.png)
A Curated List of Everything You Need to Get Out and Explore the Mountains
If Springtime weather has you itching to go out and explore our wondrous mountain area, then this Resource Guide is for you! From gear to equipment and locations to trail basics, we’ve curated a list of the best places to equip yourself for adventure as well as detailed some of the best spots for hiking and biking in north Georgia and North Carolina.
AREA INFORMATION - Where to Go
ASKA TRAIL SYSTEM - Blue Ridge, GA
The Aska Trail System boasts around 17 miles of scenic trails, perfect for both biking and hiking enthusiasts. Situated in Fannin County near Aska Road, it's conveniently less than ten miles away from downtown Blue Ridge, GA. Trails vary in length from 1.0 mile to 5.1 miles and offer a range of difficulty levels from easy to challenging. These trails utilize hand-dug treadways and historic logging roads, adding to the allure of the outdoor experience.
Looking for a new place to hike? Atlanta Trails offers a Georgia Trail Finder to help you find the best places to run, hike, and backpack, sorted by difficulty, distance, and location.
FIGHTINGTOWN CREEK NATURE PARK - Blue Ridge, GA
Fightingtown Creek Nature Park covers 190 acres of natural land where visitors can hike, bike, watch birds, and enjoy other gentle activities. The park offers 4 trails ranging from 1.6 miles to 3.5 miles. All are loops, natural surfaces, and beginner/intermediate-level trails.
JACKRABBIT MOUNTAIN - Hiawassee, GA
This trail is a favorite of mountain bikers as the singletrack path is well-maintained and offers stunning views of Lake Chatuge. The Jackrabbit Mountain Recreation Area offers camping (reservations only) in 92 wooded sites, swimming, and a picnic pavilion. The lake attracts fishermen who enjoy the spotted, white and striped bass, catfish, crappie and sunfish.
MILLER TREK - Young Harris, GA
This intermediate 6.4-mile loop trail is 3,285 feet at its height has a level of difficulty rated as “medium” and generally takes 3-4 hours to complete. The trail is dog-friendly and is somewhat rocky in some places.
PINEY KNOB TRAILS - Murphy, NC
Offering a variety of trails, Piney Knob Trails totals 13.5 miles of pristine watershed property on Fain Mountain for mountain biking and hiking. 4 of the 6 trails are loops that offer unique views along the entire trail.
TALKING ROCK NATURE PRESERVE - Jasper, GA
This 2.75-mile loop is perfect for mountain bikers of any age or skill level, without any steep hills. We hear from both newbies and seasoned bikers that it's one of the most enjoyable trails in North Georgia!
GEAR + EQUIPMENT - What to Take
10 Tennessee Street, Murphy, NC
(828) 516-8646; open Tuesday - Friday, 11 am - 6 pm; Saturday, 11 am - 5 pm; Closed Sunday & Monday
AEB rents and sells electric bikes, and offers bike repairs, tune-ups, and new bike builds.
49-F Blue Ridge Street, Blairsville, GA
(706) 745-8141; Open Monday, 10 am - 5 pm; Tuesday - Friday: 11 am - 5 pm; Saturday: 10 am - 2 pm; Sunday: Closed
Offering new and used bike sales, Blairsville Bikes & Gear carries standard mountain bikes and ebikes. They also do tuneups and bike repairs as well as sell gear and supplies.
1408 Appalachian Highway, Blue Ridge, GA
(706) 714-2453; open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday 10 am - 5 pm; Saturday, 10 am - 2 pm; Closed Wednesday & Sunday
Offering bike rentals and guided tours, Blue Mountain Bikes can take riders and drop them off at specific locations for convenience. See their website for more information.
SMILES PER HOUR MOTO ADVENTURES
150 Post Oak Ridge, Murphy, NC
(828) 360-1117
Smiles Per Hour offers your choice of 2 different motorcycles for rent. One is built for the winding, paved mountain roads allowing you to ride with confidence. The other is a dual-sport model perfect for off-road riding. Rentals are available from 1 to 7 days.
75 North Main Street, Hiawassee, GA
(706) 521-4453; open Monday - Saturday, 10 am - 6 pm; Sunday, 12 pm - 5pm
Trailful offers a wide range of apparel and footwear for men and women, hiking & camping gear (including gear for your favorite pooch), and free thru-hiker services. You’ll find all of the brands you’re looking for including The North Face, On Footwear, Nemo, Marmot, and more.
PREPAREDNESS - Getting Around on the Trail
TRAIL BLAZES
What are trail blazes and what do they mean? Learn about this unique system of painted markers that guide you along the Appalachian Trail. It's important to note, that not all trails use blazes. Some use posts, cairns, affixed markers, flagging tape, and/or carved blazes/signs.
TRAIL ETIQUETTE
Brush up on your trail etiquette and learn how to respect your surroundings—and other hikers and riders—with this list of do’s and don’ts while on the trail.
TRAIL NAMES
What’s in a name? On the trail, a "trail name" is a nickname either given to you or chosen yourself. From Stub Toe to Twitch, trail names are an interesting part of AT thru-hiker culture. What is your trail name?
BOTTOM LINE
The mountains are ripe with trails and parks for hiking and biking. With the right equipment and a sense of adventure, exploring our amazing area will get your heart pumping and your feet moving with joy!
.png)
Footer Social Links