Blood Mountain Wilderness

The United States Congress designated the Blood Mountain Wilderness in 1991. This wilderness area consist of 7,800-acres within North Georgia's Chattahoochee National Forest overall 749,550-acres. The highest point and centerpiece of this wilderness area is Blood Mountain standing at 4,458-feet above sea level. Within this designated area are scenic overlooks, rugged mountain peaks, rocky outcropping, rushing creeks, streams, waterfalls, logging roads and numerous trails. The two most popular trails which transverse through these wild lands are the Appalachian and Duncan Ridge Trail, both idea for backpacking. Black Bear encounters as well as sighting of other natural wildlife animals are common to the region. For more information regarding Black Bears you can refer to the Blue Ridge Highlander's feature stories on Black Bears located in the magazine section.

Sosebee Cove Scenic Area

Sosebee Cove is a quiet mountain cove in the Blood Mountain Wilderness along GA/180 between Vogel State Park and Lake Winfield Scott. This heavily wooded cove of hardwood timber is a memorial to Arthur Woody, the first regional Forest Service Ranger who served the area from 1911 to 1945. Ranger Woody was instrumental in negotiating the purchase of the local Sosebee’s Cove property for the Forestry Service.

Sosebee Cove’s 175-acres, are a forested jewel of rare wildflowers and ferns, along with dutchman breeches, waterleaf, squirrel corn and other species. The Cove’s forest consists of several types of hardwoods including yellow birch, and a rare yellowwood tree. A short ‘point 3-mile’ trail, consisting of two link loops is accessible from the parking area alongside the roadway. A salamander rich branch flows through the scenic cove as well as a second-growth yellow poplar tree stand that began its towering growth after the last heavy logging, in the region. Near the beginning of the trail is one of the coves largest hardwood trees, reminiscent of some of the large trees in the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. This young giant tree can be easily viewed from the roadway parking area when looking towards the left, or very short stroll along the beginning of the trail for an up close look. Along the opposite side of the roadway is an excellent example of a high-altitude boulder field, most viewable during the late fall-winter season when heavy foliage has depleted.