Georgia

Mountain Bike Trail Guide

• SORBA, the Southeastern Off-Road Bicycle Association in northern Georgia has a list of Georgia trails
• Northern Georgia by Kiethmc. Good info, and well laid out, but the site hasn't been updated in forever.
• Mountain Travel Guide - Information and directions to waterfalls, Hiking, Bike, Horse, and ATV Trails in Georgia.
• Cycle Augusta's trails list
• The Bull Mountain IMBA Epic ride in Dahlonega
• Some information on West Georgia trails
• www.sadlebred.com is a great and thorough list of links for Georgia shops, races, events, clubs, and more!
• GeorgiaTrails.com (includes hiking-only trails)
• A list of bike trails (paved and dirt) throughout the state in alphabetical order.
• Race
  • The Southern Lights 24/7 race (Oconee County)
• Atlanta Area
  • Atlanta Mountain Biking Areas
  • Access Atlanta: Quick Guide to Mountain Biking
  • The Little River Trail (near Woodstock)
• Northern Georgia
  • Mountain Biking in Dahlonega in north central-eastern Georgia
  • Mountain Biking in the Chattahoochee National Forest from Outside Online.
  • Mountain Biking in North Georgia
  • North Georgia Mountain Bike Trails
  • Ridgeway Mountain Bike Trail
  • Photos of mountain biking in north Georgia
  • Blankets Creek In Woodstock

 

Rabun's Most Popular Mountain Biking Trails

Moderate Difficulty

1. The Stonewall Loop - Summary: 8.3 miles of moderately difficult mountain biking. If you start from the parking lot, you will bike approximately 2.5 miles of old double-track with gravel, then 3 miles of old double-track to the waterbreaks. Then you will continue around the mountain and descend narrow single-trak to Stonewall Creek. The next 2 miles is singletrack which fords the Stonewall Creek four times, then takes you by the beautiful Stonewall Creek Waterfalls. Map 120K
2. The Wolf Creek Loop - Summary: 11.5 miles of moderately difficult mountain biking. Approximately 3 miles of gravel double-track turning onto approximately 3/4 mile of old forest service roads and great single-track. The loop continues after a short time-out break on the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River. Next, ford Cliff Creek and ascend for the next two miles on single-track. After one mile of gravel double-track, you'll turn right and descend on an old U.S. Forest Service road for app. 1 mile. Complete the loop by fording the upper portion of Cliff Creek and ascending double- track to the beginning.
3. The Shady Lane Loop - Summary: 4.1 miles
4. The Buckeye Branch Branch Loop - Summary: 5.8 miles
5. The Chestnut Mountain Loop - Summary: 9.2 miles
6. The Granny's Camp Loop - Summary: 17.2 miles

 

For Beginner Mountain Bikers

1. Tate City out-and-back - Summary: This trip is a gradual ascend to Tate City along the beautiful Tallulah River. It is all double-track winding road with bridges which cross the river numerous times. If you don't want to go the full way, you can turn around and descend back to the starting point. I enjoy this trip for its beauty. The road also travels along the wildlife game management area. The total distance if you go to the end is approximately 18 miles (9 miles ascending, 9 miles descending.
2. Raven Rock out-and-back - Summary: This trip is a great trip for the beginner mountain biker. The trip starts with a short distance of pavement, then turn onto U.S. Forest Road. After a few miles on this road, you will have ascended to the mountain top above Raven Rock on the Chattooga River. From here you may hike down to the river before biking back to the starting point. The total distance is approximately 8 1/2 miles. (The Water Gauge spur may be added for additional mileage).
3. The Seed Lake Loop - Summary: On-Off Road for 12 miles

Stonewall Falls Loop, Clayton, Georgia

Total Distance: 8.0 miles - Difficulty: moderate - Fees: none

Directions:

From Clayton, Georgia, travel south on Highway 441/23/15 for three miles and turn right onto the Tiger Connector (Rameys Service Center). Continue one mile to the four-way stop in Tiger. Turn left and travel south on Highway Old 441 for three miles. Turn right onto dirt USFS #20 Road (by a metal building) and travel approximately one mile till the road forks. Turn right and parking area is 70 yards away.

Description:

From the parking area, ascend an old double-track approximately 2-1/2 miles to a point where you can view Glassy Mountain to the west, Black Rock Mountain to the north, Screamer Mountain to the east, and more. Continue 2 more miles as the road narrows to older logging roads around Crunkleton Ridge. Then bike along the ridge and descend single-track to Stonewall Creek. Travel along the creek, crossing it four times to the beautiful Stonewall Falls waterfalls. Complete the loop on dirt double-track to the starting point.

Emerson City Trail, Emerson City, Georgia

Total Distance: ? - Difficulty: ? - Fees: none

Directions:

Take I-75 to Chastain Road (Exit 117). Turn left and follow it all the way to Hwy. 41 (just past airport). Turn right on 41. Go north for about fifteen miles until you see an Emerson city sign. After you see that sign, continue north until you cross a bridge over some train tracks. Pull off to the right of the road immediately after the bridge.

Description:

Ride down trail that parallels the train-tracks.

Windridge ATB Park, Newman, Georgia

Total Distance: 5-7 miles - Difficulty: moderate to advanced - Fees: $3

Directions:

From Atlanta take I-85 South to Exit #9 (Newnan/Shennandoah). Go down the expressway ramp to a traffic light and turn right. Go to the second light (westbound) and turn right onto Highway 34 by-pass. Follow the by-pass around the north side of town until it starts to turn south and get off on Welcome Road Exit (about 7-7 1/2 miles). The ramp turns off to the left and intersects Welcome Rd. Turn Left onto Welcome Rd. and continue on to the four-way stop (about 6 miles). You will pass Welcome Store in 1 mile and then the name of the road changes to Handy Rd. in about three miles and at the four-way stop it changes to Martin Girl Rd. From the four-way stop, proceed two miles down Martin Girl Rd. and turn right (North) onto Glover Pond Rd, Go 1 mile to a mailbox (420) on left and a driveway to a home. Sign-in there at the trails map.

Description:

Scenic 5.4 miles of mostly single track with varied terrain and several switch back climbs and descents. Now open to the more advanced rider, two new miles of trails bringing total to just over 7 miles! The course is open to the public weekends from dawn till dark.

Dug Gap, Northwest Georgia, Georgia

Total Distance: over 20 miles possible - Difficulty: ? - Fees: none

Directions:

Go north on I-75 from Atlanta or south on I-75 from Chattanooga, TN until you reach exit 136 (Walnut Ave. exit). After exiting, go east on Walnut Ave. or Hwy 52 to the second stoplight. Take a right on Dug Gap Road. Go to the first stoplight then hang a right on Dug Gap Mtn. Road. You will pass over a bridge, then the road will fork. Go right at the fork to a dead end. This is where the trail starts.

Description:

It has a double track climb with 2 trail options going up. There are 3 seperate downhills (all very fast singletrack with great views and small creek crossings). There is also an out-and-back trail on top of the mountain to extend the ride. Over 20 miles of trails total in a great location for those traveling bikers who need a ride.

Stone Mountain State Park, Stone Mountain, Georgia

Total Distance: ? - Difficulty: ? - Fees: ?

Directions:

Take the Perimeter (I-285) to US 78 East to Stone Mountain Park. Entrance to the trails are somewhere by the yellow river and it's a real park.

Description:

Its a large single and double track trail system with lots of steep drop offs. This trail might be run by SORBA.

Camp Thunder Trails, Thomaston, Georgia

Total Distance: 8 miles - Difficulty: intermediate to advanced - Fees: $2

Directions:

Camp Thunder is a Boy Scout Camp approximately 10 miles northwest of Thomaston on State Highway 74. There is a Camp Thunder sign at the turnoff. At the turnoff, immediately turn right and go approximately 1-2 miles and turn right at the lake. Go 1-2 miles until the pavement ends and turn left at canoe base sign. Go approximately 1/4 of a mile to the registration board. You can access the trails by riding the double track south.

Description:

80% singletrack, 20% doubletrack. There are eight miles of trials. The course has a lot of steep climbs and loose rocks. The course is the site for several annual races.

Sope Creek, Windy Hill, Georgia

Total Distance: 3 miles - Difficulty: beginner - Fees: none?

Directions:

To start at highest elevation, go to Johnson Ferry north of the river, then turn left on Paper Mill. Go a few miles until you cross Sope Creek. There is parking up the hill on the left.

The following 3 sets of directions start out at the river. Ride around the gravel trail until you see the trailhead.

I-75 north. Exit Windy Hill, go east (Or stop by Shane Co.). Right on Powers Ferry. Left on Interstate Pkwy (just before overpass). Parking is on the left before the river.

I-285, just east of I-75. Exit 15. Navigate one way streets to the north side of the highway. Go west on Interstate Pkwy. Parking is on right after river.

Johnson Ferry at the river (Cobb County side). Take Columns Drive until it dead-ends.

Description:

Located in Southeast Cobb County and can be crowded and overused on weekends. Only one trail is open: about 3 miles of up and down with some fun descents, rocky, wooded, starts at Sope Creek and ends at Chattahoochee at Columns Drive. There are three parking areas. The people are friendly. Watch out for hikers/joggers, confrontations could result in trail closures.

Woodstock Trail, Woodstock, Georgia

Total Distance: 3 miles - Difficulty: intermediate - Fees: none?

Directions:

Woodstock trails can't be accessed by Hwy 5. Go north on I-575 to exit 6, take a right on N. Rope Mill Rd. Take this until it hits gravel and continue to a gate. Park at the gate, ride road to the river, and take a left.

Alternate directions to another part of the trail

The good stuff is on the other side of the river where you made the left turn. Go north on I-575, and exit at exit 5. Turn right on Townlake Pkwy. and turn left at the first light onto Hwy. 5. Go aprox. 200 yards, just prior to the railroad crossing, and turn left onto Ropemill Rd. Follow Ropemill Rd. aprox. 1 1/2 mi. until you are about to cross a viaduct (bridge) across 575. Follow down to a parking area near river. You are now directly across the river from the aforementioned left turn.

Description:

After crossing a bridge, take an immediate right. After about 5 miles, the trail comes out onto Hwy 5 about three miles north of town. There are many more trails back there, you just need to find them.

Now all you need to do is find the single track that takes you under 575 and into Corp of Eng. property. After 1/4 mi. or so you will come to a jeep trail. Hang a right and follow the double track. Several trails shoot off either side. The area is a small pennisula on Lake Altoona. One trail descends to the river and follows the river for about a half mile. The ride is nice and full of short climbs mixed in with some speedy descents.

I've been told that most of the area is private property, so stick to the trails. I've also been told, but yet unconfirmed, that there are sometimes hunters back there too, so don't wear your antler helmet.

Some people park at the church at the corner of N. Rope Mill and ride to the river. As far as the hunting goes, the land belongs to the Army Corp of Engineers. The only hunting that's allowed is bow hunting. Beware of those who do like to go and shoot near the river, but most are harmless. The Army Corp of Engineers is trying to restrict access to the trails from all ATV traffic.

The main jeep trail back there (heading to the penninsula) has been covered with chunkrock gravel, about the size of a baseball. Its a laborious ride. This trail used to be great, but a large portion of it has been cleared and developed. :(

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