Mountain Biking in the North Georgia Mountains

The mountains around Helen give you a few very different kinds of riding. Some of it is rooty and steep, some is smooth and fast, and some needs a full day and a map. Helen is a handy base for all of it: you can be on dirt in 10 to 15 minutes, and the longer trips are about 40 minutes by car. Red clay hardens into fast trail when it's dry and turns slick after rain, so check conditions before you go.

Unicoi's mountain bike trails are bike-only and rated strenuous to moderate. They run through fields, forest and woodland paths built for bikes, and the park keeps them separate from the hiking trails. Parking at the park takes the Georgia ParkPass: $10 per vehicle per day or $70 a year. The park doesn't publish trail distances, so call the activities desk at 706-878-2201 ext. 550 for maps and any bike-specific rules. Our Unicoi mountain bike loop guide has more.

Note that the Unicoi/Helen Trail to town is a foot-traffic-only trail, so stay off it on a bike. See the Helen to Unicoi guide.

In Cleveland, about 15 minutes from Helen, the Yonah Preserve has roughly 8 miles of machine-built singletrack in interlocking loops, according to Singletracks. The two main figure-eight loops are the Cherokee 100 and 200, and a blue-rated 250 trail adds a little challenge. Riders describe it as fast and flowy, with berms, small jumps on the 200 trail, and lake views. There are restrooms at the trailhead. Northeast Georgia SORBA volunteers built and maintain the trails; consider joining SORBA if you ride here often.

The Bull Mountain and Jake Mountain trails in Lumpkin County, about 40 minutes from Helen, are the area's long-distance rides. They're backcountry trails in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest shared with hikers and horse riders. Mileage and climbing figures vary by source and by which loops you link, so check with SORBA or the Forest Service for the current map, and carry water, tools and a way to navigate. Cell coverage can be thin.