Bike Trails in Atlanta
In Southeast Atlanta, adjacent to Freedom Parkway near the Carter Center is Freedom Park. This is a 45-acre park with biking and jogging paths. The park recently underwent a $13 million federally funded renovation. There are bicycle and pedestrian trails and access to the Atlanta/Stone Mountain Trail. The state of Georgia owns Freedom Parkway. It is located on the site of the former Presidential Parkway. The Freedom Trail provides access to all facilities in and around Freedom Park. It also connects the Atlanta/Stone Mountain Loop to downtown Atlanta.
The Trolley Lane Trail is seven miles. This bike trail connects Georgia State University and downtown Atlanta, GA to Agnes Scott College in Decatur, GA, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic Site and the historic Cabbagetown, East Lake and Reynoldstown neighborhoods.
The Westside Trail connects the Hightower MARTA Station and the Greenbriar Mall in Southwest Atlanta to downtown Atlanta.
These bike trails rated at the top five best in the Atlanta Metro area:
Stone Mountain Park (five stars)
Big Creek Greenway (four stars)
Lake Lanier Islands
Piedmont Park
Silver Comet Trail
Stone Mountain Park has a five star rating. It is the world’s largest relief carving, on the world’s largest mass of exposed granite. Some like to refer to Stone Mountain Park as “The Eighth Wonder of the World.” The designated bike trails web through 3,200 acres of breathtaking scenery. The park has beautiful forestland, lakes and miles of nature trails. It is located in Stone Mountain, GA approximately thirty miles outside the actual city of Atlanta.
Big Creek Greenway has a four star rating. The Big Creek Greenway is primarily a 12-foot wide concrete path that meanders through the deciduous woods along Big Creek. The greenway offers an ideal setting for biking, walking, jogging, and in-line skating. Dirt mountain bike trails are located on the east side of the creek 2/5 mile south of Webb Bridge Road. Big Creek Park also features 6 miles of paved track, a .75-mile wood chip path (nicely done), and a multi-use mountain bike and hiking trail. All of these meander through a flood plain formed by Big Creek. The hike is virtually level, with less than a 100 foot gain over the course of the trail. With the exception of the hiking trail and the multi-use trail, it is also paved. This wide trail is well maintained and normally passable even after heavy rains, although; wear the appropriate footgear because this area can be marshy. Big Creek Park is located in Alpharetta, GA. It is approximately thirty miles outside Atlanta and from Stone Mountain Park.
At Lake Lanier Islands (Lake Sidney Lanier), the recreation possibilities are everywhere. The Islands have miles of biking and hiking trails. It is one of the most popular man-made lakes in the nation, covering more than 38,000 acres, with 541 miles of shoreline. It has been nicknamed, “Georgia’s Freshwater Ocean.” Lake Lanier Islands is located in Buford, GA. It is approximately one hour from Atlanta and thirty minutes from Stone Mountain and Big Creek Parks.
Piedmont Park is the urban hub for bike trails. It is located in downtown Atlanta. If you do not own a bike, you can rent one from Skate Escape. It is located at 1086 Piedmont Ave. (Corner of 12th & Piedmont) Atlanta, GA. 30332. The contact number is 404-892-1292. It is right on the outside of the park. If you cross the street, you are in Piedmont Park! There are open fields that occupy 285 acres and paved bike paths throughout the park. Piedmont Park is a terrific stop for biking during a visit to downtown. While on your biking tour, there is easy access to several restaurants located on the streets surrounding the park. It is also perfect for a picnic. Piedmont Park in midtown Atlanta recently underwent a $66 million renovation and has become the area for urban recreation, hosting 2 million visitors each year. Improvements include restored entrances, bike paths, landscape improvements, a refurbished playground, new sewer overflow facilities, a promenade and a new visitor’s center.
The Silver Comet Trail is a trail for everyone and anyone, including children and pets. There are also bike rentals available at the Silver Comet Depot. Bike rentals include a helmet at no extra charge; a deposit of $50.00 is required for bike/skate rentals, by credit card, cash or check. If cash or check is used, a valid driver’s license must be left as well. It is a 39-mile rails-to-trails path. This allows you to bike, run, walk or skate from Smyrna to Rockmart, GA. No motorized vehicles allowed! It’s safe fun for cyclists, baby strollers, runners and walkers, pets on leashes, skaters and even wheelchairs. Children have loads of fun biking through the Pumpkinvine Creek Trestle, a 751′ long, 127′ high bridge. There is also Brushy Mountain tunnel, a 700′ long lighted tunnel. You might even see horses on the trail at Florence Road near Hiram, GA. Along the way; explore nature trails, small waterfalls, and a stream perfect for dangling feet. Picnic areas, playgrounds, and rest areas are available along the bike trail. This is an enchanting biking trail for all. Silver Comet Trail is located in Smyrna, GA. This trail is approximately twenty minutes outside Atlanta, thirty minutes from Stone Mountain and Big Creek Parks and forty-five minutes from Lake Lanier Islands.
There are also helpful guides for those of you that are hard-core mountain bikers looking for more challenging trails slightly outside the Atlanta Metro areas. Most of these trails will be located in North Georgia where the mountains are. North Georgia bike trails are approximately forty-five minutes to an hour outside the city of Atlanta:
SORBA’s – North Georgia Bike trail listings
Northeast Georgia Mountain Biking – Rabun County Trails
MTB Review’s Listing of Georgia Trails
Nantahala Outdoor Center Mountain Biking – The best riding anywhere!
Georgia Mountain Biking from The Mountain Bike Link – nice list of North GA trails with maps and reviews
SORBA is the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association. You can join as a paid member to get the scoop on open bike trails. With chapters in Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee & Alabama, surely you can find an array of trails in the Atlanta Metro area that will fit your biking needs.
Northeast Georgia Mountain Biking sites have so many top bike trail listings it could take several hours to search through all the exciting biking opportunities. One of these sites is trails.com. All of the links and listings come with maps and directions to the Atlanta Metro area and North Georgia trails.
MTB Reviews (mtbr.com) is a site that provides a cyclist with reviews of bike trails not just in Atlanta, but also in all of Georgia.
The Mountain Bike Link has been providing mountain bike information from beautiful Georgia since 1997. It has a lovely list of North Georgia trails including maps and reviews.
For Example, one of the mountain bike trails I found to be closer than the others in North Georgia is Yellow River. It is located in Snellville, GA, which is in the Atlanta Metro area.
The Yellow River bike trail is fun and fast. This great urban trail consists of two loops. The River Loop is the fastest and easiest. It is approximately 3.8 miles of single track with very little climbing. You can ride approximately 3.8 miles in well under 30 minutes. The trail winds its way past the river three times.
There is beautiful scenery on the bike trail, if you are not biking too fast. The River Loop is well marked. If you are just starting in the cycling sport, then this trail is for you. On the other hand, across the street is the Green Circle Loop. This loop is not as well marked. It is quite possible to get off the main trail, but you will still end up on the road eventually. This trail is shorter, about 3.6 miles. It seems it will take you longer to ride due to its decent lung-busting climbs and tricky switchbacks. The Green Circle Loop is mostly single track with a little double track mixed in as connectors. If you are looking for a deep cardiovascular workout, then this loop is a necessary ride.
The PATH Foundation and the city of Atlanta recently constructed Chastain Greenway Trail, a 3.3-mile loop around Chastain Park in northwest Atlanta. They also plan to develop more trails throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area. The project will build upon existing on and off-street bike routes and comprise some of the approximately 350 miles of on-street bike routes to be constructed in Atlanta during the next 15 years.
The city of Atlanta also has a new Bicycle Parking Program, and there are now nearly 400 bike racks in public spaces throughout the city. The city of Atlanta has also begun the New Sidewalk Construction Program, which anticipates the construction of more than 100 miles of new sidewalks in the city over the next 15 years. Of the 136 projects now included in this program, more than 100 are located adjacent to bus routes and 10 link to transit stations. By linking residences to schools, shopping opportunities and mass transit, these projects intend to improve the safety and accessibility of the bike trails and pedestrian network throughout Atlanta.
