The Chattahoochee National Forest near Dahlonega offers some of the best mountain biking to be found in Georgia. Three trails originating in the Chattahoochee National Forest in the Nimblewill area offer a range of difficulty and beautiful scenery. The trails are shared with horseback riders. Care should be taken when approaching horseback riders not to frighten horses.

How to Get There

These trails are reached off of Forest Service Rd. 28-1 between the Nimblewill Road and the Frank D. Merrill Army Ranger Camp. The directions will be given from both ends.
To reach FS 28-1 via Nimblewill Rd. travel about 8 miles out of Dahlonega on Ga. Hwy 52W. Nimblewill road will be a paved road on the right with directions to the Nimblewill Baptist Church. Go about 2 miles on Nimblewill Rd. to Forest Service Rd. 28-1 on the right indicated by a sign to Jones Creek and Camp Wahsega.
To reach the other end of FS 28-1 at the Ranger camp, go out of Dahlonega on Business US Hwy 19N for 2 miles to Wahsega Rd. on the left indicated by a sign to Camp Frank D. Merrill. From this junction on Hwy. 19 go 8 miles on Wahsega Rd which dead ends at the Ranger camp. Turn left onto FS 28-1. FS 28-1 is a gravel road and is 6.4 miles between the paved roads, Nimblewill Rd. and Wahsega Rd.

Turner Creek Trail

The Turner Creek Trail system is shown in brown on the Mountain Biking Trail Map. Note that the trail intersections are marked with letters and numbers and correspond to similar markings on the map. To reach the starting point from Wahsega Rd. travel south on FS 28-1 for 3.7 miles to Turner Creek. The trail is on the right. The approach from Nimblewill Rd. is 2.7 miles to Turner Creek and the trail will be on the left. There is limited parking in this area.

Bull Mountain Trail

This is easily accessible and one of the most popular trails in the state and is best reached from Nimblewill Rd.. Go 0.3 miles on FS 28-1 and turn left on FS 83. Go 1 miles to parking areas on each side. Bull Mountain Trail is a 11 mile loop with beautiful scenery and long hills. Several options are available to either extend or shorten the ride. The Bull Mountain Trail is shown in blue on the Mountain Biking Trail Map. Note again that the trail intersections are marked with letters and numbers that correspond to similar markings on the map.
Continue on FS 83 0.5 miles to the gate across the road. There is a large parking lot on the right to accommodate horse trailers and limited biker parking. Go around the gate and continue for .2 miles to trail head at wooden steps marked with the trail mark 1C. The first part of this trail is single track and ascends from about 1700 feet to 2500 feet near Bull Mountain. The road straight ahead continues to Lance Creek and the road to the right connects with the Turner Creek and Jake Mountain Trails. At mile 1.3 a single track trail enters from the right.

An alternative is to turn right on this single track trail and go .8 miles until reaching old jeep road. Turn right and go past 3rd cabin and turn right. Continue to intersection of FS 83, turn right and return to starting point.

Otherwise continue on Bull Mountain trail until it reaches the Lance Creek Trail on the right. Take either the Lance Creek Trail for 2.7 miles to gate or take Bare Hare Trail extension 3.4 miles to the gate where the Lance Creek Trail rejoins the Bare Hare Trail. This is the beginning of FS 77A. After the first 100 yards or so the Lance Creek Trail becomes a beautiful ride down along Lance Creek on an old jeep trail. After the two trails join continue on FS 77A and go 0.2 miles to another gate. Immediately after passing gate turn right and ford Lance Creek at mile 8.7. Take second left and turn right onto a single track trail just before cabin at mile 9. Another less strenuous alternative is to continue past this single track trail to the third cabin and take the right on an old jeep trail. Continue until it intersects FS 83, turn right and return to starting point. If you take the single track trail go .8 miles until it rejoins the Bull Mountain Trail, turn left and return to the starting point.

This trail can be extended to 15 miles by remaining on FS 77A instead of crossing Lance Creek. Continue on FS 77A 1.7 miles to FS 77. Turn right and go 1.3 miles to FS 28-1. Turn right on FS 28-1 and continue 1.8 miles to FS 83. Turn right and return to the starting point.