Three agencies came together recently in a public-private partnership to reroute the Byron Herbert Reece Trail in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest so that it now connects to the Appalachian Trail.
The project involved constructing about 1.4 miles of new trail connecting the Byron Herbert Reece Trailhead to the Appalachian Trail near Flatrock Gap. The new route is designed to better align with Wilderness standards and provide a more sustainable, long-term recreation experience, according to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
The reroute has returned the trail to a more natural condition, according to a news release, with a narrower tread and fewer constructed features. The previous trail will be closed and allowed to return to a natural state.
Volunteers with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s Konnarock Trail Crew and the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club built the trail’s new route.
This two-minute video has more information on the trail re-route: https://shorturl.at/buyQi
For more information about Wilderness areas and what to expect when visiting, go to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/wilderness