In 2023 we section hiked 1,225 miles of the Appalachian Trail, the longest footpath in the world, and spent 13 weeks day hiking, working, and van camping on the Appalachian Trail as we moved up the trail slowly from Georgia to Maine. In this series we cover each section we hiked and in this article we cover the area from Woody Gap to Neel Gap in the state of Georgia!

If heading NOBO (Northbound) on the Appalachian Trail Woody Gap begins at mile 20.5 of the 2023 AT Distance and Neel Gap ends at 31.3 Miles. The 10.8 Mile Hike will include over 3,000 feet of ascent, 3,000 feet of descent, the highest point of the trail in Georgia, the oldest shelter on the entire AT, and the first resupply point for any NOBO thru-hiker!

Woody Gap to Neel Gap Appalachian Trail Section Hike Need to Know’s:

1. This was day two on the Appalachian Trail for us after doing the Approach Trail to Springer Mountain on day one. Mileage was smaller but I wouldn’t say difficulty was much less!

2. There is a small amount of parking at both of these gap but I got dropped off at Woody Gap so if you plan on leaving a car here arrive early! (Neels Gap parking should be avoided if possible to allow ample room for the staff and customers at Mountain Crossings Outdoor Gear Shop and Hostel. (Mountain Crossings is your first (or last) resupply point of a thru-hike depending if you are going NOBO or SOBO.)

3. There is a required bear canister carry area on this portion of the trail due to HIGH bear activity. In fact the AT recommended while I was there to avoid unnecessary stops on the trail if at all possible.

4. You will receive a strenuous ascent to the summit of Blood Mountain (and a similar strenuous descent following it) no matter which way you choose to head up to the summit. (From Woody Gap or Neels Gap.)

5. I used 2.5 Liters of Water on a warm but not humid late May day. If you are just doing a day/section hike of this and you are able to pick your time of year the Rhododendrons were coming into bloom in late May and I would imagine the fall foliage views would be outstanding in autumn.

What did I wish I would have known or done differently?

1. I was a little out of sorts after a 20 mile round trip hike on day one of the AT the day before. We also still hadn’t figured out our whole camper van routines. This turned out to be one of my five favorite days hiking on the AT during the entire 13 weeks and I wish I would have been a tad more present to being aware to how epic this day was going to be.

2. We had no cell phone service at either gap so it’s good to have your plans laid out ahead of time rather than reliance on your phone day of (we have Verizon currently.)

3. The descent from Blood Mountain to Neel Gap is almost as tough on the body as the ascent due to how steep it is the first mile off the summit. Save some energy!

4. We camped at Hearthstone Cabins and Campgrounds in Helen Georgia that night and we should have had better directions prepared (see point two above). We didn’t know which way turn out of Neels Gap LOL! We got better as the days went on with this I promise!

What gear did I use and like the most on my 2023 AT Section Hike?

1. Hoka One Kaha’s were my trusted shoes for this day (and for the whole summer on the trail.)

2. I used my REI 40 Liter Backpack. This worked great since I was coming on and off the trail every day but most thru-hikers or multi-day section hikers were looking at bigger packs than mine.

3. Darn Tough Vermont and Merino Wool Socks from REI and SmartWool were my go to’s.

4. Osprey Water Bladder and Lifestraw Collapsible Filter for hydration.

5. I wore New Balance running shorts mainly and much preferred that to more typical hiking shorts.

6. Gaiters were a must as was coating our clothes in Permethrin to avoid ticks. (We did not get any ticks remarkably while hiking the AT in 2023.)

7. The AT Guide by AWOL and AT Conservancy are AMAZING resources for a hike on the AT!

What else should you know about the Woody Gap to Neel Gap Appalachian Trail Section Hike?

1. Blood Mountain is the highest point of the AT in the state of Georgia.

2. The Blood Mountain Shelter is the oldest shelter still being used on the AT. It was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1937.

3. Does Blood Mountain have a meaning behind it? “Some believe the name came from a bloody battle between the Cherokee and Muscogee-Creek long before white settlers arrived in the area. Other theories derive the name from red lichen or Catawba rhododendron growing on the rocky summit.” Per the Georgia Conservancy.

4. Neels Gap is “trail famous” for being a shakedown site for NOBO Thru-Hikers and the place where many NOBO thru-hikers throw their shoes in the tree and leave the trail (just 40 miles in if you include the Approach Trail.) It was fun to visit and see this place in person after reading about it for so long! The ice cold gatorade and vast sticker selection was also delightful.

5. Neel Gap is your first chance to stay on the trail and not sleep on the ground or in a shelter via Mountain Crossings Hostel if headed NOBO on the AT.

I was just two days into what would be thirteen weeks hiking the longest footpath in the world.

The Appalachian Trail had already given me a glimpse of how gorgeous the mountains of North Georgia are, that what the AT lacks in high elevations makes up for with super steep inclines and declines that wear your hiking body down, and that this would be an adventure we would never forget.

I get goosebumps even just thinking about late May atop the Blood Mountain Summit and arriving at Neel Gap to get an ice cold drink while waiting for my ride. There’s nothing like a summer (or any season) on a trail and in 2023 the Appalachian Trail was ours to cherish and experience!

Thanks for reading and comment with any questions you might have or your experience hiking this portion of the AT. Check out our podcast episode below on Georgia’s AT Trail Towns for more info on where we ate, camped, and visited dog parks at.

Because Adventure Feeds the Soul,
Mike R