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Bull and Jake Mountain - IMBA EPIC

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Difficult Difficult
 4.4 (82)
  1. Areas
  2. GA
  3. …Northern Georgia
  4. …Chattahoochee National Forest
  5. Bull Mountain
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“Get ready for some red clay singletrack in the North Georgia Mountains. ”

Leslie Kehmeier
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Map Key

25.2

Miles

40.6

KM

85%

Singletrack

2,645' 806 m

High

1,506' 459 m

Low

2,859' 872 m

Up

2,856' 870 m

Down

4%

Avg Grade (2°)

19%

Max Grade (11°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Overview

Located at the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, the Bull Mountain and Jake Mountain trail network includes more than 50 miles of great riding, including an IMBA Epic route that covers a good chunk of the trails. You'll get little bit of everything - red clay singletrack, loose rocks, take-off-your-shoes stream crossings, and some steep, sustained climbs.

The ride can be done in either direction. To enjoy a big descent at the end of the route, considering riding counter-clockwise from either of the main trailheads. You'll have to tackle the Bare Hare climb late into the ride but you'll be rewarded with a long downhill on Bull Mountain trail to finish this Epic.

Need to Know

The trail network is multi-use and is heavily used by equestrians. When you encounter horses on the trail, stop and talk to the rider as they pass you.

It's useful to take a map or the MTB Project mobile app along for the ride as there are multiple intersections with other trails and roads.

Description

Starting at Bull Mountain trailhead, ride counter-clockwise on the Bull Mountain Connector towards the Jake Mountain trails. The trail is a great start to a long ride with a lot of contouring and little climbing. The corridor is a mix of pine and hardwoods that hug the trail with a few sections of tight turns.

The trail will cross a road and then climb slightly. The surrounding forest opens up through this section. Big trees and red clay singletrack is the best way to describe it.

Stay left at the intersection where the trail accesses Jake Mountain Trailhead. From here, you'll be on the Jake Mountain trail. There is a slight climb and then a big, fun swopping descent into Jones Creek. Take off your shoes and carry your bike here. The pedal out of the creek bottom is steep so shift accordingly before getting back on the bike.

There are a few confusing intersections from here to Black Branch. Avoid lefts (stay straight). Access to the trail is from the end of the Beaver Pond section where you take a sharp uphill right, another right on USFS Rd 28A and then left to start Black Branch. This trail has been newly renovated section that makes up the eastern part of the Epic route.

Descending the backside of Black Branch is slightly downhill and filled with rubbly sections. Keep yourself relaxed. Stay right when this part of the route intersects USFS Rd 28.

Look for the gate and ride through it to access No-Tell, a mostly doubletrack section that climbs, descends and climbs again. When the climb tops out and then starts to roll flat, look for Nimblewill Branch on the left.

Nimblewill Branch is straightforward and pretty much straight down, a little rutted and a lot rooty. At the bottom, turn right onto USFS Rd 77A. Settle in for a good stretch of road that climbs and then descends gradually. Towards the end, the road with bend to the left and you'll enter a developed area with campground and picnic facilities. It's a great place to grab a snack and sit by the creek.

Continue on the road uphill and the descend towards another section of the creek. Don't cross and take a left past the gate. Keep right at the fork which puts you on Bare Hare trail. Bare Hare is a long forest road followed by singletrack, nearly all of which is uphill. When you get to the intersection with Bull Mountain keep right and enjoy a well-earned downhill.

The descent down Bull Mountain comes in two parts. The first is downhill with a wider corridor and ends at the intersection with Whoop-De-Doo. Stay straight here and start the second part, a tighter and twistier section with roots and rocks. The bottom portion of singletrack opens up again and contours down to the Bull Mountain trailhead.

Contacts

Land Manager: USFS - Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest

Shared By:

Leslie Kehmeier with improvements by Donnie Nix and 1 other
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.4 from 82 votes

#1

in Bull Mountain

#82

Overall
  4.4 from 82 votes
5 Star
61%
4 Star
27%
3 Star
9%
2 Star
2%
1 Star
1%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Bull Mountain

#2

in Georgia

#82

Overall
197 Views Last Month
58,609 Since Apr 17, 2013
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Photos

The big forests of the North Georgia Mountains
Apr 18, 2013 near Dahlonega, GA
Ground cover on the Bull Mountain Connector
Apr 18, 2013 near Dahlonega, GA
Jones Creek crossing - Bull Mountain area.
Apr 18, 2013 near Dahlonega, GA
Don't try to shuttle to the top of bull mountain and end up like this guy...
Dec 3, 2016 near Dahlonega, GA
Shoe ferry - Jones Creek crossing on the Jake Mountain trail.
Apr 18, 2013 near Dahlonega, GA
Descending the Bull Mountain trail - a great way to finish the Bull-Jake Mountain IMBA Epic.
Apr 18, 2013 near Dahlonega, GA

13 Comments

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Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 52 days ago
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Check-Ins

Dec 31, 2023
Rex Macey
Sep 3, 2023
Mikel Manitius
A few downed trees but not hard to get around 20mi — 4h 00m
Jun 7, 2023
Matthew Derickson
Apr 24, 2023
Nico Jubert
25.3mi
Dec 25, 2022
James Bishop
Only rode the Bull Mountain portion of the loop because of cold temps and creek crossings! Awesome day out! 14.4mi
Oct 26, 2022
Robert Sinclair
Intermediate with the exception of the Bull Mountain/Bare Hare climb which is advanced intermediate. Great trail system! 25.1mi
Sep 2, 2022
Juan Quiroga
Excellent ride, enough water, and food are a must. I ex[periance all types of terrains. 20mi — 3h 07m
Jun 15, 2022
Reid Bailey
Great climb and descent. CCW starting at No Tell was a great route. Some warm up prior to the climb, not much riding after getting wet shoes. 25mi — 3h 10m

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