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

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