Biking the Aska Trails

Biking & Hiking Aska Adventure Trail Area

A favorite destination among many Georgia hikers and mountain bikers, Aska Trails Area offers 17 miles of interconnected trails winding through Chattahoochee National Forest. This Blue Ridge trail system boasts a range of difficulty levels from easy-moderate to very strenuous along trails that vary in distance from one to six miles.

Mountain biking on Aska Trails. Photo by Joseph Cattoni
Mountain biking on Aska Trails. Photo by Joseph Cattoni

Hitting Aska Adventure Trails in August is a cool summertime treat beneath the shade of mature hardwoods. Right around the seasonal corner, fall paints this landscape with colorful leaves that open up beautiful mountain vistas to enjoy during winter and early spring.

A good starting point is riding the hills of the easy-intermediate Long Branch Loop. Riding the trail counter-clockwise gives riders many heart-pumping uphill climbs with a few fun downhills, while riding clockwise offers more gradual uphills and lots of fun downhill riding. A creek crossing marks the lowest point of the trail. Long Branch Loop isn’t challenging as far as technical features, making it fun for riders who are stepping up from easier trails.

Other trails in the system ascend to over 3,000 feet, some offering creek crossings and a portion of trail on the shores of Lake Blue Ridge.

  • Stanley Gap Trail is a single-track trail that clocks in at 5.5 miles of moderate intensity.
  • Flat Creek Loop offers another 5.7 miles of moderate-intensity mountain biking.
  • Long Branch Loop is 2 miles of easy-moderate climbs and sweet descents for a fun, quick ride. Note: The elevation changes going counter-clockwise may be considered more difficult than going clockwise on the trail.
  • Lower Green Mountain is an intermediate 1.5 miles that connects with the more strenuous Upper Green Mountain Trail. Note: A portion of the Upper Green Mountain Trail is closed.
  • The 300-mile Benton McKaye Trail also winds through Aska Adventure Trail Area.
  • Several connector trails make easy transition to other trails in the system.

There are four parking areas to access trailheads at Aska Trails Area located at Deep Gap, Stanley Gap, Forest Road 711, and Shady Falls. Driving directions to all four parking areas, as well as a list of the trails, are available on the Blue Ridge Mountains website.

Published: August 2015
Written by: Candy Cook
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