Blood Mountain and Freeman Loop Trail

Blood Mountain is the highest summit on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia at 4,458 feet, and this loop tackles it via the AT up and the Freeman Trail back through the Blood Mountain Wilderness. Expect steep climbs and descents, rocky overlooks with long views, several creek crossings, and the famous Civilian Conservation Corps stone shelter near the top. A classic North Georgia bucket-list hike.

Trail Notes

• Difficulty: Hard · 1,712 ft elevation gain · 7.1-mile loop
• What hikers say: the views from the top are amazing, but recent reviews note the Freeman Trail side can be rocky, overgrown, and technical, with poison ivy in places. Several hikers recommend doing the summit as an out-and-back instead of the full loop.
• Good to know: This is bear country — food storage rules apply in the Blood Mountain Wilderness, and long pants are a good idea on the Freeman side.

Event Details

• Date: TBD — this event will be scheduled soon. The final date, meeting time, and meetup point will be announced in the WhatsApp group once set.
• Trail: View on AllTrails →
• Location: Blood Mountain Wilderness, Blairsville, GA — Open in Maps →

Full event details (what to bring, arrival time, carpool) will be added when the date is confirmed.

Plan Your Day

Check out our Articles section before you head out — gear lists, how-to guides, and practical tips to make your time on the trail safer and more enjoyable.