Jackson Woods

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Unknown

These trails were built for mountain biking in 2020. Advanced riders will enjoy carrying as much speed as they can muster through the gentle turns and short climbs as the carpet of pine straw allows. But the trail is easy enough for novice riders (or well-seasoned riders who prefer a slower pace) with only a few narrow dips and creek crossings to provide any technical challenge.

These trails connect to the existing trail system at Dauset Nature Center and together with the trail at Indian Springs State Park offer the opportunity for some really long singletrack rides.

Jackson Woods has more of a backcountry feel than the close-packed trails at Dauset and a mature canopy of pine trees and hardwoods provides some respite from the hot Georgia sun in the summer.

This ride starts from the "new" trailhead off Lake Clark Road. (It was formerly a trailhead for equestrian trails that previously existed on this property). Bright yellow Carsonite signs beckon you to the trailhead for the first Yellow Loop. The Yellow Loop provides a good taste of the character of the trails at Jackson Woods: gentle climbs/descents and wide turns.

After an initial climb, you'll descend down to the Aboothlacoosta Creek. Assuming you enjoyed the initial leg of the Yellow Loop, continue across the creek on the skinny (18-24") northshore style bridge to the Aboothlacoosta Loop which has bright blaze orange Carsonite markers.

The Aboothlacoosta Loop crosses a couple of creeks on armored crossings and weaves along the contours of a couple of other creek beds. The area north of Aboothlacoosta Creek is particularly littered with pine straw so take care to come out of any turns accurately or risk being quickly escorted to the dirt when you lose traction on the pine straw outside the main trail line.

At the far end of the Aboothlacoosta Loop, you can add on an out-and-back along Town Branch connector to add additional distance. There is one rocky descent and climb down to a nice overlook above Town Branch creek and one "technical" dip which is marked with slow down signs. Both are imminently rideable even by novices at slow enough speed. Town Branch terminates near Jackson Elementary School where you'll have to turn around.

Continue back along the Aboothlacoosta Loop and Yellow Loop back to the trailhead. At the trailhead, the Brown Loop offers some slightly more difficult terrain as it works its way more steeply down to Sandy Creek. After paralleling Sandy Creek for a while, you'll come to an intersection in one of the switchbacks. Continue left along the Brown Loop for a short climb back to the trailhead and the end of the Jackson Woods ride.

For some truly more advanced trails or to add additional mileage, take a right at the intersection in the switchback onto the Dauset Connector and you can have all the trails at Dauset Nature Center at your disposal.