- Amicalola River Trail
This
loop trail starts at the pull-off on the southeast side
of Georgia Highway 53 at Amicalola River, follows the
river to the Class IV "Edge of the World" rapids then
climbs into the mountains of the Dawson Wildlife Management
Area, offering a look at an old homestead, logging roads
and some excellent views especially in the late winter
and early spring. It concludes along a babbling brook,
returning to the parking lot's southeasterly end.
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- Appalachian National Scenic Trail
The
Appalachian National Scenic Trail is a 2,158-mile (3,480.6
km) fsootpath along the ridge crests and across the major
valleys of the Appalachian Mountains from Katahdin in
the central Maine wilderness to Springer Mountain in a
designated wilderness area in north Georgia.
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- Atlanta Running Trails
If
you enjoy running or walking and sometimes need to escape
the perils of pavement pounding, this site may help you
find some alternative places to exercise.
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- Autrey Mill Nature Preserve
Autrey
Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center is one of North
Fulton's treasures. Located on 46 acres of ravine forest
and historic plantation past, the nature preserve's 1.5
miles of hiking trails wind past a scenic creek with rocky
shoals, numerous spring seeps, picturesque cliffs, mature
trees, wildflowers, native plants, considerable animal
life and old cotton plantation buildings from the late
1800's.
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- Benton MacKaye
Trail
Named
for Benton MacKaye, the Massachusetts forester/regional
planner who proposed the Appalachian Trail, this trail
features remarkable changes in terrain and too many modern
intrusions. While the Appalachian Trail follows the eastern
crest of the Appalachian Mountains, the Benton MacKaye
follows the western crest.
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- Big Creek Greenway
(North Fulton)
Big
Creek Park features 1.75 miles of paved track and a .75
mile well-done wood chip path, all of which meanders through
a flood plain formed by the river. Thoughout the entire
park the paths are pretty much level. The city of Alpharetta
prefers that you use the parking area off Northpoint Parkway,
although the path runs east-west between Haynes Bridge
and Mansell Road.
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- Chattahoochee River National Recreation
Area
The
Recreation Area lies within four counties, north and northeast
of downtown Atlanta, Georgia. It consists of 16 land units
along a 48-mile stretch of the Chattahoochee River. In
addition to providing recreational activities such as
fishing, hiking, picnicking, and boating, the park contains
a wide variety of natural habitats, flora and fauna, nineteenth
century historic sites, and Native American archeological
sites.
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- Chicopee Woods Trail System
This
area currently has approximately 20 miles of some really
great singletrack thanks to the Gainesville Chapter of
SORBA, and especially to the Chicopee Woods Area Park
Commission.
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- Cloudland Canyon State Park
The park is located near the western edge of Lookout Mountain
(Tenn.). Hike the 4.5-mile West Rim and Waterfalls Trail
or backpack on a 6.5-mile backcountry trail. The walk into
Cloudland Canyon is challenging even for experienced hikers
and the views are breathtaking.
Degree of Difficulty: Moderately difficult to difficult
to strenous
Parking Fees: $2 parking fee
Dogs: Permitted; Must be on leash
Hours: Open 7 days/week;
7 a.m.-10 p.m.; Office: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Directions: Located on Ga. Route 136, 8
miles east of Trenton and I-59, and 18 miles west of LaFayette
More info: (706) 657-4050
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- Dahlonega Area
Recreation
Maps
and information about hiking trails, mountain biking,
lakes, scenic areas, trout fishing streams and areas of
general interest for touring and sightseeing in the Dahlonega
area.
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- Dawson Forest City of Atlanta
The
network of over 22 miles of trails covers most of the
10,000 acre Atlanta Tract. A daily fee of $5, or annual
fee of $50 will be required from horse and bicycle trail
users.
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You
won't want to miss this site. An outstanding collection,
including search capabilities to locate the perfect trail
for you.
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- Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park Trails Although
the park lists 16 miles of trails, there are actually more,
frequently paths created by hikers. Since much of the area
is covered by fragile entrenchments, our recommendation
is to stay on the marked paths. If no marker exists, it
probably isn't a path. All legitimate paths are well-marked
with easily-spotted signs in most areas
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- McIntosh Reserve
(Whitesburg, Ga.)
McIntosh's 15+ miles of trails wind
through the woods along the Chattahoochie River, past
Council Bluffs and the site of an ancient Native American
village. Moderately strenuous. Free for Carroll County
residents and $3/day for visitors.
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- Okefenokee Swamp
The
Okefenokee is one of the most outstanding examples of
an ecologically intact swamp in North America.
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- Red Top Mountain State Park
Nestled in the hills above Lake Allatoona, this popular
park offers hikers more than 10 miles of wooded trails to
explore (including the mile-long, wheelchair-accessible
Lakeside Trail).
For
a full day, plan a morning walk along the 5 1/2-mile Homestead
Trail followed by a post-lunch walk enjoying scenic vistas
of the lake on the 3.5-mile Sweet Gum Trail. All the park
trails intersect at the lodge.
Fees:
Free admittance; Gift shop on premises
Hours: Open 7 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Directions: North on I-75 and take Exit
123. Follow the brown and white signs to the park.
More info: (770) 975-0055
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SORBA's
primary focus is advocacy, land access issues, sponsoring
rides and festivals, and supporting off-road cycling in
the North Ga. area t hrough trail acquisition and maintenance.
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- Stone Mountain Park
The parking tab may be steep but you get a certificate granting
you lifetime membership in the Stone Mountain Climber's
Club after you've completed the 1.4-mile climb (each way)
up and down the big rock. The Wildlife Trail is 8 miles
and requires about 5 hours to complete. But many hikers/walkers
settle for the concrete loop road that goes 5 miles around
the base of the mountain.
Degree of Difficulty: Concrete loop: Easy; Wildlife Trail:
Easy to moderate; Stone Mountain climb: Moderate to strenuous
Parking Fees: $6 daily, $25 annually
Dogs: Permitted; Must be on leash
Hours: Open year-round, 6 a.m. to midnight
7 days a week
Directions: Take Highway 78 east for 16
miles and follow the signs
More info: (770) 498-5690
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- Tallulah Gorge State
Park
Created through a partnership between the Georgia Department
of Natural Resources and Georgia Power Company, Tallulah
Gorge is one of the most spectacular gorges in the eastern
U.S. Its chasm is two miles long and nearly 1,000 feet deep.
Degree of Difficulty: Very easy (paved) to difficult (into
bottom of canyon)
Fees: $4/day parking
Dogs: Permitted; Must be on leash
Hours: Open 7 days/week;
Park: 8 a.m.-Dark; Office: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Directions: Take I-85N to I-985, then continue
north on U.S. 441 to the park entrance. (90-mile one-way
trip)
More info: (706) 754-7970
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- The Augusta Canal
Constructed
in 1845 and enlarged in 1875, the Augusta Canal along
the Savannah River in Augusta, Georgia, survives as one
of the most intact canal systems in the United States.
Today, the canal remains part of the city of Augusta's
water supply system, continues to supply hydropower to
two textile mills and provides outstanding educational
and recreational opportunities.
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- The Georgia Appalachian Trail
The
Georgia Appalachian Trail Club is an association of individuals
who have assumed responsibility for maintenance of the
Appalachian Trail in Georgia.
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- Windy Hill
- Sope Creek
Directions:
To start at highest elevation: Johnson Ferry north of
river: turn left on Paper Mill. Go a few miles until you
cross Sope Creek. Parking up hill on left.
Directions:
The following 3 sets of directions start out
at the river. Ride around gravel trail until you see the
trailhead.
I-75
north. Exit Windy Hill, go east (Or stop by Shane Co.).
Right on Powers Ferry. Left on Interstate Pkwy (just before
overpass). Parking is on left before river.
I-285,
just east of I-75. Exit 15. Navigate those one way streets
to the north side of the highway. (If the sun is rising...)
Go west on Interstate Pkwy. Parking is on right after
river.
Johnson
Ferry at the river (Cobb County side). Take Columns Drive
until it dead-ends.
Description:
Located in Southeast Cobb County. Crowded on weekends
and overused. One trail open: about 3 miles of up and
down with some fun descents, rocky, wooded, starts at
Sope Creek and ends at Chattahoochee at Columns Drive.
Three parking areas. Friendly people. Watch out for hikers/joggers,
confrontations can mean the trail might be closed.
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| Bike Trails |
- Amicalola Falls
An advanced ride and a beautiful view of the falls.
Fees: Free admittance
Open 7 days/week;
Hours: 7 a.m.-10 p.m.; Office: 8 a.m.-5
p.m.
Directions: Take I-575 North to GA 52,
go east for 18 miles, Park entrance is on left. OR, take
GA-400 North, to GA 52, go west for 18 miles, park entrance
on right.
More info: (706) 265-4704
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- Bear Creek
A single-track for the advanced rider.
Fees: $2 parking
Hours: 7 a.m.-Dark
Directions: Take I-75 North to I-575 North
toward Ellijay. I-575 turns into GA 5 (US 76). Turn left
at the second light in E. Ellijay and cross the railroad
tracks. Turn left onto GA 52 West. Turn right onto Gates
Chapel Road (around mile marker 8). Go 5.4 miles and turn
right onto FS 90. Go 1.7 miles and turn right onto FS 68.
Go 2 miles to the trailhead parking area on the right.
More info: 770-399-8070
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- Blankets Creek
Well-marked trail for beginners and the advanced alike.
Fees: $1 Parking donation
Hours: Open 7 a.m. until dark
Directions:Take I-75 North to I-575. Continue
north on I-575 to the Sixes Road Exit (Exit 11). Go left
at the top of the exit ramp. The trail parking lot is on
the left about 1.7 miles from the Sixes Road exit. There
is a Blanket's Creek sign on the right side of the road.
More info: Call the Cherokee Recreation and Parks Authority
at (770) 924-7768.
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- Bull Mtn.
Filled with stream crossings, waterfalls and long up-hill
climbs.
Fees: $2 if you park in the lot at the
beginning of the trailhead, but there are other parking
lots nearby that are free of charge.
Hours: 24-hours-a-day/Sun.-Sat.
Directions: Take GA 400
North towards Dahlonega. GA 400 becomes US 19 -- take US
19 to Dahlonega. Get on GA 52 West in Dahlonega. Turn left
Nimblewill Church Rd. Turn right onto FS 28. Go about one-half
mile and turn left onto FS 83. Go about 2 miles and you'll
see several bike parking areas. The trailhead starts here.
More info: 706-864-8525
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The
10-mile Discovery Bicycle Trail that opened in 1989 combines
sightseeing with an outdoor excursion that puts you up-close
to Southern flora and wildlife.
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- Chicopee
Lots of whoop-te-doos and zig-zags for the intermediate
rider.
Fees: $1. The trail is maintained by the Gainesville SORBA
chapter.
Hours: Open dawn-to-dusk, but call the
number below before heading out to make sure the trail is
open.
Directions: Take I-85 North to I-985, Exit
4 (Oakwood). Take a left off the exit ramp. Turn right at
the stoplight onto Frontage Road. Follow signs to Elachee
Nature Center. There is a bike parking lot past the golf
course.
More info: (770) 297-8319
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- Horse Park
Used for the debut of mtn. biking in the 1996 Olympic Games.
Fees: $5 parking
Hours: Daylight Savings Time: Wednesday-Friday
12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Non-Daylight
Savings Time: Wednesday-Friday 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday
& Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Directions: Take I-20 East to Exit 42 in
Conyers. Exit and go left across the bridge on Highway 138.
Follow 138 about 4-5 miles until you see signs for the Horse
Park. Turn right into the Horse Park and follow the parkway
until you see the steeplechase area on the right. Park in
the gravel parking lot.
More info: (770) 602-2606 or 1-800-CONYERS
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- Sope Creek
Lots of rocks and technical jumps
Fees: $2/day for general parking
Seasonal;
Hours: Summer (Mar.15 - Oct.31) 7 a.m.-Dark,
Winter (Nov. 1 - Mar.14) 7 a.m.-Dark
Directions: Take GA 400 northbound take
Abernathy exit. Turn left on Abernathy. Go about two miles
on Abernathy to Johnsons Ferry Rd. and turn right. Go over
the river and turn left onto Paper Mill road. Go about two
miles and turn left into the parking lot -- look for the
brown and white Chatahoochee River National Recreation Area
signs.
More info: (770) 399-8074
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- Tallulah Gorge
A ride for intermediate bikers.
Fees: $4/day parking
Directions: Open 7 days/week;
Hours: 8 a.m.-Dark; Office: 8 a.m.-5
p.m.
Directions: Take I-85N to I-985, then
continue north on U.S. 441 to the park entrance. (90-mile
one-way trip)
More info: (706) 754-7970
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- Windridge
Privately-owned and well maintained. Perfect for intermediates.
Fees: $3
Hours: Weekends only, dawn-dusk
Directions: Take I-85 South to exit #9.
Make a right and go two stoplights to GA 34 bypass. Make
a right onto GA 34 bypass and go about 6-7 miles to the
Welcome Road exit. At the bottom of the ramp make a left
onto Welcome Road and go 9.5 miles to Glover Pond Road.
(WARNING: Welcome Rd changes names 3 times -- Welcome Road,
Handy Road, then Martin Girl Road) Make a right onto Glover
Pond Road. Go about 1 mile. Turn left into the driveway
at 420 Glover Pond Road.
More info: 770-253-6510
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- Yellow River
Has a "river loop" and a more difficult "creek loop."
Directions: Take Hwy 78 east, toward Stone
Mountain. Exit on West Park Place and turn right. Turn right
on Annistown Road. (at the end of West Park Place). Turn
right on Juhan Road. Go about one mile and parking for Yellow
River is on the left.
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