Schoolhouse Falls Hike
Waterfall | North Carolina
2.5 mi round trip
Schoolhouse Falls Hike at a Glance
The Schoolhouse Falls hike via the Little Green Trail is 2.5 mi round trip.
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 3,770 ft |
|---|---|
| Trail | Little Green Trail |
| Distance | 2.5 mi round trip |
Your time: about 50 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 1 h 5 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 470 kcal. No elevation gain is published for this route, so climbing time isn’t included.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 2.5 mi distance for this hike is verified (romanticasheville.com), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Schoolhouse Falls
Schoolhouse Falls is a waterfall in North Carolina, on land managed by Nantahala National Forest (Nantahala Ranger District), Panthertown Valley Backcountry Area.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Little Green Trail: 2.5 miles round trip, from Cold Mountain Gap Trailhead. Distance from romanticasheville.com.
Before You Go
- No fees are required for the Panthertown Valley area. (fs.usda.gov)
- The roads to the parking areas are rough and four-wheel drive is advised. (fs.usda.gov)
- Rocks under the falls are slippery. (discoverjacksonnc.com)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Nantahala National Forest (Nantahala Ranger District), Panthertown Valley Backcountry Area for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Schoolhouse Falls?
The Little Green Trail to Schoolhouse Falls is 2.5 miles round trip.
Where does the Schoolhouse Falls hike start?
It starts from Cold Mountain Gap Trailhead.
Is there a fee to hike to Schoolhouse Falls?
No fees are required for the Panthertown Valley area.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
3:00 PM
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The Schoolhouse Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- romanticasheville.com
- Distance
- romanticasheville.com
- Falls location
- discoverjacksonnc.com
- Elevation
- ≈ Copernicus GLO-90 elevation model at the falls coordinates (via Open-Meteo)
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.
Nearby Hikes
Other hikes within 30 miles of Schoolhouse Falls.