Dirt Rag did a great write up on riding in Georgia.

• 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. :(

Stonewall Falls Loop

DESCRIPTION:
Stonewall Falls is a great eight mile loop in Rabun County Georgia just south of Clayton. It consists of doubletrack, singletrack, climbing, fast descents, and some technical descents. There are four stream crossings that are rideable and lots of fun (especially in the summer heat). There is an area beside the falls for primitive camping or just having a picnc lunch. Absolutely one of the most scenic trails I have ridden. Lots of wildlife to be seen as well. Me and a buddy, Michael, nearly collided with a black bear and her cubs on a trip there last year. She was as suprised and scared as we were. I have also seen lots of deer, birds, squirrells and rabbits to name just a few.

The trail is best ridden in a counter clockwise direction. It starts out as a gravel doubletrack uphill out of the parking lot. The first 4 miles or so consist of some old logging roads.

After a gradual but fairly consistant 2.5 mile climb, you will come upon an overlook where you can view three of the peaks in the area, Glassy Mountain on the right, Black Rock Mountain straight to the north, and Screamer Mountain to the northeast. After passing the overlook
you climb for about another 100 yds. or so before beginning the first decent.

Stay to the left when you get to the fork, it is well marked though so should not be a problem. This decent is fairly long and fast, with a few small jumps along the way. Watch out for the sharp left at the bottom as it can be tougher than it looks. Just past that turn the trail makes a detour over and around a set of water bars that can be tricky.

Now start the next climb, I don't know the exact distance on this one, but it is probably 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile. The next decent is not as long, but still fast none the less. Has a couple of good jumps on it also. I crashed here on the second jump last year, on the trip we saw the bears, at about 28 mph and landed on my head, shattering my helmet. So use caution here.

Now you start the last climb. The trail splits at one point, take the left for a shorter, steeper more technical climb, or take the right to work up around the ridge at a longer more gradual rate. This is where the trail starts to narrow getting into the singletrack portion of the ride. Once at the top, it is all downhill back to the falls.

The trail splits again on this downhill. Again take the left for a steeper more technical route, or stay right for a more gradual drop. Decend all the way down to the creek for one of the most scenic portions of the trail. It follows the creek from here all the way back to the falls with 4 rideable crossings along the way. Be sure and stop at the falls for a great view and a break before heading around to the parking area.

To get to the parking area, bear left from the falls and at the next intersection and you are there. For the hardcore, turn around and ride it again in reverse. For a real challenge, I hear this is a popular place for night riding.

DIRECTIONS:
To get there from Clayton, go south on Ga.Hwy.441 till you see a sign to Tiger. Turn right here and continue to the next stop sign which will be in Tiger. Turn left and drive about three miles to Forest Service Road 20 (by a metal building on right.) This road takes you to the trailhead on the right about a mile in. There is a two dollar forest access parking fee. This trail is well worth it.

An older article about the Stonewall Falls Trail.

Bull Mountain, Georgia

Location: Between Dahlonega Falls State Park and Amicalola, Georgia off GA 52
Configuration: Singletrack and forest roads
Difficulty: Moderate to advanced
The Good: Very rideable singletrack, well maintained

The Bad: Can be crowded on weekends, rocky in spots
More Info: Contact Cartecay River Bike Shop at 4027 Highway 52 East or call (706) 635-BIKE.

Bull Mountain is well known amongst Georgia cyclists as one of the state's best mountain bike rides, and for good reason. Set in the beautiful north Georgia mountains, the Bull is often described by area cyclists as a well-built trail system with moderate climbs, fast downhills, and just plain fun to ride. Thanks should go out to the folks at SORBA (Southern Offroad Bicycle Association) for their tireless efforts to keep the Bull in prime shape. Bring your lungs - you'll begin with a 5-mile climb, but the exciting downhill makes it worthwhile. Though the trail can get crowded on nice weekends, hit it during the week for singletrack solitude.

Sope Creek

• Located in Southeast Cobb County near the Chattahoochee River. Crowded on weekends and overused. One trail open: about 2.5 to 3 miles. Very techincal: fun descents, can be very rocky, wooded; starts at Sope Creek and ends at the Chattahoochee River at Columns Drive. Three parking areas. (Two dollar parking fee.) Friendly people. Note: I've heard there is a trail fee and that there's an enforced speed limit!
• To start at highest elevation: Johnson Ferry north of river: go west on Paper Mill. Go a few miles until you cross Sope Creek. Parking up hill on left.
• The following 3 sets of directions start out at the river. Ride around gravel trail until you see the trailhead.
• I-75 north. Exit Windy Hill, go east (Or go west and stop by the Shane Co.). Right on Powers Ferry. Left on Interstate Pkwy (just before overpass). Parking is on left before river.
• I-285, just east of I-75. Exit 15. Navigate those one way streets to the north side of the highway. (If the sun is rising...) 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.
• map from mapquest The green trees mark the trailheads. The top tree is at Paper Mill Road, the right tree is at Columns Drive, the lower tree is at Interstate Parkway.
• Georgia International Horse Park Site of 1996 first ever Olympic mountain biking event!

GMA

• Forsyth County. $5 to ride a day or you can get a membership. Take GA400 north to exit 13, take first left by waffle house and follow to the end of road. At the T make a Right and follow for approx 2 miles until you come to Trammel Road, a left hand turn. On the right hand side of the road there is a animal hospital. Follow that road until is becomes gravel and go another 1/2 mile and on right you will see a GMA sign turn in there and they have trail maps.

Rabun County

• There is a book, no longer in print i believe, called Biking the Trails of Rabun.

Snellville

• Yellow river, great riding for beginers to intermediate. New trails being added. Go to Snellville, take 78 to 124, take 124 away from Lawrenceville, Go about 5 miles and take a right on Anniston (its a stoplight), go 2-3 miles until you cross the Yellow River, take first left on Juhan Rd, take a left into a gravel parking lot about 1/2 mile on left, Bike over field to trees and follow river to the right until you see the trailhead.

Chicopee Woods Bike Trails (Gainesville)

• Chickopee, Technical, short but lots of fun! Good downhills. Hilly. Has a new loop to the existing outer, inner, short, and practice. This
  new loop is called the ZigZag, and is a blast. Total trail distance is now about 14mi. Parking is best at the trailhead.
• Take I-985 North to exit 4. exit and turn left on to haghway 53,
• After driving under I-985, turn right onto frontage road.
• Drive on Frontage Road until highway 13. turn left on to highway 13.
• Follow highway 13 to chicopee village turn right on to elachee drive.
• Turn right on to Elachee drive.
• Follow Elachee drive to the signs for the bike trailheads and parking.
• Here you can read the billboard, look at the map, use the restroom. Parking is one dollar (honor system) and SORBA uses this for maintenance projects.