Georgia Natural Wonder #12 - Blood Mountain. 776

[Top Row Dawg]

Georgia Natural Wonder #12 - Blood Mountain

Blood Mountain is the highest peak on the Georgia section of the Appalachian Trail and the sixth-tallest mountain in Georgia, with an elevation of 4,458 feet. It is located on the border of Lumpkin County with Union County and is within the boundaries of the Chattahoochee National Forest and the Blood Mountain Wilderness. There are several waterfalls, hiking trails and other recreational areas in the vicinity. Blood Mountain is the high point of the Apalachicola River watershed via the Chattahoochee River, making the mountain the highest point of any land draining ultimately to the state of Florida.



There are various theories on the origin of the mountain's name. Some believe that the name of the mountain comes from a bloody battle between the Cherokee and Creek Indians. Some people believe that it got its name from the reddish color of the lichen and Catawba growing near the summit.



This peak has scenic views from the large rock formations that top the mountain. There is a hiker's shelter at the top of the mountain maintained by the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club, and at the bottom of the eastern side of the mountain is a hostel and store (at Neels Gap, where the Appalachian Trail intersects U.S. Highway 19/129) at the Walasi-Yi Interpretive Center. The summit shelter is a two-room stone cabin which was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1934 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in January 2013.



The Walasi-Yi Center started out as log cabin constructed in the early 20th century by a logging company. It was renovated and expanded by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933-38 into a larger stone building. The Center now houses a store; its breezeway is the only place the Appalachian Trail passes through a man-made structure.


Hikers today, leave their shoes and boots in the tree by Walasi-Yi. Can see breezeway in rear.

There is a short (2 mile) but steep (1,400 foot elevation gain) approach trail to the top of the mountain from a parking area to the immediate north of the Walasi-Yi Center. It is perhaps the most hiked segment of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia. The adventure begins at the Byron Reece Trailhead near Neels Gap (view maps and driving directions), diving into a rhododendron-filled creek valley and beginning to climb the mountain’s lower elevations. The blue-blazed Byron Reece Trail crosses a creek bed and ascends stone stairs as it switches back, gaining elevation.


20 switchbacks right off the bat, man this is a tough climb.

The trail meets the Appalachian Trail at Flatrock Gap at .7 mile after an ascent of over 400 feet. The hike turns right at the signed trail intersection, following the white-blazed Appalachian Trail westbound. OK I have a lot of pictures of this Natural Wonder, so I will intersperse them throughout the post.



The climb intensifies at 1 mile as the AT meanders through tight switchbacks along a boulder-dotted slope.



The forest canopy opens suddenly. The Appalachian Trail hikes through the first of many rocky clearings at .8 mile, catching a preview of the stunning views on the mountain’s higher elevations. The clearing’s grooved rock slabs and boulders contrast brilliantly with the vibrant green moss and smoky green lichen that covers their surface. Rhododendrons blooming on this hike years ago.



The trail provides opportunity for scrambling over several large boulders.



The hike reaches sweeping, vast views at 1.7 miles.



The trail climbs over lichen-covered outcrops and boulders at 2 miles, entering a high-elevation forest of mountain laurel, moss, wind-swept pine, and rhododendron.


TRD munching a carrot atop Blood Mountains top boulder.


There is the CCC hut at the top.



Lot of fun frolicking around.



The hike reaches the Blood Mountain summit at 2.15 miles, having climbed 1400 feet elevation from the Byron Reece Trailhead.



360 degree from top of Blood Mountain.



While the views from Blood Mountain are fantastic year-round, this route’s busiest season is autumn. North Georgia’s hardwoods explode in vibrant fall leaf color, painting the surrounding mountains and valleys in vivid, colorful beauty.



Technically still on Blood Mountain, but back down at the Waters Creek Recreation Area GNW #43 by Turner’s Corner, we find the Blood Mountain Falls. If we keep doing this Natural Wonders list, this Waters Creek recreation Area may have to stand alone. There are three falls going up Dick’s Creek. This is the main one everybody goes to. Big parking lot, lot of Summer pool diving below the fall, but here it is in the dead of winter with a lot of water flow with daughter and drummer ex boyfriend. Dodged a bullet on that one. Just kiddin' Will pretty cool, good drummer.



You keep going up the dirt road fording the creek once or twice, till you get to the concrete culvert (pipes for creek instead of fording it again). You camp to the right if they will still let you. You scramble up the creek through the small boulders. This is a series of three different falls located on Blood Mountain Stream. The middle fall flows almost 20 feet through a rock cut, creating a churning sluice of water. I’ve actually slid down this fall after watching some local rednecks do it. These falls can get crowded.



The top fall is the best sliding rock waterfall in Georgia. Well maybe High Shoals near Athens but that is private property now.



TRD taking the plunge.



Adjacent to the mountain are several boulder fields and stands of northern hardwoods and large buckeyes. Portions of the area were previously logged and now sport fast-growing tulip poplar. Still technically on Blood Mountain still, we find Sosebee Cove Scenic Area GNW #187. Sosebee Cove tricked me into one of the hardest hikes of my life just to see this boulderfield. It is off Hwy. 180 going back toward Suches. This 175-acre tract of hardwood timber, largely part of the Blood Mountain Wilderness, is a memorial to Arthur Woody, who served as a Forest Service ranger from 1911 to 1945. Ranger Woody, the "Barefoot Ranger," loved this peaceful cove and negotiated its purchase for the Forest Service. Rare and beautiful wildflowers and ferns abound. Woody, with his own funds, brought the first deer back into the mountains after they had been extirpated. He always claimed his father killed the last deer in north Georgia in 1895. Still pretty in rainy winter day but straight up no trail no switchbacks.



In the boulderfield above the road, there is rich, high-altitude herb flora, including Dutchman's breeches, squirrel corn, waterleaf, and others. Here also is found the rare yellowwood tree and representative northern hardwoods, such as yellow birch. By god I found that boulderfield.



Pretty neat. But not Rocktown.



Damn looking back this Sosebee Cove deserves to be it's own GNW (See Above).



There is so much to do on and right there at Blood Mountain. Vogel State Park GNW #212 and Lake Winfield Scott (US general who over saw Cherokee Indian removal) provide camping but Helen, Blairsville, Cleveland, even Dahlonega are nearby for lodging. You may as well see Helton Creek Falls GNW #95. An easy .2-mile trail leads to the falls from a parking area on Helton Creek Road. About 1.1 miles south of Vogel State Park at Lark Gap, a rough dirt road (FS 118) goes down Helton Creek. After 1 mile, the road becomes gravel. With care, in 1.2 miles, you can reach the very beautiful Helton Creek Falls even in an average car. There is a lower fall.



And the much more photographed upper Helton Creek Falls.



You don’t even have to get out of your car to see Wolf Creek Falls. There is a pull off right off US 129 below the dam for Vogel State Park Lake.



Going back down toward Cleveland is DeSoto Falls GNW #94. There are five beautiful waterfalls along the three-mile section of the DeSoto Falls Trail. Three of the falls are maintained for the hiker’s viewing convenience and are designated as the lower, middle and upper DeSoto Falls. My dog at the Middle Falls. I never had the energy to go past this one.



Hell that Boggs Creek GNW #82  right across US 129 is a great weekend camping destination and may be a future Natural Wonder on my list (If it goes to 100) because it has five cool waterfalls with less than a half mile hike each.



There is Falls on Buzzard’s Branch. Stay Hendrix stay.



There is Little Ridge Falls.



Really an exciting part of Georgia. I think it is the prettiest mountain and mountain view in Georgia. Even a cold winter day.



Hell I didn’t even have to dig up many Internet photos for today, had mostly my own. We have another mountain and surrounding area tomorrow for Georgia Natural Wonder #13.



GNW Gal actually at Blood Mountain.