Pinhoti Trail (NWGA SORBA) Mountain Biking Trails

Pinhoti - East Armuchee to Snake Creek Gap
Ridden from south to north, this portion of the Georgia Pinhoti Trail begins at a small trailhead parking lot on East Armuchee Rd. The Strawberry Mt portion lies to the west. The parking area at East Armuchee Rd has room for 3-4 cars and no facilities or fee. It's also possible to take FS 310 and park where it meets the creek.

This is a multiuse trail, also frequently used by equestrians and hikers, to whom mountain bikers should always yield. The trail is cooperatively maintained by NWGA SORBA, the Back Country Horsemen of Northwest Georgia, and the Georgia Pinhoti Trail Association.

The trail is generally very well-marked at all intersections, look for the white blaze with a turkey foot. Therefore, it's generally not necessary to give turn by turn instructions. Combining the map with trail blazes, the path is generally obvious.

The difficulty level depends a lot on the section and while some portions are admittedly easy, most is at least intermediate in technical and certainly aerobic challenge. However, there are plenty of more technically challenging sections, enough of which are there that when coupled with the number and steepness of climbs, overall this garners a difficult rating. The first 4 miles pass through the Dry Creek trail system where it has connections to Turkey, Dry Creek, Loblolly, and Wheat trails. See the map for pertinent locations. The first four miles are a jumble of wide, easy singletrack and doubletrack/abandoned service road. This does include a notable creek crossing at mile 2.3 which can vary from a few inches deep to waist-high, as well as a climb of several hundred feet just after the creek.

From mile 4 to about 6.5 is all sweet singletrack including an initial climb, with plenty of classic Pinhoti rocks and roots. Then comes a one-mile descent on gravel service road, followed by nothing but singletrack until the end. This is initially a hump over Pine Needle Hill, then a roll through the Pilcher's Pond area, then a high climb and descent over Horn Mountain with a ride along the ridgetop for part of it with wintertime views, which includes the highest point on this portion of the trail. The final descent down Horn Mt can be exhilarating.

Pinhoti - Snake Creek Gap to Dug Gap (The Snake)

This is the section of the long-distance, multiuse Pinhoti trail, best known from the Snake Creek Gap Time Trails held on the first Saturday of Jan, Feb, and March each year. This is a truly epic trail, as in IMBA-Epic. Within this section one goes over 4 mountains, up and down long ridgelines, and over absolutely countless roots and rocks, almost all on singletrack.

Beginning at the large trailhead parking lot with facilities at Ga Hwy 136, the trail immediately ascends Mill Creek Mt. and follows the ridgeline, crisscrossing the ridge later on until a right curve and fast non-technical descent down the mountain to Swamp Creek which the trail then crosses a few times. After this is a short section of doubletrack uphill, then a sharp left back onto singletrack and along the ridgeline of Middle Mt and eventually a subtle peak and another sharp right.

Next comes a technical, rocky descent to the Hurricane Mt ridgeline. After the descent smooths out, there is a small side trail to Stover Creek, part of a favorite local loop, see the map for a full description of that loop. The Pinhoti continues along the the Hurricane Mt ridgeline another mile over some manageable rock gardens until hitting a steep descent into a saddle between Hurricane and Rocky Face (aka Dug) Mts, known as England Springs.

At the low point, there's another side trail to the west that goes to Hurricane Creek where there is another access point. The Pinhoti continues north up the mountain, literally up "the wall", a very steep and technical rocky section. Once back on the ridgeline, from here to the end is almost one continuous rock garden as well as some gradual climbing to the highest point on the trail. There is an overlook at Dug Gap. At other locations along the various ridge lines there are occasional peekaboo views, mostly of whichever ridge is next door.

Overall this section of trail drains very well, like almost all of the Pinhoti, due to the nature of the rock and soil and can be ridden even when fairly wet with little issue. As with much of the Pinhoti, this is multi use trail also frequented by hikers. It is also open to equestrians (up to the Hurricane Creek side trail), so exercise appropriate caution and courtesy.

Caution as you cross paved road Ga 136 into the large parking lot. Either call it a day or continue on for another 17 miles of Pinhoti over 4 more mountains.