The state of Georgia is home to three mountain ranges — the Appalachian, Blue Ridge, and Cohutta — and is blessed with moderate winters, which makes it an excellent year-round mountain bike destination. There are hundreds of mountain trails to choose from but if you can only visit one or two trails in the state, make sure you choose one from this list of Five 2 Ride in Georgia.
The Bear Creek trail, located near the town of Ellijay, is a classic mountain ride that bikers have been enjoying for decades. The trail itself is an out-and-back, though many riders incorporate the trail into a loop with the Pinhoti trail. A small section at the top of the trail is tight and technical, while the rest of the trail offers a fast descent with wide-open sight lines.
The Pinhoti trail runs for nearly 170 miles across North Georgia, making it popular among bikepackers and day trippers alike. Standout sections include Pinhoti 1 and 2, which are often combined with Bear Creek for a 20-mile loop starting at Mulberry Gap Mountain Bike Getaway. Pinhoti section 3 is also accessible from Mulberry Gap and features narrow singletrack and steep terrain.
The Pinhoti trail also hosts a popular race series each year called the Snake Creek Gap time trial, which takes riders along 34 miles of the Pinhoti trail from Armuchee Gap to Dug Gap near Dalton.
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The Five Points trail system is located in the extreme northwest corner of Georgia among the tailings from a former mining operation. With 20 miles of trails to choose from, riders will find everything from flowy, pump-track-esque trails to rocky, technical sections. The climbs and descents at Five Points are fairly mild, making this a good choice for new riders. The Five Points trail system is located near Cloudland Canyon State Park, which is accessible via a connector trail.
The Bull Mountain trail system located outside Dahlonega is currently the only IMBA Epic in the state of Georgia. With more than a dozen trails to choose from in the Bull and Jake Mountain trail systems, there is a lot to explore in this remote area just south of the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Mountain bikers will find big climbs and a variety of trail conditions at Bull and Jake Mountain on these multi-use trails.
Blankets Creek is located in the Atlanta metro area, making it a popular spot for after work and weekend rides alike. The 15-mile trail system is located along the banks of Lake Allatoona and offers top-notch trailhead facilities. Trails are rated for beginners to advanced riders, and there’s even a downhill jump line in addition to more traditional cross country loops. The nearby Rope Mill trail system is popular among area riders as well and is definitely worth a visit.
The state of Georgia offers a great variety of singletrack for mountain bikers to enjoy, so get out there and explore!
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Jan 25, 2018