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Blood Mountain via Byron Reece Trailhead

Blairsville, Georgia

4.7/5
based on 9 reviews

Details

Distance

4.34 miles

Elevation Gain

1447 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Rob Giersch

Blood Mountain is an awesome day hike in the heart of The Chattahoochee National Forest. Enjoy beautiful vistas of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains from the top.

The Chattahoochee National Forest and Cohutta Wilderness make up the wild and scenic southern tip of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Blood Mountain trail offers the day hiker a taste of the Appalachian Trail that does not disappoint.

The hike starts at the Byron Reece trailhead at Neels Gap where you follow the blue trail blazes. As is typical in the southeastern mountains, your journey begins with a wander across creeks and through tight rhododendron. Enjoy the mild warm up as very soon you begin your climb up the hill to where The Byron Reece meets the Appalachian Trail at Flat Rock Gap. Turn right at this junction, following the white blazes, and settle in for the long climb to the top.

Don't let a little hill intimidate you, the scenery is amazing as the trail winds up through big rock formations and dense woods. You'll sweat, but enjoy the sweet mountain air and quiet of the hills.

There are a few false summits on the way to the top, so don't drop your pack at the first overlook you come to. Once you transition from trail to more solid rock underfoot you will cross a number of stony balds that certainly give pause to view the valley below. Press on until the ground levels off and you once more transition back to trail. You will know you have reached the top when you run into the stone cabin built by The Civilian Conservation Corps in 1934.

Picnic Rock (beside the stone cabin) is aptly named, and it is here where you will want to kick back and take in the full expanse of the Blue Ridge laid out in all its splendor. Keep your eyes out for large birds of prey who circle about, riding thermal winds, until they spot lunch and dive out of sight. Sunrise and sunset make for fantastic photo opportunities, just make sure you bring along lighting if planning to be on the trail when the sun is down.

The return trip is just a matter of retracing your steps, so take your time. It's all down hill, so stop and check out a few of the overlooks and rocky crags missed on the way up. The Appalachians are some of the world's oldest mountains, and the sands of time have literally worn much of the stone smooth with age.

Quite frankly, this is a hike to put on the repeat list as each season provides the adventurer with new discoveries, wildlife, and landscape.

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Features

Camping
Photography
Backpacking
Hiking
Dog Friendly
Easy Parking
Family Friendly
Forest
Picnic Area
Scenic
Wildflowers
Wildlife

Blood Mountain via Byron Reece Trailhead Reviews

It's a great trail that intersects the Appalachian Trail. Be careful if you end up having to hike in the dark. I have this habit of either going too late in the day, or taking my sweet time on the way up or at the overlook, causing me to hike back in the dark (with a head lamp of course). That happened here at Blood Mtn and my friend and I got sort of lost for about an hour. We accidentally turned on to the AT and had to retrace and find the Byron Reece trail... Could've gone forever. But anywho, it was a good experience. Met a girl in the middle of the night who was finishing her last 2 days on the AT. She started in Maine and had been on the trail for months straight. It was awesome hearing her story.

Absolutely breathtaking and totally worth the work to get to the top.

Love this hike, camping at the summit is easy and it allows you to see some really beautiful sunsets and sunrises.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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