Cycling Neel(s) Gap South, Georgia
Ride 7.9 miles gaining 1,616’ at 3.6% average grade.
This is a fairly tame climb on a fairly busy state highway. The steepest half mile segment reaches only 6.3% and is easily manageable. If you only have time for a couple of the gaps, we’d recommend Hogpen and Wolfpen long before Neels Gap. We include this page primarily for those assessing the gaps included in the annual Six Gap ride summarized in more detail below.
Neels Gap is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Neels Gap is one of the gaps included in the 103.8 mile/11,230 vertical feet Six Gap Century (Neels Gap, Hogpen Gap, Unicoi Gap, Jack’s Gap, Wolfpen Gap, and Woody Gap). A route map of the Six Gap Century can be found here.
While this is not the most scenic or challenging of the six Gaps, it is the only one with an information/gift shop at the top. The climb is on Blood Mountain and is within Vogel State Park in the Chattahoochee National Forest. Vogel State Park was established in 1931, is the second oldest Georgia State Park, and consists of 233 acres.
The Appalachian Trail crosses Neels Gap.
Blood Mountain is the highest peak of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia.
Neel Gap Information Center and Gift Shop.