Best trails around Atlanta

Depends on what you're looking for and most importantly what will be open. Check Sorba.org, generally organizers from each branch will post up if their trails are open.

I like Big Creek a ton since there's a fun freeride section with a few downhill lines and slalom lines as well as a few miles of singletrack. Chicopee is up in Gainesville and well worth the drive, lots of great trails, good climbs and fast downhills. Blankets gets all of the attention but will likely be closed. Dauset Trails is an hour south of Atlanta and very beautiful cross country, chunky trails without much elevation change, just very isolated and great scenery. The Conyers International Horse Park Trails are a good mix with some excruciating climbs and good singletrack.

I think most anything will be slushy this weekend after the sleet that is currently coming down all over Atlanta.

agreed. you might want to seriously consider the paved path systems around Atlanta because the trails are going to be unrideable due to all the rain.

http://pathfoundation.org/trails/atlanta-dekalb-system/

Thanks for the replies.

That stinks about the rain. The forecast for the next 4 days is sunny so I'm hoping some trails will be open by this weekend.

I was looking up some pictures and video and it seems like there's a lot of smooth singletrack with good flow. I'll probably bring my SS rigid down.

I have ridden Big Creek (in Roswell) on my rigid SS a bunch of times. it's a blast. there is even a pump track, dirt jumps, a downhill slalom, etc there. I am not sure how well it drains after a rain though. it rained last night.

With 2 days of expected sunshine and based on my experience Big Creek should be fine this weekend (I hope so as I'm driving up myself to ride there.) At worst you may just need to avoid the front side of the beginner trails and stick to the back side and more advanced routes as they are rockier and steeper.

I don't know how well Chicopee drains but it is definitely my favorite trail. I don't think Ft Yargo or Yellow River drain well enough and I don't think any of the trails inside the perimeter will be dry enough (they're short and only worth riding for locals anyway.)

Oh and Big Creek is just outside the perimeter in Roswell - maybe 20 minutes from Midtown/Buckhead.

You can call (678)404-0814 for trail status at Big Creek just to be sure.

Closest trail to downtown is Sope Creek. It's tough and short so you'll get to have several opportunities to clean the obstacles. More trail will be open to bikes before your next visit!

Sheepo5669 said:

I cant believe no one mentioned blankets creek!!
It was rated like #15 in the country by some totally not credible website. :thumbsup:

But seriously, Blankets is freaking awesome. 30 mins north of 285

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Yes but it is closed all winter due to freeze thaw. When they say it is open, 400+ people will ride it in a day.

GTscoob said:

Yes but it is closed all winter due to freeze thaw. When they say it is open, 400+ people will ride it in a day.

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+1 and I personally like Chicopee a whole lot more.

Yes but it is closed all winter due to freeze thaw. When they say it is open, 400+ people will ride it in a day.

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Wow, I had no clue. I rode there a lot when i lived in Atl this past summer. Thats a bummer though.

I love Chicopee as well and really enjoy riding my rigid singlespeed there. Check this site for the most up to date info on whether it is open or closed:
http://gainesvillesorba.org/wordpress/

And as of 8:15 central time Chicopee is open. I was planning on riding Big Creek tomorrow, but that may just be a warm up now. Whitetail and Flying Squirrel here I come.

I definitely appreciate the feedback. I'm pretty psyched to try some of the trails around here. Based on the videos on singletrack.com it seems there's a pretty good trail system.

I just called the trail status # and Big Creek is open so I'm planning on riding that this afternoon and hopefully make it up to Chicopee tomorrow. If I have time, I might try to get out for a quick ride on Sunday.

If you're interested, I'm heading to Dalton on Sunday afternoon to scout a couple trails up there. Departure time would be 1:00pm and we'll ride two trail systems. Drop me an email if interested.
charles at atlantaoutfitters dot com

Chicopee is great for the type of riding you want to do. You should hit the red loop too while you're out that way. Copperhead will make you work, but is not overly technical.

I don't think there's a bad recomendation in the bunch and the way the weather is looking I'd expect most stuff to be open. Yellow River is pretty networked, so you probably don't want to ride there without a guide. The rest have good maps and marking.

Ft. Yargo is open (http://yaba.homestead.com/) and recommended, but Blankets and Chicopee are my favorites. I will be at Dauset on sunday.

If Chicopee is closed, we will be at Yargo Sunday.
Yargo is more of a challenge, but Chicopee is $ by donation, where Yargo is $5 to enter.

I rode Yellow River yesterday. I am out of shape from the winter! There were a few slick spots but it was pretty dry.

I wound up riding Big Creek Friday and Sope Creek Saturday. Had a blast at both. Next time I'm going to bring my FS bike though so I can really attack the downhill stuff...rigid and freeride mix like oil and water.