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This is an access trail to the Appalachian Trail from the Byron Herbert Reece Memorial. A literary favorite of North Georgia, this Union County native wrote poetry and farmed near Cloestoe. Built by the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club, the path is dedicated to the poet.

This footpath was constructed because access to the Appalachian Trail at Neel's Gap had become a hazard due to the ever increasing volume of traffic on this winding mountain road. The Blood Mountain portion of the AT is the most popular in Georgia. Good views, challenging trails and a growing population contribute to the problem. The path offers an alternative to hiking in from Neel's, and has a lot of parking, essentially in a small loop.

The trail is, essentially, a straight shot up to the AT. Shortly into the trail are a series of switchbacks that were added in the early 1990's, making the hike quite a bit easier. The attraction to hike this trail is not the trail itself but the stunning views from Blood Mountain.

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Byron Herbert Reece Access Trail
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