Description of the Trail

Blood Mountain is the highest point on the Appalachian Trail (AT) in Georgia. It is one of the highest places in Georgia, after Brasstown Bald, and Rabun Bald. On a clear day, you can see the observation tower at Brasstown Bald. On the top of Blood Mountain, there is a two-room shelter that was built in the 1930's. (During the summer, there are sometimes hordes of flies in the shelter.) Next to the shelter is a huge boulder you can climb up for a good view. It's a nice place to have lunch after the hike up, and not a bad spot to nap. There are great views in all directions from the top of the mountain.

There are several trails you can hike to the top of Blood Mountain. Some of them are:

• From Woody Gap or Neels Gap on the Appalachian Trail - This are more strenuous but pleasant hikes. From Woody Gap, it's about 9 miles. From Neels Gap, it's about 2 1/2 miles. The Walasi-Yi Inn at Neels Gap has hiking and camping supplies as well as rest rooms and showers. That's really not a good place to park if you're hiking because the store needs parking for its customers. The best thing to do is go a little ways north of the store
  (less than a mile), and turn left (west) into the parking lot for a spur trail to the AT. From there, it's about a one-mile hike to the AT. This past Summer (1998), I (Hiker Tom) met several people who were doing maintenance work on the trail. It looked like a lot of hard work in the hottest time of the year. Some of these people were doing this work on their vacation. Hikers owe them a debt of gratitude for all their efforts.
  
  
• From Lake Winfield Scott - There are two trails from Lake Winfield Scott which can be taken to Blood Mountain. The Jarrard Gap Trail which is 1 mile to the AT and The Slaughter Gap Trail which is 2.7 Miles to the AT. From Slaughter Gap to Blood Mountain is about one mile. So a nice loop from Lake Winfield Scott to Blood Mountain and return is to take the Slaughter Gap trail to the AT and then to Blood Mountain (3.7 miles) and return via the AT and the Jarrard Gap Trail (3.8 miles). Lake Winfield Scott is 22 miles from Dahlonega via Hwy. 60 and Hwy. 180 at Suches. For general information about the AT, visit the Appalachian Trail Home Page
  
  
• From Vogel State Park - This is admittedly not the most direct route to Blood Mountain, but it is a way to get there. Park at the ranger building at Vogel State Park and go left on the Backcountry Trail. You hike on this trail for approximately 3.1 miles, then take a sidetrail for a mile or so to Slaughter Gap. This puts you on the AT. From Slaughter Gap to Blood Mountain is about one mile. This is a round trip of about 10 miles. It's interesting how many trails connect in this area. It makes for lots of potential day hikes.