It’s the tallest peak on Georgia’s stretch of the Appalachian Trail, offering stunning summit views. And it’s one of Georgia’s most popular hiking destinations. Blood Mountain draws day hikers and backpackers to its summit by the dozens every fair-weather weekend.
But there’s more to Blood Mountain than the often-hiked route from Neels Gap to the 4,458-foot summit. Explore the Blood Mountain summit’s beauty from all angles with this list of our favorite Blood Mountain hiking trails, and grab some serenity on the mountain’s lesser-traveled trails.
Blood Mountain: our favorite hikes and backpacking adventures
These are our favorite backpacking and hiking trails at Blood Mountain, listed in increasing difficulty and distance. And whether you hit the mountain for a day hike or a camping trip, please remember to help preserve the vast beauty of the Georgia wilderness by packing in everything you’ve packed out, and remember to leave no trace on your adventures.
Byron Reece Trail at Neels Gap
1.35 MILES, OUT-AND-BACK
Get a taste of the Blood Mountain Wilderness beauty on this short trek from Neels Gap to Blood Mountain’s lower elevations, hiking a mossy, stream and fern-filled forest to the Appalachian Trail.
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Appalachian Trail and Byron Reece Trail to the Blood Mountain summit
4.3 MILES, OUT-AND-BACK
The most direct, popular and often-busy trail to the summit, this hike accesses the AT from the Byron Reece trailhead north of Neel’s Gap.
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Blood Mountain Loop
6 MILE LOOP
The Blood Mountain Loop hikes the Appalachian Trail, Freeman Trail and Byron Reece Trail, trekking over and around the mountain’s summit.
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Appalachian Trail Loop at Lake Winfield Scott and Slaughter Mountain
5.7 MILE LOOP
Hike a scenic loop on Blood Mountain’s mid-elevations, beginning at Lake Winfield Scott, hiking the Appalachian Trail from Jarrard Gap to Blood Mountain and returning on the Slaughter Creek Trail just below Slaughter Mountain.
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Vogel State Park to the Blood Mountain summit
8.5 MILES
The longest – and most difficult – trek to Blood Mountain, this hike climbs the mountain via Vogel State Park’s Bear Hair Gap, Coosa Backcountry and Duncan Ridge trails.
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Appalachian Trail: Woody Gap to Preachers Rock and Jarrard Gap
11.6 MILES
Hike from the paved Woody Gap trailhead over the scenic Big Cedar Mountain summit to Jarrard Gap in the Blood Mountain Wilderness.
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Blood Mountain to Cowrock Mountain via Neels Gap
13 to 16 MILES
Backpack the Appalachian Trail from Blood Mountain to Cowrock Mountain via Neels Gap. Camp on a mountaintop – and if you’re lucky, score the prime site at the Wolf Laurel Top summit.
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Our favorite hiking gear
What to pack for a Blood Mountain adventure?
Ready to hit the trail, but wondering what to pack? We print and stitch our Atlanta Trails shirts and hats locally in Atlanta and Asheville, and they’re our favorite for trail adventures all over the South. And no matter what you pack in, pack it all back out. Please leave no trace and help preserve Georgia’s beauty.
OUR HIKING GEAR LIST
Backpacking & Camping
Blood Mountain’s high elevations and rugged beauty make it a popular backpacking and camping destination. Camp fires are not permitted in the Blood Mountain Wilderness. Due to the Wilderness area’s popularity, and some irresponsible campers, black bears have begun to frequent the forest, so storing food in a bear-resistant canister is required from March 1 through June 1, and strongly suggested year-round. (Need one? We’ve got them in stock at our Trailful Outdoor Co. shop.)
Grab some solitude under the stars by backpacking in to one of the many trailside campsites on the Appalachian Trail or Slaughter Creek Trails (free, first-come first-camp). Most day-hikers scale the mountain from Flatrock Gap via the Byron Reece Trail, so find the most serenity on the Appalachian Trail on the mountain’s western face. The sites are most directly hiked via the Blood Mountain Loop Trail.
Prefer car camping at a campground? Tent camp on a glassy mountain lake at the Lake Winfield Scott campground (fees – view reservation info) and hike to Blood Mountain via the Jarrard Trail and Slaughter Creek Trail. Or spend the night at one of Vogel State Park’s cabins, electric or tent camp sites and hike to the mountain’s summit via Vogel’s Bear Hair Gap Trail, Coosa Backcountry Trail and Duncan Ridge Trails.
Wondering what to pack for a great camping adventure? Our camping gear list features our favorite tents, sleeping bags, furniture, cookware, and campsite essentials for an adventure under the stars.
Please Remember
Always leave no trace, pack out everything you pack in, and if you see trash, pick it up and pack it out.
Stay on the marked trail, tell someone where you're going, pack safety and wayfinding essentials, and don't rely on a mobile phone to find your way. Please always practice good trail etiquette. And before you go, always check the trailhead kiosk, official maps, and the park or ranger office for notices of changed routes, trail closures, safety information, and restrictions.