There are always people looking for new places to challenge themselves and enjoy nature. The US is home to some of the most difficult trails out there and the Duncan Ridge Trail is infamous among them in this regard. If you are up for the challenge, let’s find out all about the trail.

The Duncan Ridge Trail is famous around north Georgia as a difficult trail. The trail is about 35 or so miles long point-to-point trail located in North Georgia near Blairsville. In terms of trail difficulty, the trail is rated as strenuous. But expert hikers would find it rather an exciting challenge. The trail is accessible all year-round.

The Duncan Ridge Trail is a point-to-point trail and this nature makes it a great hiking trail. If you wish to prepare for your hiking trip to this trail as soon as possible, you need to consider a few things.

Located deep in the North Georgia Mountains, the Duncan Ridge trail is famous for being one of the most challenging and physically demanding trails the eastern United States has to offer. The trail is steep, follows high dry ridges, and water is often difficult to find.

The location of the trail can be traced approximately 1.5 hours away from Atlanta and almost 2 hours away from the southeast point of Chattanooga. The northern terminus of the Duncan Ridge trail starts from Long Creek, at an intersection between Benton MacKaye Trail and Appalachian Trail.

The trail leads north and crosses the Toccoa River over a 260 feet long swinging bridge. It continues north and west along the side of Duncan ridge through Mulky Gap towards the Slaughter Gap. One can only wonder how it came to be named that. The Duncan Ridge trail includes many steep climbs and at times descents over a few mountain tops as well.

No doubt, the trail can prove to be a quite difficult hike but it is rewarding at the same time. With gorgeous scenery, beautiful waterfalls, and stunning panoramic views, there’s hardly any room for disappointment. The trail is typically used for running and hiking and is accessible to all 365 days a year. You can come with your dog for a walk as well but remember to keep it on a leash.

If you plan to go for a hiking trip along the Duncan Ridge trail, it’s good to prepare beforehand. There are several day-hikes near the trail that you may want to look into.

They are:

Sosebee Cove: You can find the picturesque Sosebee Cove forest in the Chattahoochee National Forest. It is a north-facing, high-elevation cove forest that stretches over 175 acres of land. The trail that goes through the cove was dedicated to Arthur Woody, also known as the “Barefoot Ranger”.

Bear Hair Gap: Located near Suches, Georgia, the Bear Hair Gap is a 3.6 miles long loop trail. The trail usually gets a lot of traffic as it features gorgeous wildflowers anyone would enjoy. If you wish to go on a hiking trip with your kids, a hike along this moderate-difficulty trail should be perfect. As long as you keep your dogs on leash, they can join along as well.

Coosa Backcountry Trail: The Coosa Backcountry trail is a low-trafficked loop trail located near Blairsville, Georgia. This 12.9 miles long trail is typically used for hiking, camping, running, and backpacking. You can access the trail the whole year-round. But this trail is also famous for giving expert hikers and backpackers a hard time. You should plan for a strenuous hike and be self reliant. 

Byron Herbert Reece Trail: The Byron Herbert Reece trail is another loop trail with moderate traffic located beside Blairsville, Georgia. However, this one isn’t as difficult as Coosa Backcountry Trail and is moderate in terms of trail difficulty. The trail is a mere 5.5 miles long and mostly used for walking, hiking, nature trips, and watching birds.

Lake Winfield Scott Trail: Located near Suches, Georgia, the Lake Winfield Scott trail is a loop trail with moderate traffic. The trail is extremely short with less than a mile-long loop around Lake Winfield Scott. Overall, it is an extremely easy hiking trail and is best for seniors. Typically, the trail is famous for fishing, nature trips, and walking.

At this point, how much difficult the Duncan Ridge Trail may prove to be, should come as no surprise to you. A hiking trip at this trail will require much of your strength and stamina. So it is important to prepare accordingly beforehand. Here are some tips to help you prepare for the hike:

For your hiking trip at the Duncan Ridge trail, it’s best to choose clothes that let you move around comfortably. I recommend packing some synthetic/tech wick clothing that dries fast particularly in cold weather. This will reduce feeling drenched and also reduce hypothermia risk as the colder temperatures of night descend upon you.