Brutal Loop 2

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

This ride climbs the classic Pinhoti and Bear Creek trails that are usually descended from the Bear Creek overlook. After ten miles of singletrack, ride some great gravel along the southern edge of the Cohutta Wilderness to bomb down the technical Windy Gap Trail #154 back to some more awesome gravel back to the Mulberry Gap Mountain Bike Get-A-Way for food and beer.

Mulberry Gap has lodging, food, beer, and repair equipment. Day riders are welcome for a small charge ($5 most recently) but that also gives you access to showers and bike wash afterwards. Since the first three trails are commonly descended, start early and be on the lookout for fast descenders. The Windy Gap Trail #154 is an off-road motorcycle trail so be aware. It's not heavily traveled most of the time. Bring water treatment systems or be prepared to carry all the water you'll need.

The ride starts and finishes at the Mulberry Gap Mountain Bike Get-a-Way. From there, you'll ride Pinhoti 2, Pinhoti 1, and Bear Creek Trail mostly uphill (though there are some really fun descents to provide some small reprieves) all the way to the Bear Creek Overlook. Snap a photo of the panoramic views of the westernmost edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, then keep climbing!

After reaching the top of Potato Patch Mountain, you'll turn left and head towards Lake Conasauga - the highest lake in Georgia. This would be a great place to camp if you wanted to do a quick overnight bikepack. After the lake, turn left down the Windy Gap Trail #154. This off-road motorcycle trail starts out very technical and singletrack heavy for the first mile or two. After negotiating all the rock gardens, it becomes more open doubletrack.

Bomb down the rest of the trail to the parking area, proceed straight through, then keep riding downhill on Muskrat Creek Road #218 towards CCC Camp Road. Turn left on the paved road and ride about three miles until the road turns to gravel again. The final five miles are mostly gradual climbing with great scenery along Emery Creek. When the road forks, bear right and head back to the barn at Mulberry Gap for amazing food and beer!