Woody Gap to Neel Gap

This is the stretch of the Appalachian Trail Georgia hikers talk about: a long ridge walk from Woody Gap over Blood Mountain, the highest point on the AT in Georgia, down to a stone building where the trail goes through the front door. It's about 11 miles one way and a real workout, but you can sample it in pieces. The best short taste is the walk to Preacher's Rock from Woody Gap.

Neel Gap is about 35 minutes from Helen and Woody Gap about 50, so the pieces are easy to reach by car. If you'd rather drive the area, the winding roads around Suches and Neel Gap make a good scenic loop.

Gap elevations and distances are from the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club and published listings; mileage varies slightly by source.

From Woody Gap the trail climbs gradually to the Preacher's Rock ledges on Big Cedar Mountain, where the views look back down the valley. Farther on, the trail runs through a series of gaps along the ridge before the long climb up Blood Mountain. On the summit, the rock outcrops give wide views, and a two-room stone shelter built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1934 sits at the top. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.

The descent to Neel Gap is steep and rocky, and it ends at the Walasi-Yi Center, where the AT passes through a breezeway. The Georgia Appalachian Trail Club calls it the only place the trail runs through a man-made structure.

Mountain Crossings operates from the stone Walasi-Yi building, which has stood at Neel Gap since 1937. It's an outfitter for hikers, open daily 9 AM to 5 PM, with a phone at 706-745-6095. Parking at the building is tight, so check the signs.

More on this part of the trail: our north Georgia Appalachian Trail guide, the Neel Gap Mountain Crossings day trip and Springer Mountain to the south.