Conasauga River to Iron Mtn Trail

Conasauga River to Iron Mtn Trail

	Conasauga River to Iron Mtn Trail
Location:	Tennessee
Nearest Town:	Chattanooga
Directions to Trailhead:	It's off that highway that goes along the Ocoee, we turned at a gas station before 411, which took us down on dirt roads to 55, past Sylco, turn on 211 and park at Jacks river trailhead
Trail Description:	Flat, scenic ride along old railway bed on the Conasauga, then a deep river crossing and climb (not technical)then down fast on horse trails
Trail Length:	10
Trail Type:	Singletrack
Skill Level:	Intermediate
Submitted By:	Cleatgrrrl

Santa Cruzer from Harrison Date: November 25, 2002 Trail Ridden: Once a month
Recommended Route: From the horsies to the campground Other recommended trails in the same area: Sumac Creek
Review: JoCo... you missed the real descent. at the top, you cut back right into the woods for a screamer of a downhill. It's all singletrack with some wide sections. The end of the downhill is a collarbone breaking near vertical rocky drop back into the river (which you can't cross in the winter). Then the last few miles follow the river back to the road. Sorry you missed it man. I think I met those permanent residents at the campground too.	Overall Rating:

JoCo from up north Date: November 3, 2002 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Start at the campgrounds on the TN side of the Conasauga...to avoid the unfriendly stares of the cowboys...but then ride to the starting point at the horse camp, wade/cross the river, climb for about 4 miles, come to junction and might right. keep climbing until you reach the lookout point (very nice). turn around, keeping right the whole way on the forest road until you make it back down to the old GA route 2 entrance road (you came in on this one). watch out for the damn mean dogs near the entrance to this road. i think they'll rip your leg off if you set tire on their property--careful. Other recommended trails in the same area: the mountain creek trail and the conasauga river trail...gonna do these next time.
Review: wow this trail humbled me. i'm just bummed that the bulk of the elevation drop was on forest access roads--almost felt jipped that i climbed so hard up the technical singletrack after the river crossing (almost like a 4 mile climb, except for a few 50-100 foot downhill sections in between!) but overall it was a good adventure up in the GA boonies. hell, i even met a few people there that LIVE in the campsites! i thought that sh@$ was only in the movies about the south!	Overall Rating:

Sam Poyner from Cottontown, TN USA Date: June 25, 2001 Trail Ridden: Once a year
Recommended Route: Start at horse camp, cross creek and follow normal route to the Conasauga River, wade/ swim the Conasuage, beware high water can put the river fast and high. Don't cross but follow plan "B" back to horse camp. But, if river is crossable, cross over to the old railroad grade and follow along. Be watchful of old trail to left that climbs steeply up and up. This super sweet piece of grunt has been all but forgotten as it climbs up to the forest service road. We usually climb until it starts to flatten out and the old road is in sight then turn around and let'er rip along this cliff hanger of trail. Other recommended trails in the same area: Sumack
Review: Its a 10 on singletrack downhill sections in this area!!	Overall Rating:

Kevin from Chattanooga Date: August 22, 2000 Trail Ridden: Every few months
Recommended Route: Park in the horse trailer lot and start at the trail head. Killer climb (read steep) after first water crossing. Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: I don't think all of these reviewers rode this whole trail. Alot of people I talk to don't find the whole thing. The first climb is so technical (loose, steep, roots) that if you stop, you may not get started again. It's awesome. Then good singletrack to a junction. Turn back to the right on a double track for some more uphill. The reward is a FAST downhill on the doubletrack with 4ft waterbreaks (Big Air !) Watch out though... all the waterbreaks are in curves so the big air is sideways big air. Then it turns into an extremely technical tight downhill singletrack on its way to the conusaga river. The last 50 ft. of the descent is so steep and technical, we call it "collarbone". You figure out why. Cross the river (Nice Cool Off) and ride the opposite side of the river on the old rail bed in and out of the creek. Back to the gravel just down from the parking area where you began.	Overall Rating:

Scott from Date: May 21, 2000 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: This is a great trail. You start out with wet feet and climb a wall that seemed eternal but I was following some hammerheads. The trail the levels off and then sends you downward to lose half of your hard earned elevation. But don't worry you'll regain that elevation. About this time the trail turns into some really great singletrack even though most of the trail is old doubletrack. After this get ready for climbing again and then some really cool downhill where air is available for the taking. On one of these sections I popped a seat bolt. Thanks to McGyver I was able to ride out. The river crossing is cool but I wouldn't like it on a cold day since your going to get some important body parts wet unless you have really long legs.	Overall Rating:

Steve Calhoun from Cleveland, TN Date: February 12, 2000 Trail Ridden: Once a month
Recommended Route: Off of highway 411 turn left across from convenience store (look for small "Ball Play" sign. Go straight until road turns to dirt. There is a trail head up the mountain on the right at a short pull in. Other recommended trails in the same area: Sumac Trail
Review: Other reviewers havn't done all that's available. There is some good technical single track over the ridge from the parking spot mentioned above. The river trail is only a warm up. Take the service roads to the horse parking area where the Iron Mtn. trial head starts. In winter there is a by-pass around the river crossing. Iron mountain has some good semi-technical singletrack and we volunteers connected a steep old road bed down to the river and back across (recommended for summer only as you cross the river at a waist deep point). I am currently mapping this trail. Email me and I will send you a copy when its done. And don't forget Sumac trail just down the road.	Overall Rating:

Ben from Tennessee Date: January 5, 2000 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Don't even try to get there. Other recommended trails in the same area: Here are some good trails on Chillhowee (a mountain above the Ocoee River Clear Creek Slick Rock Rim Trail Clemmer Trail Come down the dirt road from oswald dome; fast as hell
Review: Sucked, unless your trying to get someone interested in riding. But if you crave technical fast singletrack, than do the Clear Creek trail wich is in the same Ocoee area	Overall Rating:

Cleatgrrl from DC Date: August 31, 1999 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Sorry I can't be clearer on how to get there. We got maps at the ranger station. It's kindof a long drive in. Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: The river crossing was about knee deep in August, so a fall ride might give you frozen wet tootsies! But the climb was not too bad, and the payoff is pretty good. Nice singletrack trail coming down around the mountain. Might be a good trail to get a new rider into it--not real technical, some rocks, though.	Overall Rating: