Brother I agree with you 100%. Jake is a great place.. it has it all. How'd you like crossing the creek today ? I live in Blue Ridge, and am grateful for all the places to ride within close range. Rode Tanasi at Ocoee today, and had a great time. Love the N. Ga mtns. Aska, Pinhoti's, Jake & bull, Ocoee... all great places to ride. Thanks for the write-up.

 

I'm a metro Atlanta rider but need to get out further. My folks bought a cabin up in Blue Ridge so I rode Aska back in the Fall. I really hate to admit it but they used to live in Dahlonega and I never got around to riding Jake or Bull.:madman:

I'm hitting you guys up in the Spring to go ride in the mountains!

 

Chazpat, when you hear things like this it makes you wanna kick yourself in the hiney doesn't it? lol. The beautiful thing about this is that the trail isn't going anywhere so you can still come and TOTALLY redeem yourself! lol

But you and others have discussed wanting to get up and ride. I'm always up for some great fellowship with locals and making new riding friends.

 

Definitely, your posts have convinced me to try out Charleston Park. I'm busy at work until mid-March but will have a lot more time after that.

 

OMB, always enjoy reading your trail reports. Gives me a lot of stuff to look forward to when I'm down y'alls way visiting family.

 

I've been up there several times, and the trails keep getting better. Last time we rode most of Jake and Bull in one day, and I was so exhausted, I wanted to puke... but I did it dammit.

 

D365....I want to meet you and shake your hand dude! Wow...what an accomplishment! They call both trails combined the "Dirty thirty"....so you dude are SUPERMAN! Cause I hear that the climbs on Bull Mtn are brutal in and of themselves.

 

It is a great trail system for sure and folks forget how relatively close it is to the northern burbs. Of course you are going to have to go to Bear Creek now to complete your N. GA indoctrination! BTW, the Jake trails are a blast at night.

 

i, sorry to say, have not ridden Jakes either and i have thought about it but did not want to go by myself. Been riding all up in Ellijay and Blue Ridge and totally love Tanasi in TN. Now that i see this post i will definitely add it to my list! I had hoped to ride Charlston Park last Friday with OldManBiker but work got in the way, dang-it! There really are a good number of great trails to ride in North Georgia.
I am headed over to ride Oak Mtn later this week (and get my 1st tune-up on my new bike) so i am looking forward to that!
Thanks for the report OMB!

 

OMB, Thanks for the review. I know about both trails and have heard the awesome riding stories. I have been meaning to ride one of them since I am in the area on a semi regular basis in the warmer months. But I have a problem, you see I have two mistresses and ultimately when the time comes to choose which one to ride up there, one always wins out...always.

 

The biggest downside to Jake is how difficult it is to navigate, IMO. The trails aren't bad, especially for being an hour from the suburbs, it's really nice to be in a more remote trail system, but the trails are not well marked and you really need to know where you are going.

The nice part about Jake, compared to Bull, is that the climbing is broken up and there are a lot of different routes/trails you can take with short (for the mountains) climbs in between. You don't end up doing one long slog, like you do up Bull, instead it's really broken up. The guys at Fresh Bike Shop in Roswell were supposed to host an enduro race there, but the guy up in N GA never got approval. If you go in and ask Shawn about their route, he'll give you a map that details the 5 or 6 stages. It's a really good route with steady fire road climbing and some nice descending in between. I might can hunt down a PDF copy of the map, if anyone is interested.

Bull is more of the same in terms of terrain, although it has a few sections with babyhead type rocks that can be a little sketchy with the leaves down. You do one big climb at the start, though, then you have a few fastish downhill sections with short, sprintable climbs in between. It's a mostly singletrack climb and has a few steep-ish sections, but nothing horrible. The steep sections tend to be loose and have babyheads that can cause you to spin out and have to hike your bike up, but aside from a few roots at the bottom, it's nothing overly technical. I have moderate bike handling and crap fitness, I was able to ride up most of it. It is also a lot easier to navigate.

Neither have much in terms of technical features, maybe a few small root sections, but nothing crazy.

Both are fun, it's closer to me than Bear Creek is, but I enjoy the Ellijay trails more than I do Bull/Jake.

 

Ron, we all have this constant pain in the rectum that pops up regularly called Life so please know I can relate to things coming up that keeps us from being able to do what we love such as riding. It happens to me often. Where is this Oak Mtn that you speak of? I've never heard of it or I don't think so off the top of my head.

Adodero, I fully agree with you about the navigation and signage at Jake Mountain. How do I know? Because I spent a LOT of time trying to figure out where I was! lol. That's how. In fact, up around the 223-O marker me and my riding buddy somehow got sidetracked and though we did almost 17 miles, we didn't do the entire Loop as we came back almost exactly the way we went in. And if anyone has EVER road Jake Mountain loop clockwise than you know that switchback, zig zag hell climb coming out that is murderous. I'm proud to say I never stopped but I was hacking up a lung when I got to the top for sure.

I've heard mixed reports about Bull and your post seems to go along with most of what I've heard. That the climb in the beginning could be for a lot of people a "hike your bike" up to begin but, that being said I was told what came afterwards is the most fun a person could have on a bike in the descent! I would like to see what those Whoop Dee Do's are about most certainly. If they're anything like the ones over at Ft. Yargo in Winder, Ga then I don't want anything to do with them! LOL. Those are flat out scary to be honest. Well, the one that is back-to-back is. I made the first one.

One thing I guess I hate is having a hard climb right out the gate on a trail. It's like, give me a break and put this climb somewhere else on the trail but NOT the very beginning. That's how Ft. Yargo is...it's how Charleston Park is (on Tues/Thurs/Sat) and I guess Bull Mtn is also. I HATE getting my heart rate at 250bpm beginning my ride! I don't know about ya'll!

And now that you've thrown down the gauntlet about Ellijay which Ive been dying to get to I guess now I'll have to bump it up to a priority! LOL. Thanks. Like I don't have many other trails calling my name doggone it. hahaha.

Here is Jake/Bull Mtn. It's a Figure 8 loop. Jake Mtn is on the right and Bull Mtn is on the left.

View attachment jakebullmtb.pdf

 

I've heard mixed reports about Bull and your post seems to go along with most of what I've heard. That the climb in the beginning could be for a lot of people a "hike your bike" up to begin but, that being said I was told what came afterwards is the most fun a person could have on a bike in the descent! I would like to see what those Whoop Dee Do's are about most certainly. If they're anything like the ones over at Ft. Yargo in Winder, Ga then I don't want anything to do with them! LOL. Those are flat out scary to be honest. Well, the one that is back-to-back is. I made the first one.

One thing I guess I hate is having a hard climb right out the gate on a trail. It's like, give me a break and put this climb somewhere else on the trail but NOT the very beginning. That's how Ft. Yargo is...it's how Charleston Park is (on Tues/Thurs/Sat) and I guess Bull Mtn is also. I HATE getting my heart rate at 250bpm beginning my ride! I don't know about ya'll

I wouldn't really define any sections of Bull as hike a bike. The problem is that it's steep enough in sections that if you lose momentum, spin out, or get stuck, you end up pushing to the top of the steep section or going back to the bottom of the section to try again, but who wants to do that?! If you can keep the power down, the sections are short and definitely rideable.

The Whoop Dee Do's section isn't difficult, either, I think it's mostly a few tight-ish corners. The only thing to be careful of is when it's leafy or wet, this time of year it is easy to fly into a switchback and not realize the trail turns, but just keep your eyes up and modulate your speed. I don't even know why it's called that, I didn't see anything of that nature there. IMO the trickiest part of Bull are the sections with loose rocks and babyheads, I've had a few close calls going down it and snagging a rock that spins the back of the bike around. It's worse when the leaves are down, because you can't see them, you just hear it flying off into the woods while you try to get your bike back under control

There is a nice spin to the start, though, so you don't start right off on the worst part of the climb cold. It seems to get progressively steeper and narrower as you go along the bulk of the climb, the last quarter mile is the steepest and hardest, IMO. There is also a section at the start, the first 100ft or so when you turn off the road, that's got a few roots on it, but aside from that most of the climb is fairly smooth/steady.

 

Oak Mountain is over in Alabama, just south of B'ham. I bought my bike from a local shop there and they give you your first tune up free so i thought i would head over and then do some riding while there.
What has been posted about Jake/Bull is what i have heard and is why i wasn't certain i wanted to tackle it solo. Also understand there are some creek crossing that make it interesting in the winter. Going to add it to my list though.
Definitely some good riding up in Ellijay! Some pretty good climbs at Stanley Gap and Flat Creek is not flat! I really like Tanasi just over the line in TN. Sometimes do Brush Creek with the Boyd Gap climb thrown in to get the heart pumping! or go down to the whitewater center and ride Chestnutt with all the side trails. The climb out of the parking lot is a good one to break the legs in (i always hate the first climb as my legs bark and gripe at me - have to channel Jensie and "shut up legs"! All this typing about riding makes me want to get out on the trail......

 

Yesterday I had my rear end handed to me by Jake Mountain.

Me and a buddy who had never ridden the trail went in counter clockwise. I was excited as I had my new bike and was taking her on her first maiden voyage. It appeared to be an exciting day as I successfully made the steep rocky hill climb right after the Jones Creek crossing. At the top of the hill I swear I thought I was about to hack up my lung from breathing so hard! After that it's nothing but some of the longest and most exciting flow trails anywhere in North Georgia IMO. They're so long that on some you don't think they'll ever end.

Then when you get up around 223Q it begins to get a little challenging. Trail wise and direction wise. Thankfully we happen to be there about the time a couple of riders came through and pointed us in the right direction. I don't know which part it was (possibly No-Tell-Trail) but, it was without a doubt the most grueling uphill climb that I have ever been on or laid eyes on. I rode up it as far as I possibly could but this thing just kept going UP and UP and UP...never ending. The last 1/2 or so I walked it up. Beautiful scenery up there but I was so exhausted at the top that I could barely drink my water let alone enjoy it. Of course what goes up must come down and thank goodness for that. The descent led down to Jones Creek Dam Lake. But for anyone who has been through here knows there is a MEGA hill to climb, walk or in our case - almost crawled up.

The thing that seemed to be the most exhausting was the constant stopping and going as we had to get our bearings with the trails maps we had. For a while we used MTB Project on my cell phone that helped tremendously. Until the cell went dead!

Overall, we ended up riding 19 miles on what supposed to be a 15-16 mile trail! lol. Wrong turn here and there of course didn't help. And the cherry on top was I ended up losing my cell phone on the gravel road after the Bull Mountain parking area.

It was a blast of a day overall but it was one that made me realize just how much I am either not in riding shape and/or this trail is a bit above where I should be right now for myself.

 

I just last month rode the jake side by itself for the first time. Normally we'd go ride bull then cruise over the jake with tired legs. Always fun but I figured jake with fresh legs would be a hoot. Also did the same and went CCW after crossing Jones creek but we went at it from the jake lot. Super fun as suspected and definitely a do over.

 

I also got up to Bull and Jake on Saturday. Hadn't been there in well over a year. I started to ride a little after 8:00, when it was still nice and cool. Rode up and down Bull, swung back to the car for more water and a snack, then headed out for a short jaunt into the Jake side. Got about 20 miles in all told before I headed back to the car for a sandwich and a beverage. :thumbsup:

 

After riding Jake/Bull and the surrounding area for the last 25 years, it always makes me smile to read reports from folks that are new to the trails or area or just aren't familiar enough with the area to put quality loops together.

Without a doubt, the Bull/Jake area and beyond have some of the best all around riding in N GA.


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After riding Jake/Bull and the surrounding area for the last 25 years, it always makes me smile to read reports from folks that are new to the trails or area or just aren't familiar enough with the area to put quality loops together.

Without a doubt, the Bull/Jake area and beyond have some of the best all around riding in N GA.

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I have not really pursued riding there since i would be solo and because i always heard the signage was confusing. Would you mind sharing some of your riding loops? I think i am going to just 'go for it' and ride there next time i am up in Morganton.

 

Born and raised in Gainesville. I know Dahlonega like the back of my hand. So my instance wasn't being UN-familiar with the area but more, that the signage on Jake literally sucks. To be blunt. And yes, Jake does offer more choice rides and views than others. Hopefully it won't take me 25 years to figure out all the trails, signs, etc to enjoy a "quality loop" so in the meantime I will suffer through it.

 

Sorry if my post came across wrong. I just meant that I have ridden there for so long that I tend to take advantage of it and forget how awesome the place is. And, there are some awesome loops that combine the best of Jake and Bull that might be tough to discern without some good, local trail knowledge. The signage is hard to follow. I go by the old trail names that were used long before the trails were given numbers.

Maybe it would be easier to just meet you there for a good ride sometime. I'm always willing to go. Mike

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^^ What he said. How about a few of the loops you do that put the best of them together? I too haven't been there yet, but it's on the list since I am just up in Chattanooga.

 

Sure. Are you guys on Strava? Or would you prefer that I list out he trail order here?


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Sure. Are you guys on Strava? Or would you prefer that I list out he trail order here?

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Thanks for the quick reply. Trail order for me, please. I am not on Strava, just a guy in his early 50's who still likes to ride! Don't really know much about Strava other than some of the negative things i have read about it so i don't have an opinion. I do have the Singletracks app but probably don't use it as much as i should. What do you like about Strava?

 

IMO a better app, at least for well known trail systems, is mtbproject: https://www.mtbproject.com/

It works without cell service if you download the maps. I double checked myself a few times while riding there last weekend and it worked perfectly.

Fresh Bikes in Roswell posted a Jake Mtn. route that they planned to use for an enduro race. You can see that map (and a better hi-res Forest Service map) here: MTB maps - Home

The benefit of their route is that it tends to send you up either gravel roads or mild climbs and down some bomber singletrack descents. I think, but could be wrong, but the total of their complete Jake Mtn. route is 20ish miles.

Personally, I don't find the singage at Bull/Jake too confusing, but I always go with a good map, as I would any more remote FS trail system.

 

Thanks heartland, that is a nice map! I will check out mtb project as well.

 

The map Heartland linked to is the best map of the area. It lists both the trail names and the number. There are still some tricky turns, but it's the best map in my opinion short of using a gpx file to navigate with. That map is the same one used by the CTHA (chattahoochee trail horse association).

This is a good 18-19 mile route that picks up all of Jake Mtn and some of the Bull trails. The elevation is mild compared to going up/over bull and some of the other areas. Worse case, you can follow the trail suggestions on the CTHA map.

1. Start by parking at Jake Mtn parking lot off of Nimblewill Church Rd.
2. On the South side of the lot is a wooden split rail fence - the Jake trail (223H) starts there. Follow along the fence line and pick up the trail. After entering the woods, the Jake trail makes a sharp right. If you continue straight, you'll be on (223F), Bull connector trail. Go right on 223H, Jake Mtn trail.
3. Follow Jake downhill 2 miles to Jones creek and cross. Climb up and continue on Jake.
4. The first intersection is with Moss Creek. Sharp right uphill to stay on Jake Mtn trail, 223H. After a short section of old 2-track, the trail will re-enter the woods on the left and the 2-track will continue right. Stay left on single-track. This section follows along the beaver pond and is an absolute blast to fly thru.
5. Keep your eyes open for a split in the trail which will be the end of 223H/Jake. Take a sharp turn to the right and uphill onto 223Q. This is just a short section of connector trail to get you to Black Branch/223N.
6. 223Q will pop out on FS road 28G, turn right. In 1/4-1/2 mile, turn left on FS road following signs for 223N/Black Branch.
7. Black Branch single track will veer off the left side of trail. Follow to the left and fly down to the creek. Cross the creek and continue on black branch for a total of 3 miles. Tons of fun.
8. At the end of black branch you'll see a guardrail and a trail to the right. Follow to the right and it will dump you onto FS 28-1. Cross 28-1 to the start of No Tell trail/223P. No tell is a tough climb... Suck it up.
9. At the top of no tell is an old red sign, when you see that, you made it. Continue down and into the single track which bears left. Wheeeeee.....
10. No Tell/223P dumps onto an old FS road that is closed to cars called the Nimblewill Branch trail / 223K. Turn right on 223K and climb the gravel for 3/4 mile til you see a trail on the left called 223L / Turner's Creek.
11. Turn left on Turner and ****ing let it rip... Have a blast! About half way down turner the trail will split. Stay right and short but steep climb up the ridgeline to the intersection of FS77 and FS77A.
12. Cross 77 and look for trail 223E directly across from the Nat Forest sign. Start up that trail. This trail has great views to the West when you get up to the top.
13. As you start going downhill. There will be a couple of sharp right hand turns - don't miss those.
14. As the trail levels out, it will intersect with another trail coming in from the left that will take you back over to 223J / Moss Creek. Turn back hard left on that trail.
15. Follow the signs for 223J across the 2 gravel road crossings. After the first gravel road, go through what looks like an old parking area and you'll pick the trail up again to the next road crossing very shortly. At that FS road, turn left and jog across the gravel road to pick back up 223J/Moss creek.
16. Follow moss creek down to the creek - let it rip! Cross the creek and in a mile or so you'll pick back up Jake Mtn trail/223H. Stay right to continue on Jake Mtn.
17. Cross Jones Creek again and climb 2 miles back up to the Jake Mtn parking lot
18. Drink beer!

 

Thanks for the detailed ride. I did this ride on Saturday. Actually ended up with 24.1 miles on strava because of couple of missed turns. Think I can help with a couple of areas on the trail for anyone else who wants follow this map.. highly recommend this ride; its a blast ! Couple of helpful additions:

Everything good up until # 6. After you pop out on FS road, and turn right, the trail that splits off to the left is only a few hundred yards away (not 1/4- 1/2 mile). Nowhere on any part of this trail does any sign say "Black Branch". The trail marker simply says 223N.
, Towards the end of this 3 miles, there is a trail splitting off to the left with marker 223N. Thinking 223N was same as Black Branch, I took that trail to left. DON'T Do THIS ! If you stay on/ turn on 223N, you will do some extra climbing, and come back out on the FS road where 223Q popped out; so, you just backtracked. Instead, do not turn left on 223N. Just stay straight on the old road / doubletrack, and just ahead of where 223N splits to left, you will come to the guard rail.
#8. The NoTell trail climb is not bad at all.. don't worry. Not near as steep as the hill right after crossing Jones creek back at #3
#10. After turning right on FS road / 223K. The trail you are looking for on the left is much farther than 3/4 mile.. more like 1.5 mi.
#13/14. When blasting down 223E, do not take the first trail on the left. Make sure you wait until the trail levels out a bit. The left you take is a trail you will see beside you as you near the turn. Its a sharp/ hairpin turn.

#16. On way back, at the end of 223J, there are two trail beginnings of 223H. Make sure you take the 223H to the right. Goes back to parking area.

Hope this helps. This is a great ride !

 

Attached is a pic of the trail map linked above. The route I described is high-lighted in yellow.

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Thank y'all very much!!!

 

Yes, thanks. Let me know if a group is getting together to ride.

I may be up in Blue Ridge next weekend if anyone is interested in riding around there. I've only ridden up there a couple of times so I'm not knowledgeable about the trails in that area, just rode some of the Aska trails.