Located near Blairsville, GA, Vogel State Park is one of the oldest state parks in Georgia. Located at 2,500 feet above sea level, Vogel sits at the base of Blood Mountain, the highest summit on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia, surrounded by the Chattahoochee National Forest. Aside from hiking, other activities at this park include fishing, geocaching, mini golf, swimming, and kayaking are also options!
Best Time to Visit Vogel State Park
The centerpiece of the park is 20-acre Lake Trahlyta, created when the Corps dammed Wolf Creek and named for a Cherokee maiden who is buried a few miles from the park at Stonepile Gap. At 2500 feet elevation, the park maintains a cool evening temperature even in the dog days of summer, making this a great stop for camping, but beware. Vogel is particularly popular for hiking in north Georgia during the fall when the Blue Ridge Mountains transform into a rolling blanket of red, yellow, and gold leaves.
Hikers can choose from a variety of trails, including the popular four-mile Bear Hair Gap loop, an easy one-mile lake loop, and the challenging 13-mile Coosa Backcountry Trail. The 20-acre lake is open to non-motorized boats. During the summer, visitors can cool off at the scenic lakeside beach.
Top 4 Vogel State Park Trails to Consider on Your Next Hike
0.8 Mile Partial Loop. Average Travel Time: 1 Hour. Foot Travel Only....
Located near Blairsville, GA, Vogel State Park is one of the oldest state parks in Georgia. Located at 2,500 feet above sea level, Vogel sits at the base of Blood Mountain, the highest summit on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia, surrounded by the Chattahoochee National Forest. Aside from hiking, other activities at this park include fishing, geocaching, mini golf, swimming, and kayaking are also options!
Best Time to Visit Vogel State Park
The centerpiece of the park is 20-acre Lake Trahlyta, created when the Corps dammed Wolf Creek and named for a Cherokee maiden who is buried a few miles from the park at Stonepile Gap. At 2500 feet elevation, the park maintains a cool evening temperature even in the dog days of summer, making this a great stop for camping, but beware. Vogel is particularly popular for hiking in north Georgia during the fall when the Blue Ridge Mountains transform into a rolling blanket of red, yellow, and gold leaves.
Hikers can choose from a variety of trails, including the popular four-mile Bear Hair Gap loop, an easy one-mile lake loop, and the challenging 13-mile Coosa Backcountry Trail. The 20-acre lake is open to non-motorized boats. During the summer, visitors can cool off at the scenic lakeside beach.
Top 4 Vogel State Park Trails to Consider on Your Next Hike
0.8 Mile Partial Loop. Average Travel Time: 1 Hour. Foot Travel Only.
Access the Byron Herbert Reece Nature Trail from the Back Country Trailhead located near the campground. Follow the green access trail blazes 0.1 miles to the trail intersection marked with white blazing. The BHR trail loops from this location through a diverse forest that has more types of trees that grow in Yellowstone National Park. Wildflowers abound during the warmer months. If your group is curious, make sure to check out other hiking trails in the area.
12.9-Miles Partial Loop. Average Travel Time: 9 Hours. Foot Travel Only.
Beginning at the Backcountry Trailhead, follow the green-blazed access trail to where the yellow-blazed Coosa Backcountry Trail begins its loop up and over the summit of Duncan Ridge, and connection can be made with several trails in the Chattahoochee National Forest. Hikers will climb and descend over 1 mile in elevation, crossing three ridgelines. Please read the precautions for the Bear Gap Trail. Going for a hike in the winter? Make sure you know what to wear for your winter hike.
4.1-Mile Partial Loop. Average Travel Time: 4 Hours. Foot Travel Only.
Beginning at the Backcountry Trailhead, follow the green-blazed access trail to where the orange-blazed Bear Hair Gap Trail begins its nearly 4-mile loop up and over the lower ridges of Blood Mountain. Wildflowers abound in season, and long-distance vistas can be seen after the leaves have fallen. The trail leaves the park and travels to the Chattahoochee National Forest, which is open to hunting. It is advisable to wear bright-colored clothing or safety orange vests during hunting season.
1.0 Mile Loop. Average Travel Time: 1 Hour. Foot Travel Only.
The trail around Lake Trahlyta can be accessed from picnic shelter #2 or cabin #35. The trail crosses an earthen dam constructed by the CCC in 1935. A spur trail off the dam leads to an observation deck below the dam's spillway. One of the more photographed views in North Georgia is of Blood and Slaughter Mountains taken from the bridge over the dam spillway. This is an easy walk.
