Tag: gravel cycling

THE TOCCOA SWINGING BRIDGE

North Georgia's 47 & 51 mile mixed-surface Toccoa Swinging Bridge routes cross the Toccoa river twice, first an antique steel bridge in the quaint town of Aska and again on a cable suspended bridge which really does swing. Both feature quiet country roads through broad valleys framed by mountain peaks, lakes, rivers, pristine forests and sustained gravel climbs. The longer option will test your skill on the blistering "High House" descent. Either option will likely be one of the prettiest routes you will ever ride.

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THE LITTLE CRUSHER

The 33 mile Little Crusher gravel route is the lite version of the full Conasauga Crusher. Set 35 miles east of Chattanooga TN in the Cohutta Mountains, the route is as rugged and remote as it is beautiful but with 10 fewer miles and 1300 feet less climbing than the full Crusher version.

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JENKINS GRAVE GAP

Little Frog Mountain

Paved start and finish sectors bookend one continuous stretch of gravel fun near Reliance, Tennessee. The Jenkins Grave Gap routes are classic Southern Appalachian gravel - steep, rough, and incredibly beautiful. 36 and 46 mile options cross a 450 foot long cable suspended bridge over the Hiwassee River and includes many ridge traversals and shelf roads, some of which are unmaintained.

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TELLICO GORGE/BALD RIVER

The 41 mile mixed-surface Tellico Gorge/Bald River route circles the Bald River Wilderness east of Tellico Plains, Tennessee. The route starts and finishes on the Cherohala Skyway. It includes River Rd through the Tellico River Gorge and 18 miles of gravel through pristine federally protected forest.

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GRASSY MOUNTAIN

The 38 mile Grassy Mountain gravel route takes in all the North Georgia Cohutta Mountains have to offer. Expect a massive climb, a blistering descent, breathtaking vistas, and a fast finish.

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APPALACHIA BIKEPACKING

The 197 mile Appalachia Bikepacking route provides a four to five day immersion into the rugged landscape and unique culture at the intersection of north Georgia, southeast Tennessee and extreme western North Carolina.

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BLUE CAR BODY ROAD

Expansive ranches, well groomed gravel and WMA access roads make the 48 mile mixed-surface Blue Car Body Road route through rural Paulding County, Georgia seem far removed. Several gated roads and a short section of hike-a-bike give this route an adventurous feel. Even so, a fit rider could cycle to the start from Atlanta.

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TALONA CREEK

The adventurous 48 mile mixed-surface Talona Creek route is centered around the self-procliamed "MTB Capital of Georgia." Elijay is more accessible to Atlanta than the far northern mountains and this route includes a little bit of everything, from bucolic country roads past orchards and wineries to gnarly and nearly off the grid gravel and even a bit of seldom used singletrack to keep things spicy.

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DAS BOOT CUP

Georgia's 46 mile Das Boot Cup route goes up, then down, then up some more, most of it on gravel forest service roads. "You will be climbing for the next hour" explained one rider. Beautiful landscapes, lots of options for apres-ride in the City of Helen and a crossing of Duke's Creek make this an unforgettable route.

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GEORGIA GRAVEL TRAVERSE

The Georgia Gravel Traverse is gravel bikepacking route across some of the highest mountains in North Georgia. Showcasing Georgia's spectacular mountains and world class gravel, the GGT meanders 253 miles and climbs over 29,000 feet from the Georgia-South Carolina border to the western edge of the Cohutta Mountains.

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GRAVEL REAPER

The start of the 68 mile Gravel Reaper route is located two hours north of Atlanta in the heart of Georgia's Blue Ridge Mountains. The area is a mecca for outdoor activity and on summer weekends you may encounter dozens of others on MTB, gravel and road bikes. This route climbs and descends several ridges and passes Camp Merrill, home to the US Army's 5th Ranger Training Battalion.

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HIWASSEE FOOTBRIDGE

The 44 mile mixed-surface Hiwassee Footbridge route is set in a fascinating and gorgeous area along the state designated class III scenic Hiawassee River in southeast Tennessee. The gravel climbs are ballistic and the scenery is spectacular. Two long paved descents worthy of an aero-tuck will delight your inner roadie.

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COHUTTA DEATH MARCH

The Cohutta Death March is a 76 mile circumnavigation of the federally protected Cohutta Wilderness in North Georgia and adjoining Big Frog Wilderness in Tennessee. Using gravel forest service roads for all but one mile, this route lives up to its name.

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RED CLAY RAMBLE

The Red Clay Ramble is a gently rolling, 60 mile gravel route through the farms and forests of Middle Georgia. Yes, the soil is red clay. A store stop in the town of Gray has been added to the "official" race route for the sake of hydration.

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THE PINNACLE ROUTES

Starting in the alpine city of Helen Georgia, metric, fondo and century options all feature iconic paved climbs and gravel ascents to remote mountain peaks. On some days you can literally ride up into the clouds. Over 135 ft/mile climbing make the Pinnacle routes some of the most difficult one day routes in the state of Georgia.

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