Blairsville, Georgia
Blood Mountain via Byron Reece
Georgia's highest peak on the Appalachian Trail with a CCC stone shelter.
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Length
- 4.3 mi
- Elevation Gain
- 1,430 ft
- Duration
- 2–4
- Best Season
- Year-round
- Permit
- Not required
- Dogs
- Allowed
- Features
- Highest peak on GA AT, Stone shelter
About the trail
Blood Mountain (4,458 ft) is the tallest peak the Appalachian Trail crosses in Georgia. The Byron Reece Trail climbs steeply through hardwoods to meet the AT at Flatrock Gap, then ascends to a summit crowned by a 1934 stone shelter. Panoramic views stretch across the southern Blue Ridge.
Trailhead map & directions
Trailhead: 34.7397, -83.9381Get directions →
Turn-by-turn route
- Park at the Byron Reece Memorial trailhead off US-19/129.
- Climb the Byron Reece Trail 0.7 miles to Flatrock Gap.
- Turn south on the AT and climb 1.4 miles to the summit.
- Return via the same route.
Parking
Byron Reece lot — $4 day-use fee, fills on fall weekends.
Tips from the trail
- Bears are active — store food properly.
- Fall foliage peaks mid to late October.
- Trail is rocky and slick when wet.