Wow that is quite a tough road

 

Blue loop is 2.7 miles, the lollipop is 5.1 each way, so you’d be close to 13 miles like that.

 

Thanks for the info. I'll probably try the orange loop in the clockwise direction so the stream crossing is near the end.

 

The signage at Jake and Bull have always been challenging at BEST to follow so it will be very easy for you to get lost or turned around. Promise. After riding it a few times and posting about it here someone in the thread sent me these step by step directions below and are spot on. For Jake that is. If you have any other questions about where or what to do go to page 4 in this Southeast thread and find my original post dated 2/17/17 and you'll get some good advise! Have fun!

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 a few hundred yards, turn left on FS road following signs for 223N..
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 #8 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.
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 1.5 miles til you see a trail on the left called 223L / Turner's Creek. #13/14
11. Turn left on Turner and 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 Sharp 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

 

Thanks OMB! Looks like a pretty long ride (maybe 20 mi?) following those directions on the map. I've been riding about 15-20 mi/week at Allatoona. I'm assuming this will be a good bit tougher so I was thinking 10 miles would be about right - maybe 15 max - 20 is most likely too ambitious for me and my riding buddy. Heading there Friday. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

No actually that ride is only around maybe 13-14 miles. If you're riding that much weekly you should find this ride very doable. I will tell you that there are some climbs on this trail unlike any other around and that includes Blankets, Ropes, Toona or Chicopee...LOL. So be prepared for some backbreaking climbs! And also take an extra towel with you as you'll need it when you cross back and forth across the stream. Have fun!

 

Thanks again. Sounds like I better to stick to the turn-by-turn directions. If i end up having to walk a bunch that will still be better than wandering around lost.

 

I HIGHLY recommend printing off those step by step directions I posted above. lol. I assure you that you will need them.

 

Had a blast on Friday at Jake. Beautiful weather. We rode the Jake trail all the way out plus the black branch loop following the directions which proved to be very useful. We were feeling it after those 8 miles so we rode Jake straight back to the lot for a total of 13. My legs were a cramped disaster on those two miles up from the creek back to the lot - on and off the bike a few times. Really enjoyed getting away from the home trails of Allatoona, but I am certainly not used to that much climbing. Better keep putting on the miles at Allatoona and make more trips to N. GA so maybe I'll stand a better chance vs those hills.

 

When I had mentioned all the climbing you'd encounter I didnt even remember to think about the climb back out to the trailhead. lol. My bad! Allatoona really isnt that great to help you do the kind of climbing that Jake or Bull has to offer. Really the only thing close in this area if you're nearby is Blankets and even it doesn't come close. The sustained climbing that Jake has is unlike anything around. Plus, being in "bike shape" is huge. One thing I do enjoy about Jake is the nice flow it has at times!