Blood Mountain Loop
Basic Trail Information
Trailhead: Byron Reece Memorial Trail Parking | 34.742906, -83.921309 | 0.5 mile north of (Neel Gap) 9710 Gainesville Hwy Chattahoochee National Forest Blairsville, GA 30512 | Free Parking
Blazed: Yes, Byron Reece Memorial Trail is blue blazed. The AT is white blazed. The Freeman Trail is blue blazed. You will use all three trails to complete this loop.
Distance: 6.1 mile loop hike.
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Beginner Difficulty: Moderate with strenuous climb to Blood Mountain Summit due to length and elevation gain
Elevation Gain: Constant and significant elevation gain of approximately 1,350 feet over 6.1 miles.
Elevation Loss: Constant and significant elevation loss of approximately 1,200 feet over 6.1 miles.
Starting/Ending Elevation: Byron Reese Memorial Parking | Approximately 3,100 feet
Point Elevation: Blood Mountain Summit View | 4,461 feet
Main Attractions: Several Blood Mountain Views (highest point on the GA AT), Mountain Crossing at Neel Gap, and Blood Mountain Stone Shelter.
Ideal for: Day hikers. Overnight hikers can also enjoy this trail by combing it with longer trails, such as the Duncan Ridge Trail, Slaughter Creek Trail-Jarrard Trail-AT loop, or access Blood Mountain via Vogel State Park.
Other Nearby Trails: AT-Jarrard-Slaughter Creek Trail Loop, DeSoto Falls, Brasstown Bald, Vogel State Park Trails.
Blazed: Yes, Byron Reece Memorial Trail is blue blazed. The AT is white blazed. The Freeman Trail is blue blazed. You will use all three trails to complete this loop.
Distance: 6.1 mile loop hike.
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Beginner Difficulty: Moderate with strenuous climb to Blood Mountain Summit due to length and elevation gain
Elevation Gain: Constant and significant elevation gain of approximately 1,350 feet over 6.1 miles.
Elevation Loss: Constant and significant elevation loss of approximately 1,200 feet over 6.1 miles.
Starting/Ending Elevation: Byron Reese Memorial Parking | Approximately 3,100 feet
Point Elevation: Blood Mountain Summit View | 4,461 feet
Main Attractions: Several Blood Mountain Views (highest point on the GA AT), Mountain Crossing at Neel Gap, and Blood Mountain Stone Shelter.
Ideal for: Day hikers. Overnight hikers can also enjoy this trail by combing it with longer trails, such as the Duncan Ridge Trail, Slaughter Creek Trail-Jarrard Trail-AT loop, or access Blood Mountain via Vogel State Park.
Other Nearby Trails: AT-Jarrard-Slaughter Creek Trail Loop, DeSoto Falls, Brasstown Bald, Vogel State Park Trails.
I did this loop in May 2014. I had done Blood Mountain as an out-and-back hike numerous times in the past 3 months. I also learned about Byron Reece Memorial Trail and avoided that 0.5 mile road walk to Neel Gap.
I parked at Byron Reece Memorial Trail Parking and followed the blue blazed trail as it climbed 0.7 miles and about 400 feet in elevation to Flatrock Gap. This is the intersection of the three trails you will be using to complete this loop trail. Behind me was Byron Reece Memorial Trail. To my right was the familiar white blaze of the AT traveling south to Blood Mountain. To my left was the AT white blaze traveling north to Neel Gap. In front of me was the blue blazed Freeman trail.
I parked at Byron Reece Memorial Trail Parking and followed the blue blazed trail as it climbed 0.7 miles and about 400 feet in elevation to Flatrock Gap. This is the intersection of the three trails you will be using to complete this loop trail. Behind me was Byron Reece Memorial Trail. To my right was the familiar white blaze of the AT traveling south to Blood Mountain. To my left was the AT white blaze traveling north to Neel Gap. In front of me was the blue blazed Freeman trail.
I had previously decided to start with the difficult portion of the trail first and I decided to turn right and climb Blood Mountain traveling on the AT southbound. For a greater description of the hike up Blood Mountain, click here.
I reached the summit of Blood Mountain in no time. My hiking endurance by this point was improving greatly. I made it to the summit without breaking a sweat. After taking in the mandatory time at the gorgeous summit of Blood Mountain, I continued to take the AT south. Unlike the Blood Mountain point-and-back hike, where I turned around and returned to Byron Reece Memorial Trail Parking lot the way I came, this time I was going to continue traveling south. There is a steep, rocky descent down Blood Mountain whether you are going north to Neel Gap or south toward Woody Gap. After about 0.4 miles of hiking down Blood Mountain, I came across another blazed side trail. This was Duncan Ridge Trail. This trail will be on your right coming down the mountain. Another trail to look up I thought when I get back into town. I continue hiking and in another 0.3 miles I reached Slaughter Creek Trail, which is blue blazed. The side trail was also on my right. Here there is a water source right off the trail and there is also nearby camping spot. I continue to hike for another 0.2 miles and I come to Freeman trail on my left. It is a blue blazed side trail which bypasses Blood Mountain. Here I learned about "blue blazing," which is a way thru hikers bypass particularly difficult climbs, like Blood Mountain. Others call it cheating. Hike your own hike.
I took a left on Freeman trail and followed as it traversed along the base of Blood Mountain. I traveled on Freeman Trail for a little over 1 mile. Over this mile, the Freeman Trail crosses several boulders and constantly descends until you reach Flatrock Gap again. Once at Flatrock Gap, the Byron Reece Memorial Trail is in front of you, the AT Northbound is to your right, and the AT Southbound towards Blood Mountain is to your left. Here, you can either take Byron Reece 0.7 miles back to the parking lot or turn right and go to Neel Gap and the Mountain Crossing if you'd like to pick something up from the outfitter. Of course, Neel Gap will require you to travel north On Gainesville Hwy for less than a half a mile to get back to Byron Reece parking lot.
After I made it back from home from this hike, I learned about the Duncan Ridge Trail and the AT-Jarrard-Slaughter Creek Trail Loop.
I reached the summit of Blood Mountain in no time. My hiking endurance by this point was improving greatly. I made it to the summit without breaking a sweat. After taking in the mandatory time at the gorgeous summit of Blood Mountain, I continued to take the AT south. Unlike the Blood Mountain point-and-back hike, where I turned around and returned to Byron Reece Memorial Trail Parking lot the way I came, this time I was going to continue traveling south. There is a steep, rocky descent down Blood Mountain whether you are going north to Neel Gap or south toward Woody Gap. After about 0.4 miles of hiking down Blood Mountain, I came across another blazed side trail. This was Duncan Ridge Trail. This trail will be on your right coming down the mountain. Another trail to look up I thought when I get back into town. I continue hiking and in another 0.3 miles I reached Slaughter Creek Trail, which is blue blazed. The side trail was also on my right. Here there is a water source right off the trail and there is also nearby camping spot. I continue to hike for another 0.2 miles and I come to Freeman trail on my left. It is a blue blazed side trail which bypasses Blood Mountain. Here I learned about "blue blazing," which is a way thru hikers bypass particularly difficult climbs, like Blood Mountain. Others call it cheating. Hike your own hike.
I took a left on Freeman trail and followed as it traversed along the base of Blood Mountain. I traveled on Freeman Trail for a little over 1 mile. Over this mile, the Freeman Trail crosses several boulders and constantly descends until you reach Flatrock Gap again. Once at Flatrock Gap, the Byron Reece Memorial Trail is in front of you, the AT Northbound is to your right, and the AT Southbound towards Blood Mountain is to your left. Here, you can either take Byron Reece 0.7 miles back to the parking lot or turn right and go to Neel Gap and the Mountain Crossing if you'd like to pick something up from the outfitter. Of course, Neel Gap will require you to travel north On Gainesville Hwy for less than a half a mile to get back to Byron Reece parking lot.
After I made it back from home from this hike, I learned about the Duncan Ridge Trail and the AT-Jarrard-Slaughter Creek Trail Loop.