

At the intersection, Devils Elbow Trail (#448) goes right and leads to Wardens Falls. Panthertown Valley Trail (#474), which you followed to reach this point, goes straight ahead. To the left, an old path leads to Schoolhouse Falls, but don’t take it. Instead, go straight on Panthertown Valley Trail, cross Greenland Creek on the bridge, then turn left on the obvious Little Green Trail (#485). It leads to Schoolhouse Falls in about 0.15 mile.

Photo Credit: @ekim.log via Instagram on Jul 3