Georgia Rides

Three Gap. 52 Miles, 4500' elevation gain. A great ride in the mountains over three passes. Avoid this ride and the next during weekends in October.
Start: Dahlonegha/Ga19 (We usually park in the A&P lot just north of town on the way out) -> Porter Springs -> Turn left at Turners Corner -> Neals Gap -> L Ga180 (after signs for Vogel State Park) -> Wolfpen Gap -> turn left in Suches onto Ga60 -> Woody Gap -> joins Ga19 -> Dahlonegha
Six Gap Century. 102 miles, 10,000' elevation gain. This is a beautiful century with hardly a flat section. There are stores on Ga19 before Neals Gap, at the top of Neals Gap, on Ga19 before Ga180, along Ga180 before Jacks Gap, at Helen which you can reach by continuing 1 mile along Ga17 past Ga75a, on Ga19 before Wolfpen, and on Ga180 after Wolfpen. Hogpen gap is very steep and long, and I recommend a 39/26 combination at least. Woody Gap and the rest of the way to Dahlonega is downright pleasurable after all the steep climbing.
Start: Dahlonegha/Ga19 -> Neals Gap -> R GA180 east -> Jacks Gap -> R Ga17 -> Unicoi Gap -> R Ga75a -> R Ga348 -> Hogpen Gap! -> L Ga180 -> L Ga19 -> R Ga180 -> Wolfpen Gap -> L Ga60 -> Woody Gap -> joins Ga19 -> Dahlonega
The Original Cartersville Ride. 52 Miles, 3500' elevation gain. Great country road riding on a rolling course starting and ending in Cartersville. There is one long climb on the way out. To get to the train station, take exit 124, Cartersville Main St, off the I75, and follow Main St past the railroad tracks and you will see the lot.
Start: Cartersville Train Station -> Ga61 South/West (continue on Main St and the bear leftish) -> R Eurahlee Rd. -> becomes Chulio Rd -> R Ga53SP (there is a small store here) -> R Ga293 -> Cartersville
Cartersville #2: The Road to an Out of Body Experience. 52 Miles, 3000' Elevation Gain. A fantastic country ride that is relatively flat and fast after the first 5-8 miles. There are several stores on Ga140, which is about halfway.
Start: Cartersville Train Station -> Ga293 North -> L Sugar Valley Rd. -> R Hardin Bridge Rd -> through Kingston -> L Ga293 -> R Hall Station Rd -> R Ga140 -> R Richards Rd -> R Cassville Pine Log Rd -> L Cassville Rd -> L Ga293 -> Cartersville
You can make a great 80 mile ride by starting off on the first Cartersville ride and when heading back on GA293, turning left onto Hall Station Rd and finishing the second ride.
Burnt Mountain Century. 98 Miles, 7500' elevation gain. This is my candidate for the best ride in Georgia. This area really comprises the foothills of the north Georgia mountains and offers a variety of terrain and scenery not found in the mountains. The route passes through some towns that make good rest stops. The only warning is that while the roads are quiet to empty, some drivers are apparently unused to cyclists. This climbing consists of a set of very long "rolling" hills punctuated by the climb over Burnt Mountain, which consists of long steady grades. A 39/26 combination is probably a good idea.
The start is from the Canton Town Square. You get to Canton from Atlanta by taking 75 North to 575 North. There are various exits to Canton, however you go, find your way to the town square. South of the square on Marietta Street there is a public parking lot where you can park for a long time.
Start: Canton Town Square -> Go north/west on Main Street down a hill (watch tracks at the bottom) -> At the big intersection with GA 5 and GA 140, continue straight on GA 140 North (To Waleska) -> Continue through Waleska and past Refuge Rd on the left -> R Salacoa Rd. (next right past Refuge Rd) -> R Jerusaleum Church Rd -> R Hill City Rd -> R Ga 53 -> immediately L Pleasant Hill Rd -> bear R Antioch Church Rd -> Cross GA 5 -> R GA 136 -> Continue to Jasper (good rest stop) -> at the Jasper town square, turn L at the light for GA 53 -> shortly, L at light for Burnt Mountain Rd -> intersects GA 136, continue R on Ga 136, start climbing over Burnt Mountain -> after climb and descent, GA 136 joins GA 183, R at intersection -> after a mile or so, bear L to continue on GA 136. (GA 183 goes right) -> At Bethel Church on the right, bear right to Dawsonville. The road is marked to go to Dawsonville. -> Dawsonville (good rest stop) -> from the Dawsonville square head north/west on GA 53 (another good climb is ahead) -> L on Yellow Creek Rd (after you re-enter Pickens County, passing Steve Tate Rd on the right) -> R. Conn's Creek Rd -> R Ball Ground Rd GA 372 -> L Old Canton Rd. -> L Canton Hwy -> crosses 575, becomes GA 5 Business -> L at intersection with GA 140, back up big hill to Canton town square.
Dawsonville - Jasper Loop. 50 Miles, 4300' elevation gain. Another favorite ride: see the comments on Burnt Mountain Century. This ride contains the climb over Burnt Mountain but is shorter at the cost of more driving. Cove Rd into Jasper has some serious climbs on it, especially at the end where after going down a very steep and winding descent and crossing a dam, you have a long steep climb back up to Jasper. There is a gas station after this climb that makes a good stop if you are inclined.
To get to Dawsonville: take Georgia 400 North to the clearly marked intersection with the GA 53 and go east to Dawsonville. This intersection is the site of several fast food restaurants and is located just north of an Outlet Mall. We usually park in the lot of the little museum and sign store just on one corner of the town square. It is not clear this is allowed.
Start: from the Dawsonville square head north/west on GA 53 (there are some good climbs ahead) -> R Steve Tate Rd (after you re-enter Pickens County) -> L Cove Rd (watch steep winding descent about 3/4 of the way back to Jasper) -> at the end of Cove, go R on Burnt Mountain Rd -> intersects GA 136, continue R on Ga 136, start climbing over Burnt Mountain -> after climb and descent, GA 136 joins GA 183, R at intersection -> after a mile or so, bear L to continue on GA 136. (GA 183 goes right) -> At Bethel Church on the right, bear right to Dawsonville. The road is marked to go to Dawsonville -> End.
Kennesaw Ride. 46 miles. Nice riding on lightly used roads, except for Stilesboro Rd. There are some steep rolling hills on the way back.
Start: Kennesaw Mountain National Park -> Stilesboro Rd -> L Mountain Rd -> R Burnt Hickory Rd -> L Bob Cox Rd -> L Dallas Rd -> R Kennesaw View Dr -> R Sandtown West Rd -> R Villa Rica Rd -> R Bullard Rd -> just past intersection with Lost Mountain Rd/Ga176, go left on Old Lost Mountain Rd -> R Jackson (at the T) -> L Marietta (another T) -> go past intersection with Brownsville Rd on the right, then R Broad St. -> ends shortly, bear left (Atlanta St) -> R Butner St (this is an unsigned street, the next street intersection has a stop sign) -> L Lewis Rd -> R Oglesby Rd -> cross over highway -> L Brownsville Rd (there is a store here) triangle-> R Hiram Lithia Springs Rd -> L Pearson Rd -> R Croker Rd -> becomes County Line -> L Wright -> bear right on Poplar Springs -> past Dallas Rd, continue through on Holland Rd -> L Nichols Rd -> R Antioch Rd -> L Due West Rd -> R County Line Rd -> L Burnt Hickory Rd -> R Cheatham Rd -> R Old Stilesboro Rd -> County Line Rd joins, bear left -> L Acworth Due West -> R Old Stilesboro Rd -> L Stilesboro Rd
Atlanta - Patty Melt Rides.
Between 3000' and 4000' elevation gain. Named after Patty for many long suffering summer rides. The rides head west through the suburbs towards rural areas. Once past the ring road (I285), the roads become increasingly rural.
The rides start at the Bicycle Link bike shop on Pharr Rd. near the intersection with Peachtree St. All the rides start and end the same way. You can download a detailed map of the area of the common start and finish, which also lists some shorter rides. Local Map.
Common Start. Pharr Rd -> L Slaton -> L Andrews Dr -> R Cherokee -> R Habersham -> L Argonne -> L Arden -> bear right through light on Castlewood, stay left on that -> joins Dover -> R West Wesley -> R Ridgewood Rd -> L Garraux Road -> R River Forest Rd -> L Paces Ferry Rd -> L Woodland Brook Dr -> L Log Cabin -> through light becomes Plant Atkinson Rd becomes Church Rd -> L Cobb Dr -> R Highland P'way (first light) -> L Oakdale Rd (first left) -> R Buckner Rd -> L Bankhead H'way -> R Queens Mill Rd.
- 40 Mile Version. R Ivey Rd (Hill!) -> L Regency Way -> R Sheraton Way -> R Dodgen -> L Lane Dr -> R Garner Rd -> L Gresham Rd -> through light becomes Old Powder Springs Rd -> R Whispering Pines Rd -> L Bankhead H'way -> Immediately R Church St -> L Center St -> R Brookwood -> R Wisteria -> R Floyd Rd -> Immediately L Concord Rd -> Be careful going through the one lane covered bridge! -> R Concord Lane (after a wide shoulder appears and then disappears) -> R Cooper Lake Rd N -> L Reed Rd -> R King Springs -> L Cooper Lake Rd -> Conclusion.
- 45 Mile Version. Queens Mill Rd -> R Mableton P'way -> L Felton La -> R Hillcrest Rd -> joins Gordon, bear left -> past Factory Shoals, bear right at intersection with Blair Bridge Rd -> bear right at intersection with Cardell Rd, continuing on Gordon -> R Old Alabama Rd -> L Old Powder Springs Rd -> join 40 mile version at turn on Whispering Pines Rd.
  The 54, 62, and 67 mile version all continue in the same way to the intersection of Hiram-Lithia Springs Rd. and Brownsville Rd. If you are tired of hills, take the 54 mile version.
- Longer versions. Queens Mill Rd -> R Mableton P'way -> L Felton La -> R Hillcrest Rd -> joins Gordon, bear left -> past Factory Shoals, bear right at intersection with Blair Bridge Rd -> bear left at intersection with Cardell Rd, continuing on Cardell Rd -> L Old Alabama Rd -> R Love St -> Turn left just past the train tracks after the light at Bankhead H'way, this is Pacific. Pacific turns into Humphries Hill Rd at the city limits -> R Hiram Lithia Springs Rd -> There is a store at the intersection of Brownsville Rd and Hiram Lithia Springs that is approximately halfway.
  - 54 Mile Version. from Hiram-Lithia Springs Rd -> R Brownsville Rd -> R Oglesby Rd -> R Furr Av -> R Austell Powder Springs Rd -> bear left onto Bob Clay Rd -> L White Blvd -> bear right, remaining on White Blvd. at intersection with Woodward Cir. -> R Floyd Rd -> L Nickajack (first light) -> L Cooper Lake Rd -> Conclusion.
  - 62 Mile Version. continue on Hiram-Lithia Springs Rd -> L Pearson Rd -> R Croker Rd -> becomes County Line -> after you cross the large highway (Atlanta Highway) and after the road curves right and then left, Moon Rd. goes off to the right (sign is sometimes down). The road shortly becomes much nicer and splits. To the left is Hiram Rd, but continue straight ahead on Moon Rd. -> R Old Lost Mountain Rd -> L Macedonia Rd -> at intersection with Powder Springs Rd, continue straight on Anderson Farm Rd -> L Flint Hill Rd -> L Anderson Mill Rd -> R Brookwood Dr -> L Wisteria -> Join the 40 mile version at the turn onto Wisteria.
  - 67 Mile Version. continue on Hiram-Lithia Springs Rd -> L Pearson Rd -> R Croker Rd -> becomes County Line -> L Wright -> bear right on Poplar Springs -> R Picken Rd -> L Corner Rd -> R Lost Mountain Rd -> at small triangle, bear right on Old Lost Mountain Rd -> L Macedonia Rd -> at intersection with Powder Springs Rd, continue straight on Anderson Farm Rd -> L Flint Hill Rd -> L Anderson Mill Rd -> R Brookwood Dr -> L Wisteria -> Join the 40 mile version at the turn onto Wisteria.
  - If you want a century, combine the 67 mile version with the ride that starts at Kennesaw National Park described above.
CONCLUSION. On Cooper Lake Rd, go through Cobb Drive Intersection, immediately turn left up Cooper Lake Dr (up hill) -> L Pine Ridge -> R Lee Rd (first one) -> L Atlanta Rd -> R Spring Hill Rd -> R Paces Ferry Rd -> After train tracks, there is an intersection with a little plaza on the corner. Paces Ferry bears right here, while Paces Mill Rd continues ahead. Go right on Paces Ferry -> L Paran Ridge -> L Mount Paran -> R Conway Rd -> R Broadland -> R Northside Dr -> L Valley Rd -> L W Paces Ferry -> R Andrews -> L Pharr Rd -> Bicycle Link.