5 Basic North Georgia Day Hikes ~ That are Totally Worth Doing
The Trailhead
As a guy who claims to prefer indie music, authors that didn’t live to see the invention of the VCR, and tells people he is not a four on the enneagram by saying “don’t put me in the enneagram 4 box”… it hurts me just a little to write about the most basic hikes in Georgia. Run-on sentences aside; there is often a reason things are popular. There is nothing cool about going against the grain, just to go against the grain. Originality for its own sake is a sinister disguise of inauthenticity.
While movie theatres, bars, and restaurants shut down due to Covid, outdoor recreation widely remained open. It has been a joy to see the outdoors flooded with new visitors during the last year and a half. My hope is that this adoration of nature multiplies and doesn’t quell as restrictions in cities across the world loosen up. I think because I usually do a quick hike in North Georgia in between my Dawsonville McDonalds stops, I have been asked by a few friends recently where they should go on a hike this summer. I wish they would just ask me what my go-to McDonald’s order was. I know no one is asking, but let me humor myself. 20 nuggets, 1 large fry, 2 cheeseburgers and a large coke. 2,210 calories of premium grade fuel. You don’t put the cheap gas in a Porsche! I find scarfing this down as I drive with my knees much more impressive than the hikes anyway.
I compiled a quick list of the most basic (aka accessible/beautiful) trails in North Georgia. So, you are relatively new to hiking and want to go on a day hike this weekend? Grab a buddy, download the All Trails app; the trail is this way…
Blood Mountain
Mileage: 5.7
Parking: Byron Reece Memorial Trail, Blairsville, GA 30512 No Fee
All Trails Link: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/georgia/blood-mountain-and-freeman-loop-trail
Instagramability: 8/10
When you see the tree draped with shoes, you are very close. Yes, the shoes.
Blood Mountain is a quintessential hike for anyone looking for spectacular views in North Georgia. The peak is the first psychological checkpoint of the 2,100 mile toe path from Georgia to Maine. The Appalachian trail (A.T.). Many thru-hikers of the A.T., those that finish the entirety of the trail in less than 12 months, have their first warm shower and clean bed in the Mountain Crossings Hostel at the foot of the mountain. One interesting easter egg about the hostel/outfitter in the shadow of Blood Mountain is the boot tree.
Two different types of people use the boot tree. 1.) Ecstatic hikers that are finishing the trail at the southern terminus in Georgia will celebrate by launching their rugged boots in the tree 2.) Green hikers just starting the trail that are shedding off cheap or poorly fitted shoes. If you will be spending the whole day in those boots, you better make a good choice. Either way, sounds like incredible marketing for Mountain Crossings. The boot tree, the tree that owns itself, and the whomping willow walk into a bar…
This hike is the most nuanced, so the most detailed explanation will be needed – bear with me… If you are coming from Atlanta, you will pass the boot tree on your right, then travel a half mile and see signs for the Byron Reece Trailhead parking on your left. There will be a common theme with all of the hikes on this list – they are extremely popular, so do not be surprised if you are circling around for a few minutes looking for an open parking spot. Count your blessings while you can, it will be the most painless part of your day. Once you are half-way to the summit, you will likely wish you were still in the comfort of your 4 door looking for parking.
One notable misconception of this route up to Blood Mountain is that it is solely on the A.T. You may have been too distracted by the boot tree, but the AT crosses the road right in front of Mountain Crossings. The hike starts its ascent to blood mountain traveling along the Byron Herbert Reece Trail. The trail and parking lot are named after the great North Georgian poet by the same name. After bouts of depression and illness, Reese took his own life in 1958 at the ripe age of 40. One beautiful, if not ironically chilling line from his poem “We Could Wish Them a Longer Stay” – “As the brotherly petals spill. Their tenure is bright and brief. We could wish them a longer stay”. Try humming that rhythm as you waltz along the path that bears his name.
.7 miles into the climb of the Byron Reece trail you will hit a four way intersection. The intersected trail on your right and left is the AT and the Byron Reece trail turns into the Freeman trail at this intersection if you were to continue straight. I would recommend you take a right on the Appalachian Trail to summit Blood Mountain. As a general rule, it is safer to climb up the steep side than down it. Coming from someone who regularly falls up stairs, please just take my word for it.
After hooking a right onto the A.T. you will experience some of the most challenging hiking of the day. Do not forget to take in the views in between switchbacks. Even though most of the hike feels like you are walking through a green tunnel, there are a couple of rock outcroppings with fantastic glimpses of the blood mountain wilderness along the way. 2 miles and 1,500 feet higher, you will come across the brick and mortar Blood Mountain Shelter. Inside the shelter there will be a broom, a few mice, a trail log (which I would recommend flipping through), and potentially a few thru hikers lounging around depending on the time of the year. For bonus points, scramble up the rock to your left to the highest point of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia. It’s all downhill from here.
Continue past the shelter and through the portal of rhododendron a mile down the backside of the mountain and you will run into the Freeman trail. (after the A.T. intersects with the Duncan Ridge and Slaughter Creek Trails respectively). Turn left onto the Freeman Trail and wave goodbye to the glorious A.T. You will have 2.5 miles rolling down the side of Blood mountain. 5 miles into the hike you will once again come to the same four way intersection and this time you will go back the way you came. If you were to hook a right here you would wind up at the boot tree and be sticking your thumb up for a ride to your parked car up the road. Congratulations, you have now completed .1% of the AT and deserve a glass of wine. Use my discount code ericsutliff14 and get 0% off at Yonah Mountain Vineyards.
Tallulah Gorge
Mileage: 2.1 Miles
Parking: Tallulah Gorge Rim Trail, Tallulah Falls, GA 30573 $5 Fee
Alltrails link: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/georgia/tallulah-gorge-trail-to-north-rim-trail-loop–2
Instagramability: 7/10
In life, timing is everything. Same with this hike. Regretfully as I write this, the best part of the trail is currently closed – the gorge floor. Honestly surprised that they didn’t write off the closing to the classic Covid-19 excuse. Apparently they are making repairs on the dam… dam.
Regardless, in this dream world I am writing in – the gorge floor is completely open, so strap on those tevas! The gorge is glorious; cutting through the canyon walls, effervescent. Children and hypo-allergenic dogs splashing in the pearly white pools bubbling over with laughter. In order to have the chance to saunter along the base, you will need to be one of the first 100 people to register for a permit with the visitor center that day. Summer weekends get especially crowded, so I would recommend you show up early! Would hate to miss the highlight of the hike because you wanted another 60 minutes of checking Tik-Tok in your PJ’s. Once you exchange niceties and snag a permit from the park ranger, take a waltz down the trail to “overlook 3”. Queue the instagram story post. After making sure everyone knows you got out into the woods today, take the loop portion of the trail clockwise and descend the stairs into the gorge. 1,000 steps to glory.
Now the fun begins. At this point, I am hoping you snagged your gorge floor permit at the visitor center and walked through the wooden gate that leads to the water. Reminiscent of a friendly game of hop scotch, you will scramble from stone to path for a half mile, culminating in a slippery sliding rock. It’s like a roller coaster without the lines or safety precautions.
Tighten up your soggy sandals and head up the wooded trail back to the rim of the gorge. Your legs will get a nice break after the grueling incline as the rest of a hike is a calm walk around the rim of the canyon. You can spend your time pondering the fact that you saw the trees around you in the epic movie – Avengers: Infinity War. Even though you may not be dodging Thanos, be careful for Georgia Power Dam release days. Flooding our beloved Tallulah Gorge the first two weekends in April and the first three in November. What does one company do with all that power…
Mount Yonah
Mileage: 4.2
Parking: Mount Yonah Trailhead No Fee
All Trails Link: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/georgia/mount-yonah-trail
Instagramability: 8/10
Yonah Mountain or Mount Yonah? I am still not sure which is the proper way to say it, so let’s just stick with Yonah. Yonah has special significance to me because it was the first trip I went on in my adult life that renewed my love for the outdoors. It was the launching station for my fascination with hiking/backpacking and I try to do the hike any time I’m in the area. This is one of the easiest hikes to get to on the list from Atlanta and it has the best views of the Appalachian foothills in all of Georgia. For as easy as this hike is to get to, Yonah is no lazy walk in the woods. You are either steeply climbing to the top or stumbling down. If you are looking for a chill, winding hike this is not the one for you. This mountain is so gnarly that it is used during the mountain phase of Army Ranger school.
Once you smell the blooming flowers on top of the grassy bald and tip-toe amongst the rock out-croppings you will understand why you punished your body for the last 45 minutes. After you tumble down the twists and turns of the descent there is a fantastic local burger stand a couple miles from the base of the mountain; Yonah Burger. Hearing the name of the establishment makes my stomach call out for calories. I am still not totally sure if this place is actually that good or if I am just that hungry after these hikes…
Amicalola Falls
Mileage: 2
Parking: Amicalola Falls State Park $5 Fee
All Trails Link: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/georgia/amicacola-falls-via-east-ridge-loop-trail
Instagramability: 6/10
Amicalola falls is nestled within one of the most visited parks in the state of Georgia, creatively named Amicalola Falls State Park. It is best known as the starting point of the Appalachian Trail “approach trail”. Yes, that is right. You must take one trail to get to the start of another trail… A seven mile trek from the falls to the southern terminus of the A.T., Springer Mountain. Long distance hikers that are looking to traverse the trail from Georgia to Maine can now start at a parking lot about a mile away from Springer, but you definitely get brownie points for starting with the approach trail. They say that if you can complete the approach trail up the staircase of Amicalola Falls you are fit enough to make the 2,100 mile trek to Baxter State Park in Maine. There is a difference between being able to do something and actually doing it. Out of the few thousand hikers that attempt to complete the whole trail, roughly 25% end up making it all the way. Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you ought to do it ~ timshel ~
The park is an approachable place to take the whole family and has a network of trails to conquer in case you aren’t too excited about walking up a wooden staircase for 2 miles… The important part isn’t checking off a box that you did the hike, but just to be out there, experience nature, and enjoy those you are able to share it with.
Raven Cliff Falls
Mileage: 5.8
Parking: Raven Cliff Falls Trailhead $5 Fee
All Trails Link: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/georgia/raven-cliff-falls-trail
Instagramability: 5/10
If I had a dog or kids I would be frequenting this trail. Since I have neither, I’ve only done this trail one time.
All this to say, it is a heavily trafficked relaxed hike through the wilderness. You won’t see any sweeping views of North Georgia like Blood or Yonah, but there is a vibrant waterfall at the midway point of this out and back trail. If you want a little bit of a challenge, there is a goat trail up to the top of the falls. With this said, it is antithetical to leave no trace principles and a little sketchy. You signed the waiver before reading this post right? I assume no liability for any property damage or bodily injury you experience on these hikes…
Raven Cliff Falls is also a nice hike if you want to zone out and think about life. I would recommend throwing an ear bud in on the way out to the falls (check out these two playlists Walking in the Woods & Tripped Into Impressionism) and then listening to the woods on the way back to the car. You would be surprised what you may hear when you are not overloading your senses with content. I am glad I do not have any publishers, because they would try to make me write another paragraph on this section of the blog.
The Last Mile
It is a joy to share these experiences with friends. I would highly recommend taking a buddy on any journey, especially if it is your first time going to North Georgia. Although all of these trails are well marked and highly trafficked, anything can happen. I have been going on day and overnight trips for the last 6 years and was lost a mile off trail just a few weekends ago! Pride is your biggest enemy. Have fun and stay safe. Reach out to me if you have any questions, want additional advice, or just want to talk about the Georgia wilderness. Only a few things give me this kind of joy.
“The closer you get to real matter, rock air fire and wood, boy, the more spiritual the world is.”― Jack Kerouac, The Dharma Bums
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