MOUNTAIN BIKING IN NORTH GEORGIA
If mountain biking is your sport, then come on up to Blue Ridge. If you haven’t tried it yet, you don’t know what you are missing. We have some easy, some moderate and some quite challenging trails to explore. And the best part is that each and every trail is set amongst dazzling scenery. Biking can be a solitary sport, just you and your thoughts; or it can be a romantic ride to a secluded picnic spot; or it can be an exciting family excursion that you will turn into a new tradition.
Mountain biking is a relatively new sport. It wasn’t until the early 1980’s that bicycle companies started manufacturing these special bikes which were made of high-tech, lightweight materials. The sport became popular throughout the 1990’s and 2000’s until it has now become pretty main stream. It is an individual sport that requires endurance, core strength & balance, bike handling skills and self reliance. The most important equipment needed is a helmet and gloves. If you are really into the sport, you probably already own a mountain bike. If not, don’t worry. Mountain bikes can easily be rented. Just get out there and try it once and you will probably get hooked.
The best place to start around Blue Ridge is the Aska Trail Recreation Area. To get there from the McDonald’s on Hwy 515, go north to the Windy Hill Exit and turn right. Go to the end of the street (There’s a stop light there now) and turn left. Pass the Ace Hardware and turn right onto Aska Road. Go about 3 or 4 miles and you will see the parking lot on the right. Some trails start across the road from the parking lot, but there is a big bulletin board map that you can study.
- FLAT CREEK TRAIL ****
This is a 5.7 mile loop which is rated moderate. It’s definitely not for the novice biker, as it has some steep grades and is extremely rocky. You’ll travel through tunnels of rhododendron and forests of hemlock.
- LONG BRANCH LOOP
At only 2.3 miles on an old logging roadbed and doubletrack, this is the perfect trail for beginners. It is rated easy, is relatively flat and could be used as a warm-up for the nearby more difficult trails. It connects to the Green Mt. Trail.
- GREEN MOUNTAIN TRAIL
This is not a walk in the park, but your hard work will be rewarded with gorgeous scenery and a dip in Lake Blue Ridge. The initial climb on the Upper Trail is a toughie, but it’s only .8 mile. The run down to the lake is wild and will keep your heart racing. Stop at the lake, have a swim, eat some lunch then tackle the return climb. The Green Mountain Trail is a 7.7 mile loop that is rated aerobically strenuous and technically difficult. It takes about 2 hours to complete.
- HICKEY KNOB
This is one of the least known rides in the area. The 4.6 mile loop is rated easy to moderate and takes about 30 minutes to one hour to complete. The trail is mostly forest road that takes you over Hickey Knob and then down through some fun waterways. Around the base you’ll pass through some pretty fields, a pond and an old homesite. These ruins contrast sharply with the modern lake homes you will pass enroute to the finish. Hickey Knob would make a wonderful family outing.
**Okay, now we get to the confusing “Stanley” trails. There’s Stanley Gap, Stanley Gap Trail and Stanley Creek Loop. They are all located in the Aska Recreation Area. I’ll try to sort it out, but be sure you study the map and know which one you want to ride.
- STANLEY GAP
Stanley Gap is a fabulous singletrack. A paved downhill takes you to the beautiful Toccoa River before you go up, up, up on a forest road to the trail. In fact, the top elevation on this trail is over 3400 feet, an elevation gain of over 1700 feet! The total mileage is 12.5 and takes about 2 ½ hours for an intermediate mountain biker. Highlights of the Stanley Gap are the awesome views, the long rocky downhill stretches, the river rapids, and the vacation homes that you will pass.
- THE STANLEY GAP TRAIL ****
This is a 5-mile strenuously difficult ride with the top elevation at almost 3400 feet. After the steep, rooty initial climb, you’ll find yourself on a stretch of narrow singletrack cut into the side of Rocky Mountain. When you reach the peak and view the panoramic surrounding ridges, you will be glad you made the effort. Be sure to pack a light jacket for these high elevation rides because it gets cold up there, even in the summertime.
- THE STANLEY CREEK LOOP
This is a good example of a short but tough Georgia trail. The singletrack section runs on an old logging road, following the Stanley Creek. There are some rocky surprises, but the trail is rated aerobically moderately easy, technically more difficult. There are many photo ops on this beautiful trail, so don’t forget to pack your camera. The ride takes about an hour
SOUTH FORK is rated four stars by bikers and it is not in the Aska Adventure Area, but adjacent to the Cohutta Wilderness Area in Fannin County. South Fork is a great trail for novice riders. It starts near a horse camp and winds through grassy meadows and hardwood forests along the south fork of the Jacks River. Wildlife sightings are common and the scenery is terrific. Plan on getting your feet wet as there are many stream crossings. The trail merges with the Benton MacKaye for a short distance. The South Fork Trail is an 8.1 mile loop and can be completed in 1 ½- 2 ½ hours.
Directions: Take GA 5 northwest from Blue Ridge for about 4 miles. Turn left (west) at the Watson Gap sign onto Old GA 2. Go 10.5 miles to the 4-way Stop at Watson Gap. Turn left onto Forest Service Road 64 and go 4.2 miles to the trailhead.
If you want to venture further from Blue Ridge, try the five-star rated COOPER CREEK TRAIL located near Suches. It is a 12.4 mile loop that circles the Cooper Creek Scenic Area off Hwy 76. It is very hilly, but also very scenic. The ride takes about 1 ½ hours and the top elevation is over 2800 feet.
Trails closer to Ellijay:
- BEAR CREEK TRAIL
This popular double loop trail of approximately 6.7 miles makes a fun family outing. In any season the surroundings are beautiful. The lower first section runs along Bear Creek, crossing back and forth several times. The creek is noisy and the hemlock forest is dense and almost primeval. The trail passes by the Gennett Poplar, an immense old growth yellow poplar tree which gives you a good idea of what the forest must have looked like before the area was logged earlier in the century. If you have younger kids on the ride, this might be a good place to turn back. Once the trail leaves the creek, it climbs to the overlook on the ridge. You can see Ft. Mountain in the distance. Sections of the trail are narrow and steep. The descent on the return loop is wide, open, and well worn singletrack. As one cyclist said, “Put it on autopilot and hang on!”
Directions: Go south on Hwy 515 from Blue Ridge toward Ellijay. Turn west (left) on GA 52 and go 5 miles. Turn right onto FSR 241 and go about 2 miles to the trailhead parking lot.
- MOUNTAINTOWN CREEK TRAIL
On this 5.6 mile adventure you will pass roaring cascades and the waterfalls of Mountaintown Creek gorge. You will ride through stands of white pine and hemlock, crossing the creek several times. Some sections are rocky, steep and narrow.
Directions: Go south on Hwy 515 from Blue Ridge toward Ellijay. Turn left (west) on GA 52 and go 5 miles. Turn right at the Bear Creek Campground sign onto Gates Chapel Road and go 4.9 miles to the end of the pavement. Turn right and go 3.3 miles to the “T” intersection. Turn right onto FSR 64 and go 7.1 miles to the upper trailhead.
Last, but certainly not least, if you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to race on an
official NORBA-level race course, here’s your chance. Try the UNICOI STATE PARK BIKE TRAIL just past Helen, GA. This 7.4 mile trail was rated five stars by mountain bikers, and it was built for racing. Keep your wits about you as there are constant elevation changes and very difficult sections you must traverse. The entire trail is a pleasure to ride and well worth the trip any time of the year, but particularly in the fall.
According to Sam Curlee, owner of Cycle South in downtown Blue Ridge, the North Georgia Mountain area is one of the best areas in the country for mountain biking. It offers such a vast variety of trails for all skill levels, with some of the most stunning scenery. Sam and his wife, Shelby, have owned and operated this “Mom & Pop” business since 1998. They are avid mountain bikers with lots of experience. They love the sport and are eager to share their enthusiasm with others. Stop by their store to rent a bike ($10/hour or $45/day) and get maps, directions, suggestions about the best trails for your skill level and current trail conditions. They don’t want anybody to take a ride where he’s bored or in way over his head. Helmets come with the bikes and you can rent bike racks to fit on your car. They sell all the paraphernalia you’d ever need to go biking. All their mountain bikes come with quick release wheels that can be removed and easily reassembled without tools so that most bikes will fit in a car.
Come to the mountains and try something different. Mountain biking is a great hobby and perfect for an exciting family adventure. Wes and Leslee Reuning of Rainbow Cabins at www.rainbowcabins.com would love to accommodate you in one of their luxurious secluded cabins. Imagine coming home from a fun-filled day of biking to soak in a bubbling hot tub or to refresh yourself in the Toccoa River or Fightingtown Creek.
It’s all possible in a Rainbow Cabin!