Atlanta TrailsbyTrailful Outdoor Co
Hiking Trails in Georgia

Byron Reece Trail at Neels Gap

Hike the Byron Reece Trail at Neels Gap through a beautiful, mossy, stream-filled forest on the lower elevations of Blood Mountain.

georgia hiking trails: 0-2 miles 1.35 miles
(round trip)
? Your mileage may vary! Accuracy of your GPS device, weather conditions, and stops along your route will affect your own recorded distance.
georgia hiking trails: moderate to difficultmore
difficult
?Our difficulty estimate, based on distance, terrain, elevation change, & ease of wayfinding. May vary daily due to weather, trail reroutes, downed trees, etc.
georgia hiking trails: dog-friendly Dog-
friendly
?Leashed dogs are allowed on this trail. We’ve loved hiking this route with our trail-loving Labrador Retrievers! Check out more of our favorite dog-friendly trails in Georgia for a great hike with your pup.

LOCATION:Blood Mountain Wilderness near Helen, Georgia

PACK:our Osprey day pack and our hiking gear list

OFFICIAL MAP: Nat Geo 777 Trails Illustrated Map (find it at Trailful Outdoor Co.)

The Byron Reece Trail scales Blood Mountain’s lower elevations at Neels Gap, exploring a mossy, stream-filled forest. The trail’s beauty and its just-off-the-highway easy access makes it one of North Georgia’s most popular hikes.

And while the trail is used by many to access trail to the nearby Appalachian Trail at Blood Mountain, it’s a beautiful trail worthy of a 1.35-mile out-and-back hike. At the trail’s end, the Byron Reece Trail offers a chance to set foot on the famed, 2000+ mile Appalachian Trail.

Byron Reece Trail: hike from Neels Gap to the Appalachian Trail at Blood Mountain

(While the Appalachian Trail crosses Highway 129/19/11 at Neels Gap, the Neels Gap parking is reserved for visitors to Mountain Crossings, a great hiking and backpacking outfitter located directly on the Appalachian Trail.)

Hike the Byron Reece Trail at Neels Gap through a beautiful, mossy, stream-filled forest on the lower elevations of Blood Mountain #hiking #trailrunning #camping #backpacking #northgeorgia #atlanta #georgia #travel #outdoors #adventure

Byron Reece Trail at Neels Gap: the hike

The trail hikes through a lush forest in the shadow of Blood Mountain, the highest peak on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia. The adventure starts from the trail’s just-off-the-highway trailhead (view trail maps and driving directions), catching views of a small waterfall at the shady trailhead. The waterfall spills through a small ravine, tumbling over rounded boulders as Shanty Branch Creek exits an old, stone-piled bridge.

Byron Reece Trail: hike to Blood Mountain, exploring a gorgeous, mossy creek valley at Neels Gap

The hike trails southwest from the trailhead, diving into the stunningly beautiful Blood Mountain Wilderness. The route crosses a rocky, mossy stream at .1 mile, shaded by low-hanging, gnarled branches of rhododendron and mountain laurel.

The trail begins to climb elevation, rising on Blood Mountain’s lower elevations. The trail enters a series of sharp trail switchbacks at .2 miles, gaining elevation in an increasingly rocky forest. Rough-hewn stone stairs and boulders line the trail bed as it switches back before leveling at .35 mile. Ferns dominate the cool, damp forest floor under a canopy of towering deciduous trees.

The trail meanders through several broad switchbacks at .5 mile and crosses a small stream.

Byron Reece Trail: hike from Neels Gap to the Appalachian Trail through a lush fern-filled forest

The Byron Reece Trail reaches Flatrock Gap and a four-way trail junction at .65 mile, the trail’s official end. Catch a view of the rolling Appalachian mountains from a clearing at Flatrock Gap, and loop back to the trailhead to complete the adventure at 1.35 miles.



Up for some more Blood Mountain beauty?

Some of North Georgia’s best hikes continue from Flatrock Gap. Instead of immediately retracing the hike back to the trailhead, grab some more miles on the rocky, lichen-covered slopes of Blood Mountain:

Hike west: The rectangular, white-blazed trail running east to west is the Appalachian Trail. A right turn on the Appalachian Trail hikes westbound to the Blood Mountain summit, visiting a 1920s stacked stone shelter built by the Civilian Conservation Corps at the Blood Mountain peak.

Hike east: A left turn on the Appalachian Trail ventures eastbound toward Neels Gap, passing a balanced, flat rock outcrop and climbing to stunning views at the Wolf Laurel Top and Cowrock Mountain summits.

Hike south: Straight ahead, the blue-blazed Freeman Trail circles the southern mid-slope of Blood Mountain, looping to meet the Appalachian Trail.


 
Leave No Trace: Atlanta Trails, Asheville Trails and Trailful are official Leave No Trace partners

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.

Byron Reece Trail Map, Directions & Details

This map shows our approximate route while exploring this trail, but does not replace an official trail map. Please refer to the official trail map for the most current and accurate route.

Love the trail?

This trail is maintained thanks to the hard work of countless volunteers and donations from supporters of the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club. Please support them by making a donation or joining a volunteer day. Let's work together to keep these fantastic trails maintained and open for use!

Driving Directions



Parking

Free (limited) parking is available at the Byron Reece trailhead.


GPS Coordinates

34.741433, -83.922850     //     N34 44.486 W83 55.371

Elevation Profile

Byron Reece Trail at Neels Gap - Elevation Profile
 

Eric Champlin is a creative director and photographer who loves to explore southeast. He's the co-owner of Trailful Outdoor Co, a locally-owned hiking outfitter shop in Hiawassee in the Georgia mountains near the Appalachian Trail. He’s also the co-founder of Atlanta Trails and Asheville Trails, digital magazines that highlight the South’s best outdoor adventures. His mission? To inspire others to get fit outdoors and explore the South’s incredible scenic beauty.