Chattahoochee National Forest - Slaughter Gap - Member Hike
| Hike Name: | Chattahoochee National Forest - Slaughter Gap |
|---|---|
| Country: | United States |
| State: | Georgia |
| Nearby Town: | Dahlonega |
| Rating: |  |
| Directions: | From Dahlonega, take US 19/129 north for 22 miles to Neels Gap. Here the Appalachian Trail crosses the two-lane road, and The Walasi-Yi Center (a well-stocked backpacking store and hostel) is on the right with a parking area reserved for the store. Continue past Neels Gap and down the hill for 0.5 miles to a day and overnight parking lot for the Appalachian Trail. Take the second left off US 19/129 into the Reece Memorial Parking Area after you pass Neels Gap. |
| Total Hike Distance: | 5.90 miles |
| Hike Difficulty: | Moderate to Difficult |
| Permit Required: | No |
| Hike Type: | Roundtrip, Loop Hike |
| Hike Starts/Ends: | Reece Memorial Parking Area |
| Trails Used: | Reece Access, Freeman, Appalachian Trails |
| Backcountry Campsites: | Yes |
| Backcountry Water Sources: | Streams |
| Management: | U.S. Forest Service |
| Contact Information: | Chattahoochee National Forest 508 Oak Street, NW, Gainesville, GA 30501 (706) 745-6928 http://www.fs.fed.us/conf/ |
| Best Season: | Winter, Spring, Fall |
| Users: | Hikers, Dogs |
| Road Conditions: | Primary Paved Roads, Secondary Paved Roads |
| Hike Summary: | The Reece Memorial Trail crosses the Appalachian Trail and joins with the Freeman Trail which it follows along the southern slope of Blood Mountain to Bird Gap. We set up camp in this area, then hiked the next day through Slaughter Gap and over Blood Mountain. It's a steep climb to the summit at 4,461 feet but the views from a rock outcropping near the shelter are spectacular. Blood Mountain is the highest point on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia, and it is the second highest peak in the State (after Brasstown Bald.) For an overnight backpacking trip, there are two options. There is shelter camping or tent camping near Slaughter Gap. There are two shelters available on this route and each can accommodate 8-12 people. The first, Woods Hole Shelter, is located 0.4 miles off the trail and only 0.1 miles from Bird Gap. The second, Blood Mountain Shelter, is an enclosed stone structure, which is located at the summit. Woods Hole has water from a nearby spring, but Blood Mountain does not have a water source, so you will have to carry it up from Slaughter Gap or from the trailhead. There is a stream at Slaughter Gap which makes it a heavily used camping area that has room for a few tents. |
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