Hiking the Appalachian Trail – Jarrard Gap to Slaughter Creek
This 6 mile hike travels a scenic stretch of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia in the Blood Mountain Wilderness.
This 6 mile hike winds through the Blood Mountain Wilderness – one of the most beautiful hiking areas in North Georgia – along the famed Appalachian trail and beside Slaughter Creek. The hike loops from Lake Winfield Scott on 3 fantastic trails – along the Jarrard Trail to Jarrard Gap, follows the Appalachian Trail to the base of Blood Mountain and turns back towards the trailhead along the Slaughter Creek Trail.
From the Lake Winfield Scott parking area, follow Slaughter Creek south from the lake to the trailhead.
Follow the blue-blazed Slaughter Creek Trail, crossing the creek over a small wooden bridge, to the junction with Slaughter Creek Road at around .25 miles from the trailhead.
Take a right and begin hiking along the gravel road 500 feet to the trailhead of the Jarrard Trail.
Begin hiking Jarrard Trail, blazed regularly in blue, along a small stream, Lance Branch, on your left. The vegetation here is a mix of rhododendron, a staple of the north Georgia mountains, as well as deciduous forest. Continue ascending up the Jarrard Gap Trail to Jarrard Gap, where you’ll intersect the Appalachian Trail at 1.25 miles. Look for the single white blazes of the Appalachian Trail, taking a left onto the trail to begin an ascent up Gaddis Mountain.
Continue hiking the Appalachian Trail, enjoying expansive vistas (especially viewable in the winter, as they were on our mid-February hike) to the left and right as the trail levels off near the top of Gaddis Mountain.
The Appalachian Trail descends toward Horsebone Gap before ascending towards Turkey Stamp Mountain, skirting the mountain along the north side of the ridge. The trail will begin to descend again as you approach the intersection of the Freeman Trail at 2.75 miles, passing campsites to your left.
Pass the Freeman Trail junction – your hike continues along the Appalachian Trail towards Bird Gap. The Appalachian Trail intersects the Slaughter Creek Trail at 3.1 miles, turning left off the trail after it crosses the small creek.
The Slaughter Creek Trail, blazed in blue rectangular blazes, winds down along several small stream crossings that join the larger Slaughter Creek. The trail continues winding down through rhododendron and deciduous forest, leaving the Blood Mountain Wilderness at 4.8 miles.
The trail crosses Slaughter Creek a final time over a bridge before intersecting the gravel-paved Slaughter Creek road at 5.75 miles. Cross straight across the road to return back to the trailhead at Lake Winfield Scott, retracing your original route from the parking area.
Click here for a GPS map of this hike. (Note: GPS service cut out in our final mile on the hike; the hike continues from the marked end along the Slaughter Creek Trail to the trailhead near Lake Winfield Scott).
GPS Coordinates: 34.737426,-83.973118
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