BLY GAP

The Appalachian Trail in North Carolina has 95.5 miles of trail which includes more than 200 miles that run along the Tennessee border. Located one-tenth of a mile north of the Georgia and North Carolina border is Bly Gap which sits in a saddle with winter views to the west and east.  The hike to Bly Gap is an in-and-out, backtrack trip that can be done as either a day or overnight hike.

The approach to Bly Gap starts from Blue Ridge Gap at U.S. Forest Road 72 and follows the Appalachian Trail northbound for 3.1 miles and nearly 1000 feet to a gnarly old tree that is located just past the Georgia and North Carolina state line. There is a spring to the right before you reach the ridge line that was piped when we last used it in 2015. We approached the trailhead from the west via a rough heavily rutted dirt road that absolutely requires four wheel drive. If you plan to drive to Blue Ridge Gap, approach from the west because the road from the east is even rougher and requires a river crossing.