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1996 Atlanta Olympic Trail
46 reviews
4.54 of 5
I decided to relist this trail because it has received bad reviews in the past. Trail maintenance and marking are much better, and this really is a great ride now.
This trail is NOT for beginning riders. If you don't want to ride over rocky, rutted and rooty terrain, don't ride here. If you ride it anyway, don't rate the trail poorly because "its too hard"! This is what an Olympic venue should be like, it should be hard.
For those not up to the challenge of an "Olympic" trail, you are welcome to ride the less challenging equestrian trails as long as you yield to the horses (I rarely see horses).
The trail is divided into two segments. The first starts by going through the opening in the fence and turning right along the fence. This part of the ride is not as technical as the 2nd segment although it has more and bigger climbs! If you follow the markings you shouldn't get lost, though be advised that the first segment does cross horse trails numerous times. (also, they do occassionally run "Cross Country" foot races here. These races are on the horse trails, but the markings for their routes can be a bit confusing to bikers. Just avoid anything that looks like a grassy road, and stay with what looks like single track).
The first segment will dump you out onto an equestrian trail very near the big field you parked by. Go LEFT! You will almost immediately enter the field. Go RIGHT and stay along the edge of the field. You will wrap around the field and eventually as you approach the road, the trail will drop off to the right. Follow this until you come to a spot where you can either proceed straight (really a bit to the right) or make a very hard left that immediately climbs back to the road. Take the left. You will cross the road. As soon as you hit the trail go RIGHT (returning riders will be coming down from straight ahead). You will be riding up-hill on a bumpy granite slab. Follow this until you hit another road. Cross and follow the road to the left for a short distance to where the trail takes off again on your right. You have more "slick rock" to go (its granite not sandstone so "slick rock" is a misnomer, but oh well). You will bear to the right so you are crossing the grade of the rock. The trail will drop to your left over a nice rock jump before hitting single track again. There is a trail here that crosses. Avoid it. You will need to go left and sharply down to stay with the main trail. Follow the much more "Technical" single track until you hit the road again very near where you crossed it before. Cross again and follow the road to your right watching for the trail on the left this time. You will hit the granite again and run roughly parrallel to the route you took up the granite. You will come back to the road. Cross and go right along the road. You will see the parking lot when you cross.
From Atlanta take I-20 East. Take exit #82 (GA Highway 138). At the top of the ramp go left. Stay on 138 until you see signs for the Georgia International Horse Park. Turn right. After a short distance you will see a white fence on your right. Beyond the fence is a large field. Park in the gravel lot near the fence.
Summary: What a great trail. Very clearly marked. Can't get lost if you just follow the green arrows. Nice flow, good switch back, good uphill, great down hill. The trails are a little eroded but still very rideable. One of my favorite. If you are around ATL area, you gotta ride this trail
Recommended Route: Do a warm up where you park at the white fence. And then return to where you parked, cross the street and hit the granite trail. Fun fun fun
Other recommended trails in the same area: Yargo
Chicopee
Tribble Mills
yellow river
dauset
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Summary: It was the second time i rode here, but the first time was over a year ago and i wasn't in as good a shape. It was a saturday evening and i was the only one there which seemed surprising. I felt pretty special being the only one out riding these great trails. I agree with most of what the guy below me said with the first loop near where you park being intermidiate and the other side with the rocks being more challenging. The majority of the rock side is either going up or down where as the other side doesn't have many hills. I couldn't get over the very top of the last big climb on the rock side either lap i did, but everything else wasn't too hard. Fun place if you're in decent shape.
Other recommended trails in the same area: blankets creek
clinton park
chicopee
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Summary: I've ridden the Atlanta Olympic Course twice now, and it is a terrific course. The first loop (Southside of Centennial Olympic Pkwy) is more of an intermediate course. I found it takes me right around 30 minutes to complete not pushing too terribly hard.
The climbs are longer than Blanket's Creek, Big Creek, or Chicopee (except Chic's final climb is a bear).
Cross the Parkway to hit the slick rock side - now at least in my opinion you're clearly on an Olympic (Advanced) course. It's really fun and I hope to conquer it eventually. But unfortunately the second part of slick rock kicks my butt. I haven't mastered it yet, but eventually I'll be able to ride it without coming out of my clips. Also on today's ride there were two spots where some water was running across the rock on an approximately 30 degree traverse. It truly was slick.
Then about 2/3 of the way around, there's a fairly long steep hill with some obstacles (bigger rocks and roots on a steep incline) that so far has caused me to have to pop out of my pedals. But it's really cool, and will be an accomplishment for me when I can make the entire loop without popping out of my pedals.
Recommended Route: Run the southside intermediate loop first to warm up, then get psyched and run the northside slick rock loop.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Blankets Creek - love the South Loop and Dwelling
Big Creek - fun advanced loop and free ride park has a nice gully to climb.
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Summary: I would like to start out by saying..this is a GREAT ride, I am very out of shape and had ALOT of trouble on the uphills, but wow...a great work out and i plan to ride this trail every weekend.
Every uphill, you are rewarded with a great downhill, a few good drop offs, a few good jumps, and very fast downhills....great ride!!
this trail is for the brave, stupid, or experienced. the downhills are fast, steep, have sharp turns and have alot of roots and rocks. And the uphils will test you Will and determination!
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Summary: This is a jewel just outside Atlanta. Estimated distance was 9 miles.
There seems to be only two loops. We hit this mid week with locals spewing with details. This trail is worthy of being proud of. From the parking lot a right loop and a left loop. The Right loop is smooth with some grinding hills but plenty of flowing decents to reward you for the effort. This ride will use practically every gear on your bike. Easy enough to ride at night with lights with no major obstructions.
The Left loop is about half granite and half dirt single track trails. The granit section is difficult but a lot of fun. The left loop should only require a couple get offs but it could be mastered with practice.
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4.54 of 5
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