more stats
3.2 miles
Distance
499 ft
Climb
-502 ft
Descent
00:26:40
Avg time
-5 ft
Altitude change
858 ft
Altitude min
1,031 ft
Altitude max
866 ft
Altitude start
860 ft
Altitude end
-0%
Grade
-32.1%
Grade max
23.1%
Grade min
1 mile
Distance climb
1 mile
Distance down
2,963 ft
Distance flat
00:26:40
Avg time

Van Michael Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Blankets Creek
    Woodstock, Georgia
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Blue (1 vote)
  • Local Popularity
    95 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 100 in E-Biking
    • 55 in Trail Running
    • 90 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #1926 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #1059 in E-Biking
    • #14806 in Trail Running
    • #80653 in Hiking
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T1 Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • TTFs on Trail
    Berm, Jump, Gap Jump, Log Ride, Rock Garden, Other
  • Land Owner
    Cherokee Recreation and Parks Authority

3.4 Miles (Advanced) Van Michael Trail brings the amplitude. This machine-cut trail is relatively smooth but sweeps up and down several peaks on the west side of the park. Switchback and berm turns abound and a good speed can be maintained on VMT by the fit rider. Technical features are limited primarily to some rocky sections near the infamous “Kevorkian Pass.” There is also a really nice log ride carved out of a single fallen tree. If you’re from the “you have to go up to get down” school, this is your trail.

source: SORBA Woodstock Interactive Map
Trail Supporters
  • Sponsor
Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 7 rides
  • 10 miles average
6 Months
  • 254 rides
  • 12 miles avg distance
All
  • 2,132 rides
  • Last: Sep 24, 2026
c1c2c3c4
January
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Status:
on Jul 12, 2026
Dry
Avg: 4.28 (26 votes)
Your vote: 0

view (20,600)
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      Directions to van-michael trailhead (34.161300, -84.545010)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      47 more »
      mtb
      74 |
      Feb 20, 2025 @ 12:21pm
      Feb 20, 2025
      mtb
      171 |
      Aug 27, 2022 @ 6:28pm
      Aug 27, 2022
      mtb
      145 |
      Aug 27, 2022 @ 6:26pm
      Aug 27, 2022
      mtb
      99 |
      Aug 27, 2022 @ 6:25pm
      Aug 27, 2022

      Videos

      7 more »
      youtuber Riding Van Michael Loop :||: Blankets Creek Part 1
      mtb
      12:59 | 788 | Oct 1, 2018 , Woodstock
      My Girlfriend’s Perspective on Shredding...
      mtb
      0:00 | 40 | Jan 21, 2026 , Woodstock
      POV - Van Michael - Blankets Creek -...
      mtb
      24:19 | 317 | Dec 26, 2020 , Woodstock
      youtuber Riding Up Hurl Hill At Blankets Creek Georgia
      mtb
      3:51 | 817 | Oct 1, 2018 , Woodstock

      Technical Trail Features (TTF)

      Routes with this trail

      75
      Blankets Creek 6 Hour Race
      ★ 5.0 • 9 miles • 783 ft • 4 • Loop • Race •
      122
      2020 Blankets Creek Dirty 15/30 Lap
      ★ 4.0 • 14 miles • 1,469 ft • 20 • Race •
      The Mountain Bike Race loop will be approximately 14.5 miles and include most of the trails at Blankets...
      117
      Blankets Dirty 15/30 Lap
      12 miles • 1,303 ft • 9 • Loop • Race •
      Blankets Creek Dirty 15/30 race
      4.4 ★★★★★
      26 Ratings
      5 ★ 42%
      4 ★ 50%
      3 ★ 8%
      2 ★
      1 ★

      6 Reviews & Comments

      RADMTB34
      Great fast, flowy trail perfect for getting used to larger berms!
      Only thing required to do so is a TON of climbing.
      JamieIw1SEn
      Do NOT go on the Tuesday interval, you have to climb “Hurl Hill” and yes, you will hurl if you do it. This was my first ride of the trail and the posted explanation is spot on. You will climb a brutal 1.75 miles but the other 1.75 miles is pure downhill bliss. To expand on this a bit more, I love a challenging climb but I found myself waking a good portion of this trail as the climb seems to never stop is a lot of places. (Hahaha).

      Either way, it’s a really challenging trail and should not be passed up if you’re up for that type of thing but again, I wouldn’t go on the Tuesday interval.
      HappyBiker19 HappyBiker19
      Green and red dots should be reversed. Downhill from red to green, in fact.

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      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Van Michael located?
      Van Michael is located in Blankets Creek, Woodstock, Georgia, United States. It is part of the Blankets Creek trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 34.1613, -84.54501.
      ▼ How hard is Van Michael?
      Van Michael is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Van Michael?
      Van Michael has 499 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 502 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 858 ft to 1,031 ft.
      ▼ Is Van Michael a point to point trail?
      Van Michael is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Van Michael?
      Van Michael is 3.2 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Van Michael?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Van Michael. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Van Michael?
      Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Van Michael are:
      • August (127 activities)
      • October (115 activities)
      • November (99 activities)
      Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
      ▼ How do I access Van Michael? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Van Michael are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Van Michael?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 28 minutes to ride Van Michael. The trail is 3.2 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Van Michael?
      Van Michael is a very popular trail. There have been 18,765 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 20,600 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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