06/06/2026
Happy National Trails Day 🥾
The new Byron Herbert Reece Trail opens today! This new trail is designed to better fit the intent of designated Wilderness and to be more resilient and sustainable over time.
What does this mean for you?
The new trail is narrow and designed to feel natural and less developed, providing hikers with a more traditional backcountry experience.
The new trail is a little longer, making an in and out hike to the summit of Blood Mountain 5.1 miles.
The new trail will intersect the A.T. farther uphill toward the summit, no longer aligning with the Freeman Trail at Flatrock Gap.
Stay tuned for future posts on why and how this trail was built and check out our website for a detailed map.