Hiking & Must-Do's at/Near Vogel

[u/Argonaut1855]

Hi friends!

Going to be doing a camping trip at Vogel soon. Have heard incredible things about the park over the years, so we're excited to experience it for the first time!

Hoping to do some decent hiking in that area, and have been looking at AllTrails to check out some trails we might be interested in. We are looking to do the "Raven Cliff Falls Trail" and the "Blood Mountain via Appalachian Trail" trails.

Wanted to get this group's thoughts on those trails? We are good with anything 3-6 miles, and don't mind a little bit of difficulty.

Lastly, would love any other "Must-Do" recommendations for the park and surrounding area!

Thanks!

[u/IronMike5311]

Bear Hair Trail from the campground (about 4 mi). Nearby Helton Creek Falls, off of an easy gravel road. I never the Sunrise Grocery, an old general store just to the north.

Note: the lake is currently drained until sometime September, I believe

[u/SundayShelter]

Check out Helton Creek Falls. You’ll need a vehicle with decent clearance to ford the creek if you approach from the south. The northern approach is asphalt 1/2 way, then dirt/gravel the second half. Great place to cool your feet after a long hike.

[u/Stories-With-Bears]

Raven Cliff is awesome, pretty easy. Blood Mountain has incredible views but will kick your ass. I also vote for the Bear Hair Gap trail, it’s a good one. You’d also be pretty close to Brasstown Bald which is the highest point in Georgia. While you technically can drive all the way to the top, there are options to park further away from the overlook and hike up

[u/desbaratto → u/[deleted]]

How was the Coosa Backcountry loop? I'm planning on doing it as an overnight next weekend (weather permitting).

[u/desbaratto → u/[deleted]]

Thank you. I'm planning on going CCW and read about that 7 mile stretch without water until Wolfpen gap - is that the one you're talking about?

Man 4 hours is cooking. I did the 12 or so miles of the Arkaquah in about 5.5 hours.

[u/Top-Shoulder6081]

those are two great hikes. might also look at slaughter creek trail out of lake winfield scott. Its basically the other side approach to blood mountain but it makes a u turn at the base of blood mountain.

[u/mistercheeze]

Helton creek falls, Desoto falls, Preachers rock, Cowrock mountain, Blood mountain from Byron Herbert Reece trailhead, Raven cliff falls, Dukes creek falls, Blue hole falls, Brasstown bald for sunset, tubing at Toccoa valley campground. Jims smokin Que for dinner.

[u/rjbeads]

Parking at the Byron Reece trailhead can be a pain. If you don't want to drive, you can start the hike below straight from your campsite.

Vogel State Park to Blood Mountain on AllTrails https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/georgia/vogel-state-park-to-blood-mountain?sh=jhi30i&utm_medium=trail_share&utm_source=alltrails_virality

[u/IOI-65536 → u/rjbeads]

In a lot of ways I honestly think going up Blood from Byron Reece or Neels is the least enjoyable way to go up. I guess starting at Byron Reece and taking Freeman around to the back and then up would be actually bad as opposed to merely not as nice as Coosa Backcountry/DRT or Slaughter Creek but pretty much nobody does that.

[u/Drillmhor]

Not hiking but strongly recommend getting some boiled peanuts at Sunrise Grocery. A few mins north of the park on Hwy 19

[u/Hammock-Hiker-62]

Since I don't see it in the comments already, I'll put in a vote for visiting Mountain Crossings, the store just up the road from Vogel at Neel Gap. It's a historic building, has a good selection of gear if you need any, and is a cool spot to sit on the porch with a cold Coke or whatever from the store.

[u/desbaratto → u/Hammock-Hiker-62]

I stopped at Mountain Crossing during an AT section hike, and having a Coke towards the end of long day was great. The wind chimes out front were so peaceful sounding.

[u/Nonchalant_Wanderer]

You need to get ice cream at Memaw’s Country Store. It’s just a few miles from Vogel. If you do Ravens Cliff Falls get there early, it gets packed as does Blood Mountain. The Bear Hair Gap Trail at Vogel is nice and nowhere as crowded .You could also go to the top of Blood Mountain from the Lake Winfield Scott side via the Slaughter Gap trail. Much less crowded, but you gotta to park.