Schoolhouse Falls
Jackson County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Jackson County, North Carolina
- Access status
- National forest trails
- The walk
- About 1.2 miles each way
- Ground & access
- Moderate. Old road with switchbacks, then a short creekside trail with boardwalks. The rocks are very slippery.
From US 64 at Lake Toxaway, take NC 281 north just under a mile and bear left on Cold Mountain Road. Go to the end of the road (about 5.7 to 5.8 miles), turn left on gravel Panthertown Road, and turn right into the Cold Mountain Gap parking area, the east entrance to Panthertown Valley. Take Panthertown Valley Trail (#474) from the far end of the parking lot behind the kiosk. After a short distance, turn left on an old road that switchbacks down toward Greenland Creek. Right after the bridge over Greenland Creek, turn left on Little Green Trail (#485) and follow it to boardwalks. The beach in front of the 20 foot falls is just beyond a campsite on the left. Stepping stones across the creek lead to a side view and a path behind the falls.
Plan your visit
Cold Mountain Gap access to Panthertown Valley, Panthertown Valley Trail (#474) and Little Green Trail (#485) to Schoolhouse Falls
Waterfall Hero gives a hike length of 2.4 miles; Take a Hike gives about 2.5 miles round trip.
Moderate. Old road with switchbacks, then a short creekside trail with boardwalks. The rocks are very slippery.
Where to start
Cold Mountain Gap parking area at the end of Cold Mountain Road. Published trailhead coordinates: 35.15766, -82.99869.
Timing & water
No closure is mentioned in the sources read.
Before you go
No fee is mentioned in the sources read. Panthertown Valley, Nantahala National Forest.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Pothole FallsShort backcountry trail from Cold Mountain GapJackson County, NC0.5 miS
- Mac's FallsNational forest trail; short side pathJackson County, NC0.6 miS
Warden FallsForest trails, then a steep scramble path to the baseJackson County, NC0.6 miN- Jawbone FallsNamed national forest trails, then a short informal path to the baseJackson County, NC0.7 miN
- Riding Ford FallsBackcountry trail route from Cold Mountain GapJackson County, NC0.8 miN
- Greenland Creek FallsMarked Panthertown trails from the Cold Mountain Gap accessJackson County, NC1.0 miSE
- Elbow FallsPanthertown trails and a defined side path from the Cold Mountain Gap accessJackson County, NC1.0 miN
- Coolidge FallsJackson County, NC1.2 miW
- Red Butt FallsNational forest trails; short unofficial path and scrambleJackson County, NC1.2 miN