Road Trip: Winter Mountain Biking at Georgia Parks

Mountain biking in early winter, before the freezing temperatures, is one of the best times to hit the trails in Georgia, where thinning trees reveal beautiful scenery. At Georgia State Parks, mountain bikers can also spending the night at the park’s accommodations, giving more time to enjoy the trails.

First-timers and advanced riders will find an array of trails to dirty up the tires. With gravel paths and single tracks, Georgia State Parks have options for all riders, but five of the best mountain bike trails are at Cloudland Canyon, Fort Mountain, Fort Yargo, Unicoi State Park and Watson Mill Bridge state parks.

Cloudland Canyon State Park

The Cloudland Connector Trail (CCT) is one of the least-known trails in Georgia State Parks. It starts in Cloudland Canyon State Park (Rising Fawn), but it extends for 21 miles out of the park and into Five Points Recreation

Area, a multi-use trail system on Lookout Mountain. Terrain throughout the CCT is single-track trail, and mountain bikers will experience stacked boulders, rollers, jumps, steep slopes and even some coal pilings from the state’s historical mining practices.

Fort Mountain State Park

Mountain bikers will scream down invigorating downhills, pass scenic overlooks of the North Georgia Mountains, and bump over rocky single track on Fort Mountain State Park’s (Chatsworth) bike trails. The East/West Loop tests endurance on 14.6 miles of trails, including a technical downhill section through a powerline alley. Riders that are a fan of switchbacks will enjoy the seven-mile intermediate Cool Springs Trail, which winds back and forth down 800 feet of vertical descent. What goes down must return, and many of these trails climb uphill for up to three miles. A $3 permit fee is required to ride these bike trails and can be purchased at the park office.

Fort Yargo State Park

Equally appealing to both beginners and serious riders, the Yellow and Blueblazed mountain bike trails at Fort Yargo State Park (Winder) are great for going fast. The trails are not too technical, and both loops are one-way directional based on the day, meaning mountain bikers can tackle the terrain in both directions. The most difficult section is Monster Mile on the Blue-blazed trail. These trails are constantly featured in adventure races such as the Xterra Dirty Spokes triathlon series.

Unicoi State Park

The mountainous terrain and scenic overlooks at Unicoi State Park (Helen) make the exclusive 7.5-mile mountain bike trail a top pick for experienced riders. A figure-eight loop crosses over both sides of Smith Creek. Because of the valley, expect long, tough climbs to test your muscle strength and endurance. The single-track trails cross technical, packed dirt with sharp turns and an exhilarating downhill where riders can reach 30 miles per hour.

Watson Mill Bridge State Park

At Watson Mill Bridge State Park (Comer), three primary double-track trails feature fast, lengthy descents through canopied woods. Warm up on the Ridge Loop trail, a 0.75-mile loop that crosses over Beaver Creek on the park’s iconic covered bridge. Then tackle the 1.5-mile Beaver Creek trail loop, which follows the creek and ridgeline through hardwood forests. The 2.5-mile Tons of Fun trail is a mixed-use nature trail with a few steep sections. The highlight of the loop is when it passes by the Beaver Pond overlook.

For more information, visit gastateparks.org.

By Tim Sullivan