Hawkes Creek Farm (Winterville, GA)

Overall Difficulty: Intermediate
Technical Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Physical Difficulty: Moderate
Configuration: Loop
Length: 4.5 miles

For many, the passion for mountain biking is a unique bond built between earth’s selfless offerings of beautiful landscapes and the ensuing need to explore these tracts, ever progressing in strength, technique, and confidence. Regrettably, many of these natural playgrounds are left unexplored by anxious two-wheeled travelers, inaccessible as private property. Fortunately, there is hope. Some landowners share this same passion for mountain biking and have unselfishly made their land available for others to enjoy. Hawkes Creek Farm, located outside of Winterville GA, is privately owned but is open to the public for riders to explore expanses of sycamore and poplar forest, green, rolling pastures, and lush ravines on a well-maintained 8 km loop singletrack loop. A minimal amount of horse use exists, so visitors are preferred to ride on odd days to avoid horse-bike collisions.

The parking lot is easily located at the entrance of Hawkes Creek Farm just off of Hargrove Lake road. With the trailhead directly across from the parking lot, this loop trail is navigated with ease for local races are often held here and the trail is well-marked and maintained. Enter the hardwood canopy, following a quick singletrack, and enjoy this rural Georgia landscape. Do not loose too much focus on the trail because minor root and log obstacles do exist to punish any lackadaisical rider. Quickly thereafter, you emerge to a gravel road and head right. Watch for arrows to your left that will lead you on to a grassy doubletrack that traverses horse pastures, lined with barbed-wire fencing, and accented with a quintessential barn on the horizon.

Watch for on-looking white-tail deer as you make a quick descent into the next forested section followed by the first steep climb. Following suit to many trails in Georgia, the occasional set of exposed roots and downed trees add a certain cadence to your ride while the smooth, quick sections of singletrack add a chorus of wind whistling through your helmet as you are able to enjoy turns and straight-aways at speeds of enjoyable levels. The songs of singing tree frogs welcome you as the trail descends to a creek bottom. A few contours exist, followed by a tranquil ride alongside Hawkes Creek which abruptly ends after the 4 km marker.

A left turn peels you from the creek’s sweet embrace and ascends towards a short slickrock and rock garden section. Attack this section with rabid intentions, and if your balance, strength, and luck are perfectly aligned you will be granted success. Do not celebrate prematurely though, because the trail continues to climb for another 50 feet. Atop the hill, a small victory is warranted, and with a quick drag on the camelback you push on. Cross another gravel road at the 5 km marker and travel along more singletrack with familiar ups and downs. On one particular descent, a small launch is encountered for those interested in removing their wheels from the ground momentarily. Although a smooth landing does exist, a sharp left at the bottom demands a quick, sliding left turn; otherwise an elegant (or not so elegant) swan dive into the approaching foliage is rather likely.

The understory becomes thicker and oak and poplar trees dwarf any rider as the trail hugs the edges of a lush ravine. After squeezing through a few tight trees, the trail ascends from this bottomland to the top of a long climb. The trail rolls over the hill and you are shortly back to where you started from at the parking lot. Hawkes Creek Farm offers an excellent singletrack ride in a wonderful landscape, with hills and obstacles to transform this trail into a moderately difficult ride. With than being said, it is certainly manageable for beginners and laps can added for a more advanced ride. As this trail is privately owned, be respectful and maintain full biking etiquette to preserve continued access to awesome areas such as this.

Google Map of the Trailhead

Henderson Park Mountain Bike Trail (Tucker, GA)

Length: Each trail is about a mile.
Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate.

Location: Tucker, just outside the perimeter. From 285 take Lavista road, exit 37, east to Chamblee Tucker Rd. Turn left and go about a mile. Take a left at the redlight in front of the Livesly school onto Livesly road. Wind through the subdivision and turn left into the park at the stop sign.

Nestled in a tangle of subdivisions Henderson Park offers a range of difficulty from flat, fast runs to steep, tricky, downhill slopes. The pleasant setting around Lake Erin is great for a quick tour, and the alternate trails allow for a different ride every time. In mid day there may be people fishing and the trail runs through a play ground so watch for kids, or just go around it, but in general Henderson Park is not very crowded.

Yellow Trail:
The main bike path can be accessed from the last parking lot. Go past the gate towards the lake and take any of the several trails that bleed into the main trail through the woods, or ride to the bottom of the hill and to the right around the lake. This path is marked with pale yellow markers, yet there are several access points to the Blue and the Red trails. Watch out for the roots and rocks in the narrow paths behind the lake but do push on through as a nice downhill run through a lush path rewards you with a beautiful and unexpected multi-tiered waterfall. Alternate entrance is at the intersection of Lake Erin drive and Brown road, slipping around the gate puts you in the fastest section of the path.

Blue Trail:
In the steep hills behind the lake the Blue trail is made for hiking, but functional for riders, particularly at the top of the hill. Watch out for dogs and raccoons and such but the biggest problem is the 50 foot slopes that merge into the yellow trail. Alternate entrance is at the top of the hill from the soccer fields off of Henderson road.

Red Trail:
Again these are more for hiking, but at low volume hours biking much of the red trail is fine. The biking in Henderson Park is greatly enhanced by these paths, giving you the sensation of exploration in the dense suburbs of Atlanta. Alternate entrance is anywhere along the main road near the first parking lot at the top of the hill.

About half way down the walk way from the last parking lot and the lake you can find a cool, color coded map of the trails which has been provided by a local boy scout troop. As a beginner, getting your first taste of off road biking or as an expert honing your skills at a convenient metro location Henderson Park is the perfect spot to spend a day of biking.

441 Mountain Bike Trail (Athens, GA)

It is not an easy accomplishment for a single trail to satisfy the needs of multiple disciplines of riding. It is particularly difficult in an area lacking the epic combination of long, steep descents forged with technical obstacles. 441 trail, however, magnificently exploits the given terrain to create a ride that should satisfy cross-country and freeride bikers alike. With steep climbs, technical rock obstacles, and tabletop jumps, this singletrack trail is constantly progressing (thanks to hard-working local riders) into a masterful playground packed tight within encroaching development.

The trailhead begins just north of Loop 10 off of highway 441. Accessed with ease from the North Oconee River Greenway, riders often park at the North Oconee River Greenway parking lot at the intersection and MLK and College Ave. to avoid potential parking issues closer to the trailhead. After a quick ride alongside the muddy Oconee River and a skillful set of maneuvers to avoid passing walkers, joggers, and daring eastern chipmunks, exit the Greenway path to the right just before entering Sandy Creek Nature Center. This street will lead straight to Hwy. 441, with the singletrack trailhead directly across the highway, next to a gas station .

As a trail that is completely developed and maintained by a diverse set of local riders, there are no trail markers and no set routes or direction that must be obeyed. In fact, sections can be looped, bypassed, or added to create routes as diverse as the terrain. This review, however, follows a route that maximizes distance and captures a multitude of obstacles, hills, and jumps. The trail begins by squeezing through a pine dominated forest, with sections requiring careful attention to your elbows as to avoid an intimate, yet abrasive encounter with a loblolly pine. Stay right as you follow the perimeter which leads to a bumpy descent, across a wood-plank bridge.

Traverse momentarily, then take a giant gulp of oxygen and begin cranking up a fairly steep hill that includes a natural half-pipe near the top, just to keep things interesting. As you approach the top, the trail makes a sharp turn to the left that descends and traverses across the hill in which you just climbed. Momentum and balance is imperative, for rock, root, and log obstacles lie and wait to claim victim of the approaching, unsuspecting rider.

Continue winding back and forth, with the occasional stretch of ripping downhill. These downhill stretches are certainly well-earned, because hills do not go un-ridden on this trail.

The steep climbs and technical trail obstacles keep the mouths of numerous cross-country riders constantly watering while the occasional well placed set of drops and rock hits can satisfy the likes of any freerider looking to bounce down a trail on their beefy rigs, grinning from ear to ear. Before completing the first section of trail, a series of four drops can entertain any rider of any discipline.

Prepare for a sharp right turn at the bottom of the third drop, a quick ascent, and then a gradual, meandering climb out of the first forested section. The trail leads through a kudzu-ridden field, and is then intersected by a road. Cross the road and press on following the trail into the second forested section.

Quick, tight turns shortly subside and give way to yet another straight, gradual climb. A rock garden awaits you at the top. Upon successfully negotiating the rocks, you are left overlooking a ravine, which has been wonderfully transformed into a small, yet highly entertaining freeride area. Make your way around to the top of the ravine, pick your line and get ready for take off. Two tabletops, a smaller gap jump, a number of different drop-in points, and wall ride allow for a suite of combinations that puts any dollar menu to shame.

After you have had your fun at the freeride pit, you may continue up from the top of the ravine and exit the forest to a power line cut. Alternatively, there is another loop still in its infancy that begins just to the other side of the freeride drop-in. This extension loop descends and traverses the other side of the hill that you climbed moments ago. As this trail is still being developed, sections are not well worn but can certainly add mileage and more fun to your ride as it eventually loops back to the freeride pit that you just left. To exit, ride to the power line cut and head right for a fast downhill section that empties you onto the trail that enters the second forest section.

To return to the trailhead, cross the street following the trail back across the kudzu field and into the first forested section. Instead of backtracking the entire way back, one can stay right once the trail parallels the highway for a finale that leaves your heart pounding as you make fast drops and quick passes through tight trees. 441 trail is a great ride for confident beginners who are ready to progress their riding to the next level. Conversely, more advanced riders will appreciate the technicality of the ride and anxiously wait for what will come next with the ongoing development of the trail. Broken chains, flat tires, and broken arms are not strangers to this trail, so be prepared, be careful, and enjoy this rough, challenging ride, and if it is not challenging enough for you, try riding this route in the other direction.

Overall Difficulty: Intermediate - Advanced
Technical Difficulty: Moderate - Difficult
Physical Difficulty: Moderate
Configuration: Loop with some backtracking
Length: 4 miles

Google Map of the Trailhead

Cochran Shoals Mountain Bike Trail (Atlanta, GA)

Cochran Shoals is a 4.2 mile walking, and biking loop that runs parallel to the famous Chattahoochee River. It is a state park trail with a three dollar parking fee required per vehicle.

The main trail is a packed gravel trail making it a great ride for family and mountain bike beginners. If you are feeling a little adventurous, or are in the mood to stretch your skills a little, the trail forks at the 1.25 trail marker. This fork leads to a packed dirt trail that is both narrow and fast (if you’re willing to pedal through it). This offshoot has a few small s-turns but nothing to throw even the most basic riders off.

The dirt trail parallels the main trail for about twenty yards before again merging with the main trail. If you want to continue the main loop you will find yourself on a simple, yet enjoyable ride back to the parking lot you came from, but then you’d be missing the best part.

On the back side of the loop (not the riverside), there are three turn offs to the right. Take the first right turn and challenge yourself with a difficult up hill climb that is known for separating the rock stars from the groupies. At the top of this steep incline lies a small gated cemetery with grave stones from the late 1800’s. As you follow the trail around the cemetery a side trail will pop you out onto a new main trail which spans from Cochran Shoals to Sope Creek. Follow the trail to the right for about a quarter mile and you will start to see glances of houses through the trees on your left.

As far as the trail maps are concerned this is the mid-way point between the Cochran Shoals and Sope Creek, but who needs a map? Now you will turn around so get ready to rule the trail! The first quarter mile will, of course, be what you just rode, but just after the intersection of the cemetery trail, the main trail takes on a nice and lazy slope that will allow you to gain some great speed. WATCH OUT, this part of the trail is infested with wooden cross beams to contain corrosion of dirt, and they have been known to creep up on more than one unwary rider. The easiest way to approach this part of the trail would be to stay to the side and follow the grooves cut by earlier riders.

Ride at your own level, but if you are looking to really kick some butt stay in the middle once the wooden ties are spaced far enough apart because some of these baby’s will drop you two to two and half feet. With the help of the lips on the ties you can get enough air for x-ups, and if you are feeling like really stretching it out, possibly a table top. The downhill ends at the main trail which leads to a nice leisurely ride back to the parking lot.

Chase Street Mountain Bike Trail (Athens, GA)

Despite ongoing development throughout the Georgia Piedmont, it is still possible to hop off of the unforgiving pavement and disappear into a forested seclusion filled with screaming downhills, grueling uphills, and scattered hairpin turns. Chase Street trail is no exception, located just miles from downtown Athens, GA, this trail provides an easy escape for local and visiting biking enthusiasts alike. Don’t let the distance fool you. Chase Street trail can provide a well-deserved sense of achievement for any beginner and more advanced riders can tack on a few more laps for a satisfying pace and even hill-climb workout.

Located off of Chase street just outside of Loop 10, a gravel double track leads west, parallel to Loop 10, towards the trailhead. Like of many of these urban escapes, the trail is not well marked but easily located with a watchful set of eyes. As you approach the forested section on your right, just prior to the steep double track ascent directly ahead, look right for the trailhead that quickly descends into the thick hardwood forest. A subsequent quick left turn begins a series of back and forth traverses that leaves your legs burning and quickly empties you on to another double track alongside a stream. Continue with the stream to your right, looking for a single track that veers off to the left and ascends up the hillside for another section of back and forth traversing.

After negotiating a series of down logs and steep climbs, the trail levels out and leads to a fairly technical rock garden. Easily bypassed to the right, the main trail progresses through a short, yet challenging series of rocks that has left some with a face full of dirt. After a few more turns and a gradual ascent, you are emptied back onto the gravel double track from which you began. Head right and immediately cross the road to enter a very short forested section that quickly spits you back across the same double track and into the second forested section.

Canopies of sweetgum, grapevine, and pine needles envelop the trail as you crank past the remains of old golf carts (due to the neighboring country club) and fly over a wooden bridge crossing another small stream. A steady climb evolves to a steep finish that completes the second forested section. Upon exiting, the trail leads straight to the railroad tracks. For those who have parked at the trailhead, this would be a good spot to turn around and follow the trail back to the beginning to complete a nice out and back ride. Otherwise, some folks opt to cross the tracks and head left that eventually leads to an access road to the boulevard neighborhood of Athens. Another option would be to cross and join with the Loop 10 trail that begins directly beneath the underpass.

Where this trail lacks in technical difficulty, it certainly makes up for in strenuousness. The location and trail length is accommodating for those who want to get a quick ride in after work or pound out a few laps for an intense hill workout. For those driving to the trailhead, the gravel double track had been used for parking as well as surrounding business parking lots. Parking at a business during business hours might not be appreciated so make sure where you choose to park is ok.

Overall Difficulty: Intermediate
Technical Difficulty: Easy
Physical Difficulty: Strenuous
Configuration: Out and back
Length: 2.70 miles

Google Map of the Trailhead