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Tags:
Level: Intermediate
Length: 10 mi (16.1 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Loop
Elevation: +691/ -558 ft
Total: 11 riders
Mountain Biking Sumac Creek
#139 of 403 mountain bike trails in Georgia
The trail is a loop consisting of singletrack on old forest roadbeds, a gated Forest Service road, and newly cut singletrack. The trail follows two parallel ridgelines with a dip at either end to cross Sumac Creek. There are some great views along the latter part of the ride and the fall color is great all along this trail.
Highlights: The view along the ridgelines are great. There are some pretty spots down along Sumac Creek that just beg for a good camera and a few minutes of exploration. The creek crossings are deep and refreshing. If you like switchbacks, you'll love this trail. If you don't like switchbacks, at least you'll be better at riding them after you finish this trail. The climbs are typical Cohutta--short but steep, and you have to earn the three overlooks. The fall color is awesome throughout the trail. There is a sweet singletrak downhill halfway through the ride that makes the ensuing climb out almost worth it.
First added by K2K on Sep 1, 2004. Last updated Apr 30, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
- Drinking water: unknown
- Lift service: unknown
- Night riding: unknown
- Pump track: unknown
- Restrooms: unknown
- Fat bike grooming: unknown
- E-bikes allowed: unknown
- Fee required: unknown
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
To get to the trail head from Chattanooga: From I-75 south, go left at the second Ringgold exit (Hwy 41). Turn right onto GA 2. Follow GA-2 through Varnell, past Prater Mill, through Beaverdale to US-411. There are several turns. GA-2 crosses US 411 at Cisco. Continue on 2 beside a stone church - the road turns to gravel. At 1.5 miles past US-411, the road forks; go right. At 1.8 miles, go straight at the 3-way intersection. At 3.1 miles, turn right onto FS17 across from a game check cabin on your left. Follow FS17 for 2.1 miles to a parking lot on your right at the intersection of FS17 & FS17-A. Park here. Go thru the gate on FS17-A and the trailhead is about 1/10th of a mile on your left.
Great trail to ride. Lots of great downhill toward the creek. If you didn't do your homework before hand, you might never find the trail head due to poor signage.
| ThankLOTS of incline and switchbacks, but also tons of awesome downhill! It is easy enough to see the path, but there are no milage markers etc. we just stayed on the main path and it brought us back to the start...took about 3 hours walking lots of the long inclines and speeding downhills. 2 creek crossings also*** Loved the back country unrefined feel.
| ThankI rode this trail January 28, 2011 and the maintenance was terrible. Many large trees down. However, if the Forestry Service clears the trail, it would be a great ride. The intermediate rating is misleading (at least in the counter clockwise direction). Many high effort climbs in the counterclockwise direction. Great peaceful ride with beautiful stream crossings.
| ThankBeautiful, smooth, well marked singletrack inside the Cohutta Wildlife Management Area. There are a lot of rides in the Cohutta mountains that will make you feel like you are the only person for miles, but few of them have singletrack this smooth that was also designed for bikes. Having ridden it, I'm surprised to learn that this trail gets such sparse use. No other bike tire tracks the entire 11 miles and only one set of horse tracks. Thats a shame because this trail was great. My only complaint was that there were several trees down. Even with this obvious lack of trail maintenance, the trail was still fast, fun, and smooth. This place could easily be a 5 star ride. The climbs are challenging without being ridiculous and the downhills are fast and flowy. Prepare to get your feet wet at the second creek crossing or use the bailout halfway.
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