Follow along the Duncan Ridge Trail to summit Blood Mountain from the north on this steep hike. While there's no getting around the crowds at the top on a weekend, even in winter, you're sure to find this route less trafficked than others on your way up. This makes for a great alternative if the Byron Herbert Reece trailhead and Vogel State Park are both full up.

The trailhead along State Road 180 where the shared Duncan Ridge and Coosa Backcountry trail cross the highway. There's a few parking spots on either side, but not much. I was the only car there on a January weekend. For Blood Mountain, take the trail going right if coming from the Suches side. You should immediately start a steep climb.

The first mile of this trail is the toughest, climbing 700 feet in just .6 miles before falling to a more moderate climb. At 1.25 miles the trail passes below the summit of Slaughter Mountain. While there is no trail to the summit, it is one of Georgia's 10 tallest mountains and many choose to bushwhack up to the top.

At 1.8 miles you'll come to the split with the Coosa Backcountry Trail. Sharp left is to a campsite. Straight and left will take you on the Coosa and straight and right will keep you on the Duncan Ridge Trail heading up to Blood Mountain. Less than a mile later you'll t-bone the Appalachian Trail. Turn left on the AT for the final half-mile ascent.

When you reach the summit at the Blood Mountain Shelter, you can climb up the large rock formation for the summit view. This view is usually crowded. If you continue on the AT for another tenth of a mile, heading down through dense rhododendron tunnels, you'll pass another view before coming to a much more expansive view at a large rocky opening. There's a lot of side trails here so look for the white blaze painted on the rock on the ground to guide you.

Check out more Blood Mountain hikes.