January 16, 2023
Blue Ridge Gap to Bly Gap on the Appalachian Trail
near Hiawassee, GA
With last minute changes to the hike schedule, there were only three of us hiking today. This was a very nice hike on the northernmost section of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia. We had ideal, cool and partly cloudy weather. The trail was in good condition with less than the usual root and rocks expected on the AT. A surprise was a thin coating of snow on the shaded portions of the trail. With the leaves off the trees, there were nice, but not spectacular, views of the surrounding valleys and mountains. This is a moderately difficult hike with mostly gentle, but some occasional short, steep inclines. With recent repairs to the access road, our trailhead at Blue Ridge Gap is more accessible although it might be problematic for some cars if the road is very wet.
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The route
6.4 mi · 1,286 ft climbing · 3h 49m out, 3h 8m walking · 2.0 mph moving
Elevation
Hover over the profile to see the elevation and steepness. Your position will be shown on the map.
- Steepness
- Gentle under 5%
- Moderate 5–10%
- Steep 10–15%
- Very steep over 15%
13 photos are shown on the map where they were taken — click one to see it full size.
Photos (13)
The :"Level Tree" at Bly Gap. Today's Hikers (L-R): Ken, Mike, Frosty & Ray Let's go! Heading up the steps at Blue Ridge Gap. A decent trail, but some remaining snow in places A few views through the trees along the trail. A short break along the way. More sections with a bit of snow. The Georgia-North Carolina border! Bly Gap! Another view of the "Level Tree" on Bly Gap. Ken having a bit of fun with the snow. Headed back.