BLY GAP
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
799 West Washington Street
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
(304) 535-6331
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.
- click to see videos from our hike to Bly Gap: The Walk Over, On The Trail, Reaching Bly Gap, Smoking Gun, Video Recap
- click to see trail photos from this hike to the Georgia/North Carolina border on the Appalachian Trail: January 31, 2015
- click to view a trip report of this hike on the Appalachian Trail: January 31, 2015 (password required)
- click to view hiking and backpacking maps: Bly Gap Area Map, Sassafrass Gap to Bly Gap Profile Map, Addis Gap to Bly Gap Trail Map
- click for Georgia Appalachian Trail Overview Map, Georgia Appalachian Trail Profile Map (password required)
- click for more information on the Appalachian Trail
- click for the Long Trail discussion forum
- click for the Southeastern Destinations discussion forum
- click for Appalachian Trail hiking and backpacking books
- click to access the guidebook Appalachian Trail: Georgia-North Carolina which has details on this destination
- click for other Georgia hiking and backpacking books
- click for other hikes on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia
- click here to add your hike, trip report, or feedback for this destination
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