Georgia · Hiking · Blood Mountain Wilderness

Byron Herbert Reece

Byron Herbert ReecePhoto: Pete Seabolt, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
1.4 mi
round trip
894 ft
climb
3,453 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–May, Aug–Nov
best months

Is Byron Herbert Reece open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. It doesn't name Byron Herbert Reece, so check the source for the area it covers (5 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Byron Herbert Reece is a short, easy hike in the Blood Mountain Wilderness, part of the Blue Ridge Ranger District of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests in north Georgia. The State Department of Natural Resources manages the land, and the trail also falls within the Appalachian National Scenic Trail corridor and the Chestatee Wildlife Management Area. The route is an out-and-back of about 1.4 miles, with a total climb of roughly 894 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.46 miles in, where the grade reaches 17 percent. The trail is natural-surface and does not allow bikes or horses. For comfortable weather, aim for late spring or early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Blairsville show May highs around 76°F and October highs near 70°F, though that station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the mountain run cooler. Freeman, another hike, starts just 0.1 mile away, and the Blood Mountain climbing area is about 0.6 mile off. Woods Hole Shelter is about 1.1 mile away, and Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area offers camping about 2.1 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Mar–May, Aug–Nov

    Best time to visit Byron Herbert Reece

    Best months: March–May and August–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      49° / 25°

      12 wet

    2. Feb

      53° / 28°

      12 wet

    3. Mar

      60° / 34°

      12 wet

    4. Apr

      69° / 41°

      11 wet

    5. May

      76° / 50°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      82° / 58°

      13 wet

    7. Jul

      85° / 62°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      84° / 61°

      12 wet

    9. Sep

      80° / 55°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      70° / 43°

      10 wet

    11. Nov

      61° / 33°

      10 wet

    12. Dec

      52° / 29°

      12 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Blairsville Exp Stn, GA, 8.2 mi away at 1,949 ft. The station sits about 1,500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

    Closures we've recorded since August 2026

    • Spring 2026 Forest-wide Fire Restrictions

      Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests · Order dated April 23, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026 → lifted Oct 13, 2026 · Forest Service

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Woods Hole ShelterPhoto: TranceMist, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Woods Hole Shelter

~2 min drive

0.40-mile out-and-back trail at Woods Hole Shelter in Georgia

Coosa BackcountryPhoto: TranceMist, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Coosa Backcountry

~2 min drive

A 6-mile out-and-back backcountry hike through Georgia's Coosa region.

Slaughter CreekPhoto: ChattOconeeNF, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Slaughter Creek

~3 min drive

3.62-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 1,183 ft of elevation gain.

HIKE

Coosa Backcountry

~3 min drive

10.10-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 3,712 ft elevation gain.

Desoto FallsPhoto: Bas van Oorschot, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Desoto Falls

~3 min drive

1.90-mile out-and-back trail to Desoto Falls in Georgia with 409 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Yellow Mountain

~11 min drive

6.30-mile out-and-back trail on Yellow Mountain in Georgia

Dockery LakePhoto: qvfp, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Dockery Lake

~7 min drive

5-mile out-and-back trail to Dockery Lake in Georgia.

Slaughter Creek TrailPhoto: ChattOconeeNF, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Slaughter Creek Trail

~4 min drive

0.7-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 397 ft gain and 3,086 ft max elevation.

Logan TurnpikePhoto: TranceMist, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Logan Turnpike

~8 min drive

3.84-mile out-and-back trail in Georgia with 75 ft elevation gain.

Helton Creek FallsPhoto: samhozan, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

Helton Creek Falls

~4 min drive

0.26-mile out-and-back trail to Helton Creek Falls in Georgia.