Peaks

 

23

 

 

Pursuers

 

7

 

 

Finishers

 

0

 

 

Includes all peaks along the 35.5 mile Duncan Ridge Trail in Georgia. Maintained by the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club, the Duncan Ridge Trail connects to the Appalachian Trail in Georgia in two places. From the western terminus at Long Creek Falls, the Duncan Ridge Trail heads north with the Benton MacKaye Trail, separating at Rhodes Mountain. From the eastern terminus on the west ridge of Blood Mountain, the Duncan Ridge Trail heads north with the Coosa Backcountry Trail, separating at Coosa Bald. Considered by some to be the most difficult trail in Georgia, the Duncan Ridge Trail includes steep rock faces that are slippery when wet. Some peaks in this challenge require a short bushwhack off trail.

 

Highest peak

Slaughter Mountain

4,321 ft / 1,317 m

Most prominent peak

Coosa Bald

960 ft / 292 m

Most summited peak

Slaughter Mountain

4 summits

Most difficult peak

Buckeye Knob

Class 1

Difficulty breakdown

Class 1/2 8 peaks

Top climbing months

February   53%

April   20%

October   6%

Highlights
  • The Duncan Ridge Trail forms "The Georgia Loop" with the connecting portion of the Appalachian Trail.
"Hiked from Forest Service Road 251 on gated road to the grassy bald on the Benton MacKaye Trail, then explored the trail and a light bushwhack to search for the high point of Peak 3281 ft." — davidensley • Apr 27, 2024
"Beautiful hike with flowers blooming and a great vista near the peak of Akin Mountain! The peak is overgrown with briars, but a medium bushwhack is possible by following the rock faces. The Duncan Ridge Trail from Mulky Gap is a steep approach to the peak." — davidensley • Apr 18, 2024
"Hiked Duncan Ridge Trail from Bryant Gap over Buck Knob to West Wildcat Knob and back over Buck Knob. Both peaks are light bushwhacks near the trail, but much of the trail here has briars leaning over in the way." — davidensley • Feb 17, 2024
"Hiked Duncan Ridge Trail from Bryant Gap over Buck Knob to West Wildcat Knob and back over Buck Knob. Both peaks are light bushwhacks near the trail, but much of the trail here has briars leaning over in the way. The east ridge of Buck Knob is about as challenging as the west ridge of Buckeye Knob; both will buck you off if you’re not careful. The most challenging part of Buck Knob is a large rock face that has nice views from the top. Buck Knob has twin peaks; the east peak is sharper, so at first I thought it was higher; the west peak is gentler, but after studying it, I think it is higher." — davidensley • Feb 17, 2024
"Winter wonderland on Wildcat Knob after last night’s rain left all the stems and needles covered in frost. Hiked Duncan Ridge Trail/Coosa Backcountry Trail (DRT/CBT) a short distance from Wildcat Gap, then moderate bushwhack up old route of DRT/CBT to peak of Wildcat Knob. No problem following the old trail and many blazes are still visible. Wind gusts blowing the frost off, and it falls like snow and sounds like sleet landing on the leaves on the ground." — davidensley • Feb 17, 2024