Georgia Natural Wonder #73 – Slaughter Mountain. 535

[Top Row Dawg]

Georgia Natural Wonder #73 – Slaughter Mountain

Slaughter Mountain, with an elevation of 4,338 ft, is the ninth-highest peak in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is located in Union County, Georgia and is the second-highest mountain in Union County. Its nearest neighbor is Blood Mountain, the highest peak in Union County and sixth-highest in Georgia.


Slaughter Mountain viewed from Lake Winfield Scott.

Neels Gap to Slaughter Mountain is a 7.5 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Owltown, Georgia that features beautiful wild flowers. The trail is only recommended for very experienced adventurers and primarily used for hiking, camping, and birding. Dogs are also able to use this trail.


Blood Mountain view on way to Slaughter Mountain.

Park at the day hikers parking lot 1/2 mile north of Mountain Crossing. Take Byron Reese Trail to the Appalachian Trail, follow the Appalachian Trail to Blood Mountain. Continue past Blood Mountain shelter to the Duncan Ridge Trail. Follow Duncan Ridge Trail to Slaughter Mountain. If you wish to summit Slaughter Mountain, continue past the mountain peak on left until the trail starts a slight downward trend, look back over your left shoulder and follow ridge up to the summit. There is a faint trail going to the summit.


Neels Gap to Slaughter Mountain map.

Blood Mountain and Slaughter Mountain are two of Georgia's 4,000 ft mountains. They are ranked 6th and 9th respectively.



First two miles are hell up going straight up Blood Mountain. Last two miles are knee burners. Great workout, great views, on a clear day the views on Blood Mountain are absolutely stunning. But we already know that from Georgia Natural Wonder #12. The ascent up Blood Mountain is pretty gnarly. The trail doesn't summit Slaughter Mountain unless you go off trail. I recommend only if you have long pants on due to poison ivy. So I suggest doing it in the winter. Always good to bring extra water, a thru hiker may need some at the summit.





You can also access the summit from Lake Winfield Scott. Departing from the scenic shores of Lake Winfield Scott, this three-trail adventure explores the stunningly beautiful Blood Mountain Wilderness, hiking through a scenic forest. It’s a moderately strenuous adventure, but well worth the effort, following the Jarrard Trail to Jarrard Gap, the Appalachian Trail to the lower elevations of Blood Mountain, and the Slaughter Creek Trail through a rolling, rocky creek valley below Slaughter Mountain.



And though it’s a beautiful hike in any season, this loop is particularly stunning in the springtime, when native Georgia wildflowers fill the forest with blooms. Millions of blooming trillium flowers blanket the forest floor in late April to mid-May, painting the trail’s sides in gorgeous springtime color and vibrant spring green.



Slaughter Mountain and Lake Winfield Scott Loop: the hike

The adventure begins at the rippling and reflective waters of Lake Winfield Scott, following a spur trail south from the trailhead along Slaughter Creek.



The hike follows the blue-blazed Slaughter Creek Trail, crossing the creek over a wooden bridge before reaching Slaughter Creek Road at .25 mile. This route turns right on the gravel road, following the road to arrive at the signed trailhead of the Jarrard Trail at .4 miles. The blue-blazed Jarrard Trail climbs elevation into the forest beside a small stream, Lance Branch, on the trail’s left. Leafy ferns and wildflowers flank the sides of the trail as it steadily gains elevation.



The Jarrard Trail reaches Jarrard Gap and intersects the Appalachian Trail at 1.15 miles. Following the iconic, white rectangular blazes of the Appalachian Trail, the route turns left, hiking northeast. Views of the rolling, adjacent ridges emerge between the surrounding trees as the Appalachian Trail reaches the Gaddis Mountain summit at 1.55 miles.



Wildflowers are prolific here in spring, when trillium and other native flowers cover the rolling terrain in abundant blooms, stretching to reach sunlight under the forest canopy.



The Appalachian Trail rolls elevation over the next mile, descending through shallow gaps and climbing several small knobs before reaching a junction with the Freeman Trail, a popular loop route around Blood Mountain, at 2.6 miles. Several level backpacking campsites are located left of the trail. This hike continues gaining elevation, following the Appalachian Trail to reach the Duncan Ridge Trail. Follow Duncan Ridge Trail to Slaughter Mountain as described above.


View from Blood Mountain Loop.

Hike back to Appalachian Trail away from Blood Mountain back to the Slaughter Creek Trail.



That route turns right, following the Slaughter Creek Trail to the north. The blue-blazed trail descends elevation, crossing several small tributary creeks in a rocky, mossy, sun-dappled forest below Slaughter Mountain.


The trail dives through a dense canopy of gnarly-branched mountain laurel and rhododendron, passing a backpacking campsite at 4 miles.

Slaughter Creek roars audibly through the valley below the trail, cascading over out-of-site waterfalls and whitewater. The trail reaches the gravel Slaughter Creek Road at 5.4 miles and retraces the outbound route to Lake Winfield Scott, completing the adventure.





Extend the adventure! Camp at the popular Lake Winfield Scott Campground, and explore more of the stunning Blood Mountain Wilderness on a multi-day adventure. Or grab some solitude and one of the campsites on the Appalachian Trail or Slaughter Creek Trail (free, first-come, first camp). Campfires are not allowed in the Blood Mountain Wilderness. Black bears are often active in the area, so store food and fragrant cosmetics out of reach in a bear canister. Please remember to pack out what you’ve packed in and leave no trace to help preserve the forest’s beauty.



OK that was an easy one, no need for tangent. Can’t find photos from the summit. These top 10 peaks of Georgia not all that exciting except Blood – Tray - Brasstown Bald – Rabun Bald – so far. No trails or views to warrant exploring for most part. But Slaughter Mountain is number nine - number nine - number nine as the Beatles said.



In doing this Imgur image reload, I have found some new images of a Slaughter Mountain hike.



Starting from Neels Gap and ending up on the Duncan Ridge Trail as noted above. Follow Duncan Ridge Trail to Slaughter Mountain.



If you wish to summit Slaughter Mountain, continue past the mountain peak on left until the trail starts a slight downward trend.



Look back over your left shoulder and follow ridge up to the summit.



There is a faint trail going to the summit.



Rocky like Blood Mountain.



Summit of Slaughter Mountain.



The hiker even post these views from Slaughter Mountain.





GNW gal today


Searching for better top ten Georgia Mountain views.