2022-04-02 GA-AT-002 4 of 8 Neels Gap to Wide Gap & back

We section hike the entire Appalachian Trail (AT) in Georgia in 8 trips. We go from Springer Mountain all the way to GA/NC border.

Each trip is an out and back going both AT North Bound (NoBo) and South Bound (SoBo) directions without any special car arrangement. No car shuttle and no key swap. We want to experience hiking AT both ways.

When we’re done, we have completed the entire AT in GA twice in both NoBo and SoBo directions. We have climbed twice amount of elevation gain both ways. That’s right, we leave no hill un-climbed!!

GA 4 of 8: Neels Gap to Wide Gap & back

<<< Distance and Ascent >>>

Our GA AT section 4: starting from Neels Gap in the south to Wide Gap in the north with Hogpen Gap in between. The out and back round trip is 18.6 miles on AT with 5,010 feet elevation gain. These measurements are provided by Georgia Appalachian Trail Club. Our total distance for the day is 19.6 miles with additional 0.5x2=1 mile between Byron Reece parking lot and Neels Gap.

<<< Itinerary >>>

We’ll meet and start from Byron Reece parking lot. We’ll take US-19 to go about 0.5 miles to Neels Gap.

We’ll start our AT (Appalachian Trail) trekking from Neels Gap following NoBo (North Bound) to Levelland Mt. at 1.5 miles; Cowrock Mt. at 5 miles; Tesnatee Gap next to GA-348 at 5.8 miles; Hogpen Gap at 6.7 miles; and Wide Gap at 9.3 miles. We’ll retrace and follow AT SoBo(South Bound) to go back to our cars.

We’ll take short breaks and lunch break at those scenic spots we choose and depending on our overall conditions along the way.

<<< Important Notes >>>

The event duration does NOT include our travelling/ driving time. If you're going to meet at the event, please arrive 10 minutes before our starting time. We’ll start earlier if we’re all there before our starting time. Our duration time is an educated estimate, so we need to have some flexibility.

Please only register if you are comfortable hiking long distance at a pace of 2.5 mph in the remote mountains environment, and have recent D5 experience.

If your recent experience is not from the club, please include it in a note when you register, or email TL; otherwise you will be moved to the waiting list for the safety of everyone. We encourage our members to actively participate with joyful experience, and most importantly to stay healthy and safe at the end of our trip.

Byron Reece trailhead parking,

Byron Reece Memorial Trail, Blairsville, GA 30512

Note: The following is just one of many different ways to go.

Take GA-400 N to its end.

Turn left onto US-19 N for 5.1 miles to Dahlonega.

Turn right and follow US-19 N for 22 miles to reach destination.

Note: Parking lot is on the left about 0.5 miles after passing Neels Gap general store building and parking lot.

1. This event may be cancelled or rescheduled if weather conditions are not satisfactory for an enjoyable outing.

2. Itinerary is subject to change at the discretion of the trip leader.