The Bear Hair Gap at Vogel State Park
I’ve been to Vogel State Park before, and it’s in one of my most favorite places, the North Georgia mountains. This time, I took the Bear Hair Gap Trail.
The Bear Hair Gap Trail is part of the network of trails in Vogel State Park, nestled in the North Georgia mountains, part of the Blood Mountain region. This is a trail of moderate difficulty, winding up and around the hills. This trip along the trail was in late fall, and most of the leaves had left the trees, but you could still see splashes of color across the hills, especially when seen from the overlook spur trail that provides a gorgeous view of the park, centered by Lake Trahlyta.
This is a pretty trail, and I’m planning to return in the spring, to see the difference that would make. But, the fall colors were still brilliant and I enjoyed my time on this trail. It starts out along a creek with little cascades just beyond the campgrounds, winding through a boulder field before beginning in earnest. The major leg of the trail is a back and forth trip around the hills, gaining a little elevation each time until you come to the overlook spur trail.
The overlook trail is well worth the time, as it provides a very nice view of the park. Along most of the trail, there are tantalizing glimpses of the mountains beyond the valley. The trees, denuded as they might be, still commanded attention, particularly as North Georgia has its share of evergreens. But, once you get to the top of the trail, there is a break in the trees that opens out onto the park below. The view prominently features Lake Trahlyta, a major attraction for visitors to Vogel State Park, but the surrounding trees were still awash in warm fall colors.
After the overlook trail, the trail starts to level out and then begins to head downward. One aspect of the trail at this time of year became important as I headed downward. The fallen leaves just covered the trail in a thick carpet. The shades of pink and red gave this part of the trail a rosy hue, a beautiful contrast to the evergreens on either side. But this carpet of leaves made the trail a bit treacherous on the downhill, as it was easy to slip and slide on the leaves, even with hiking boots with good tread. Nearing the last leg of the trail, a fantastic boulder field, while great to look at, brought the need for care into sharper relief, as sliding on that part of the trail could end up smacking into rather unyielding stone. So, at least at this time of year, it’s probably best to enjoy the scenery while standing still, but concentrate on footing while walking.
I made my way down, taking the time to take a few shots of the creek, as I left, focusing on the various little cascades. Then, I made my way back down the mountains to South Carolina, enjoying the views of just about my favorite area of North Georgia.
