Paulding County WMA Trails

Got to ride about 5 miles worth of the fire roads inside the W.M.A. yesterday by linking up to the Silver Comet trail. Be advised, these are NOT the same as the Silver Comet side trails. These run mostly to the north of the SCT as far as I can tell. You will know you are in the WMA once you see the yellow signs all over the place. Decent fire roads that you won't feel too bad about riding if regular singletrack in the area is wet. There might be some sinlg or double track somewhere in here but I didn't have the time or patience to search the entire acreage. (26,000+ acres ;) ) The guys at Paulding SORBA are trying to get there hands on this area and possibly set up more formal bike trails but in the mean time its still a cool place to ride and feel like you are away from humanity.

Got to ride about 5 miles worth of the fire roads inside the W.M.A. yesterday by linking up to the Silver Comet trail. Be advised, these are NOT the same as the Silver Comet side trails. These run mostly to the north of the SCT as far as I can tell. You will know you are in the WMA once you see the yellow signs all over the place. Decent fire roads that you won't feel too bad about riding if regular singletrack in the area is wet. There might be some sinlg or double track somewhere in here but I didn't have the time or patience to search the entire acreage. (26,000+ acres ;) ) The guys at Paulding SORBA are trying to get there hands on this area and possibly set up more formal bike trails but in the mean time its still a cool place to ride and feel like you are away from humanity.

Paulding county has over 80,000 acres of WMA (wildlife management area) land that parallels hwy 278 and the silver comet. The WMA is very well posted at its outer boundries with square yellow signs placed on trees that state WMA BOUNDRY. I have been hunting,fishing,hiking,camping,mountainbiking on the wma's for 10+ yrs. It is my understanding that if you have a WMA stamp, then you can use the land for hunting(only for a very few days during the regular statewide hunting season), hiking, primitive camping, fishing, mountain biking etc. motorized ATV's are only allowed during the very few days of legal deer hunting season. The WMA stamp is a permit seperate from a hunting liscense that qualifies you to use this government owned and protected land. The permit is good for one year. I would get a copy of the hunting regulations (free at the local wal-mart sports dept.) and check for the hunting season for paulding wma before mountain biking from sept. thru jan. Other than that as long as you stay on the main trails/dirt roads, it is my understanding that there is no problem. The problems will arise if you get off of the obvious trails and roads and begin to make your own trail. The bottom line is that it is in fact a "wild life management area" which is intended to keep the area as natural and pristine as possible. It is also heavily patrolled by DNR officers to keep out poachers etc. WMA's will, in the very near future, be the only uninhibited lands left. We have to respect them and use them gently and respectfully.* Review edited 9/10/2007* Review edited 9/10/2007* Review edited 9/10/2007* Review edited 9/10/2007* Review edited 9/10/2007* Review edited 9/10/2007* Review edited 9/10/2007

Paulding county has over 80,000 acres of WMA (wildlife management area) land that parallels hwy 278 and the silver comet. The WMA is very well posted at its outer boundries with square yellow signs placed on trees that state WMA BOUNDRY. I have been hunting,fishing,hiking,camping,mountainbiking on the wma's for 10+ yrs. It is my understanding that if you have a WMA stamp, then you can use the land for hunting(only for a very few days during the regular statewide hunting season), hiking, primitive camping, fishing, mountain biking etc. motorized ATV's are only allowed during the very few days of legal deer hunting season. The WMA stamp is a permit seperate from a hunting liscense that qualifies you to use this government owned and protected land. The permit is good for one year. I would get a copy of the hunting regulations (free at the local wal-mart sports dept.) and check for the hunting season for paulding wma before mountain biking from sept. thru jan. Other than that as long as you stay on the main trails/dirt roads, it is my understanding that there is no problem. The problems will arise if you get off of the obvious trails and roads and begin to make your own trail. The bottom line is that it is in fact a "wild life management area" which is intended to keep the area as natural and pristine as possible. It is also heavily patrolled by DNR officers to keep out poachers etc. WMA's will, in the very near future, be the only uninhibited lands left. We have to respect them and use them gently and respectfully.* Review edited 9/10/2007* Review edited 9/10/2007* Review edited 9/10/2007* Review edited 9/10/2007* Review edited 9/10/2007* Review edited 9/10/2007* Review edited 9/10/2007

These trails are soon to be THE trails to ride. Keep an eye out for Paulding County Sorba Chapter to get these trails up and running sometime 2007/2008. Meanwhile, enjoy the "Super Silver Comet Side Trails" just follow the blue marks on the south side of the SCT between Hirum and the Trestle.

These trails are soon to be THE trails to ride. Keep an eye out for Paulding County Sorba Chapter to get these trails up and running sometime 2007/2008. Meanwhile, enjoy the "Super Silver Comet Side Trails" just follow the blue marks on the south side of the SCT between Hirum and the Trestle.

I thought this was a review of some singletrack that I've been riding along the SCT, but I see that it must be something differen. There are blue marks along the Commet trail that show where to get on and off the Commet, They start somewhere around the Rambo parking lot and go east (mostly)

I thought this was a review of some singletrack that I've been riding along the SCT, but I see that it must be something differen. There are blue marks along the Commet trail that show where to get on and off the Commet, They start somewhere around the Rambo parking lot and go east (mostly)