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