one day
Commitment
intermediate
Fitness level
blood mtn
Location
What to Expect
Join the Georgia Conservancy on Wednesday, October 1 for a day hike at Blood Mountain. Our group will rally up at Mountain Crossings Outfitters at Neel’s Gap at 10 AM for last-minute provisions before parking a few yards away at the Byron Reece Trailhead. From there we will begin the 5-mile out-and-back morning hike along the Byron Reece Trail and Appalachian Trail to the summit of Blood Mountain.
Questions? Please reach out to Georgia Conservancy Communications Director Brian Foster at bfoster@gaconservancy.org
Blood Mountain is the highest peak on Georgia’s portion of the Appalachian Trail. Some believe the name came from a bloody battle between the Cherokee and Muscogee-Creek long before white settlers arrived in the area. Other theories derive the name from red lichen or Catawba rhododendron growing on the rocky summit. At 4,458, it overlooks an area rich in streams, hiking trails, and scenic recreation spots, one of which – Sosebee Cove – is probably Georgia’s only north-facing cove traversed by a paved road at such high elevation. It has an accessible boulder field, northern hardwoods, large buckeyes, and tulip poplars.
The Appalachian Trail/Byron Reece Trail from Neels Gap to the Blood Mountain Summit is about 2.5 miles (five miles roundtrip). The trail is generally steep and rocky in many places, but easy to follow. Near the summit, hikers will be rewarded with several picnic rocks and superb vistas from rock outcrops, including Yonah Mountain, Tray Mountain, Lake Winfield Scott, and Slaughter Mountain.
The Schedule
Wednesday: Let's Go For A Hike!
Meeting point: Mountain Crossings
Meet at Mountain Crossings Outfitters at Neels Gap by 10 AM. 12471 Gainesville Hwy, Blairsville, GA 30512. Our group will gather, have the chance to use the restroom, fill up water bottles, and grab snacks before we caravan a couple of hundred yards to the Byron Reece Trailhead. The plan is to be on the trail by 10:30 AM.
The hike from Neels Gap along the Byron Reece and Appalachian Trails to the Blood Mountain summit and back is roughly 5 miles round trip. To reach the summit we will steadily ascend for 2.5 miles. There is a significant amount of uphill elevation gain (1400+ feet) during this hike, so do keep that in mind. From a technical standpoint, the hike is moderate in difficulty, but does take a bit of work and endurance. We will stop many times to rest, drink water, and enjoy the views.
If you have any concerns about how difficult the hike may be, please feel free to contact me with any questions!
Here is more info about this hike from our friends at Atlanta Trails: https://www.atlantatrails.com/hiking-trails/wooded-serenity-the-appalachian-trail-at-blood-mountain/
We do not have a set time to be off of the trail, but plan for a 4-ish hour hike.
Plan your trip
The Details
Arrival Time
Meet at Mountain Crossings Outfitters at Neels Gap by 10 AM.
Look for Georgia Conservancy staff.
What Should I Pack?
Hiking shoes/boots with strong support and good grip
Waterproof/water-resistant jacket (just in case!)
Small daypack / backpack
Water
Snacks / lunch
Binoculars and/or camera if you got ’em!
Is This Family Friendly?
This is an intermediate fitness level trip, so while we welcome teens and their parents, young children don’t do well.
There is a significant amount of uphill elevation gain (1400+ feet) during this hike, so do keep that in mind. From a technical standpoint, the hike is moderate in difficulty, but does take a bit of work and endurance.
What's The Appalachian Trail?
From the Georgia Conservancy’s Guide to the North Georgia Mountains: The Appalachian Trail National Scenic Trail is a wilderness footpath that winds more than 2,100 miles along the crest of the Appalachian Mountains. It runs through fourteen eastern states, stretching from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. The trail began nearly 100 years ago with a “grand vision” articulated in 1921 by Benton MacKaye – forester, regional planner and conservationist.
Register For This Trip
*Registration opens to current Georgia Conservancy donors (last 12 months) on September 2 at 5 PM and the General Public on September 4 at 5 PM
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