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Stonewall Falls Loop -2007
6 reviews
4.5 of 5
The information you have on you website for the Stonewall Falls Loop, Georgia, USA is no longer valid. We have rerouted with 7.5 miles of new single-track, eliminated double-track and increased the mileage from 8 to 11 miles.
I am sending you a copy of the inside of the trail flyer, or you may use the info below.
--Lester
NEW for 2007
Stonewall Falls Loop
Total Distance = 11 Mile Loop
Difficulty Level = Moderate- to-Difficult
Average Biking Time = 2-3 Hours
Construction = 10.5 miles of single-track,
+ 0.5 miles of double-track.
The Stonewall Falls Trail now offers more challenges and greater distance than before. The trail is now considered by bikers as a true mountain bike trail and mountain bikers appreciate its challenge and the enjoyment it provides. In 2007 we completed nearly 7.5 miles of new single-track, which results in the best mountain biking has to offer in northeast Georgia. By design, it is not the easiest trail in the area, but it is considered to be what a "true mountain bike trail should be". This trail is challenging, has a worthwhile distance with optional exits,optional difficulties, technical and scenic.
The Stonewall Falls Trail: The trail is best traveled in a counter-clockwise direction. The trail begins at the parking lot and goes past the gate on the power line access road. From the parking lot, go 200 yards and turn left onto the single-track trail. At mileage 3.4 miles there is an optional exit to allow bikers to exit and return to the parking lot via the power line access road, rather than continue on the trail. There are optional routes along the trail with different difficulty levels. There is a good possibility of seeing wildlife in this area. Wildlife ranges from squirrels, grouse, deer, bobcats, and even wild bear.
Directions from Clayton, Georgia:
(1) Travel south on Hwy Old 441 for 3 miles to Tiger. Continue south through the intersection for 2.5 miles and turn right onto USFS #20. Go 1.2 miles and turn right at the T intersection. Go 50 yards and park prior to the gate.
-or-
(2) Travel south on Hwy 441/15/23 six miles south of Clayton. Turn right onto the Wiley Connector straight across from the Wiley Church of God, which is on the left. The church is a brick building on the left side travel
Summary: First time to the trail and it was tricky to figures out. Could definitly see how this trail could be alot of fun but we got kind of lost, lots of options and not much marking. Enjoyed the ride but needs some tidying blackberry bushes need to be trimmed back in spots I'm still scrachted up from last weekend. Good climbs and good fast downhills make for good times also some nice cool creek crossings. Definitly keep your eyes open as it can be easy to lose the main trail and get off on a 3 mile sidetrip like I did, prob. should have done a little more homework before heading out.
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Summary: This weekend was the first I've ridden Stonewall Falls since the changes in '07. 11.5 miles of flowing singletrack with many rises and falls, with most of the trail traversing the mountainsides, following the contour nicely. There are many short climbs, with a couple that were steep and loose enough to force me down to the granny gears. But every climb is rewarded, with some exhilerating downhill twisting through the woods. The final 3+ miles are almost all downhill, with only one or two stiff climbs. Add in the short side trails and you can get almost 13 miles out of this loop.
In the spring, there are several small stream crossings. Most are little splashes, but the last three over Stonewall Creek were deep enough to have to walk. The last was over knee deep, and COLD. Very refreshing !
Recommended Route: Counter-clockwise is the way to go. If you can, loosen up / warm up before you hit the trail as there is little time once you are on the trail. Teh trail starts about a hundred yards past the gate off the FS road from the parking area. The steady climb begins right at the start. Even with the ebb and flow of the trail, you are steadily working your way up about 800 feet in elevation over the first 7-8 miles fo the trail. There are several points on the trail for breathers if needed, many of them very scenic.
At the 3.5 mile point, you can bear to the left to shorten the trail to 5 miles or so, ending up at Stonewall Falls. At about 8 miles, you can bail to the right, and head back down the FS road about 2.5 miles. I reccommend you stick with the singletrack, heading back down the mountain to the same ending as the first bailout, at Stonewall Falls. You'll enjoy the stream crossings, rhododendren tunnels, and some nice fast downhills.
Overall a great Fun Factor trail. I did the 11.5 mile route in 1 hour, 32 minutes, so you can get a nice ride in without too much time. Add in White Twister if you want more miles.
Other recommended trails in the same area: White Twister; 4.2 miles of fast and fun singletrack
Sandy Ford Trail; 17 miles of some narrow, technical, gut busting climbs and descents. Not marked well, though.
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Summary: It’s been at least 3 years since I rode this trail. At the time it consisted of a boring service road climb for a few miles followed by a pretty fun descent back to the falls. Oh how it’s changed. With the newly added trails, the service road is all but eliminated. It’s replaced with a series of short climbs and descents that have fantastic flow. The longest climbs are no more than a couple of minutes and are usually followed a screaming downhill of equal length. If I had to name a flaw in the trail, I think it comes about 6 or 7 miles in with a straight and very steep and loose climb. I wouldn’t even complain about it if previous 6 miles weren’t so great. You actually get spoiled with the great flow and design.
Not until you hookup with the old trail do you find anything really rough… making it a great trail for hardtails.
At 11 miles (add in another 4+ miles of White Twister), it’s well worth the drive from Atlanta. Ride this trail… You won’t be disappointed!
Other recommended trails in the same area: White Twister... You there, you might as well ride it!
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Summary: Rode this for the first time a few hours ago. Excellent trail. I got to the trail around 2 in the afternoon when it was pretty hot and not very breezy so I just took the exit out, explained below, and called it a day. Nearly all that I did was perfectly clear. There was an area just after a section where it was a down hill that comprised of hard pack dirt with many rocks and a channel cut out down the middle from rain running down, where many plants had random little growths coming into and across the trail but nothing too bad. Just keep an eye out, there are random thorn branches varying from fore arm height down to ankle height that can get a tad annoying but nothing too bad.
It is a nice mix of medium-long climbs with a few near the end that get pretty steep on loose dirt, to then short flats to catch your breath which then transitions into fast and fun downhills. There are a few creek crossings, 1 was around 2+feet across and running but 3 others were dried up or barley a trickle. This is deffinately a must ride trail that's close to town but makes you feel like your completely isolated.
Just keep your head up at all times, can switch from uphill to screaming downhill weaving between trees in an instant. It is not extremely demanding physicaly or mentally/skill(y?) but it is a very fun and instant satisfaction/reward type of trail.
Recommended Route: There is a large brown state forest sign on old 441 that you can't miss that designates the road. Just follow the gravel road for a while and you will see a small post sign showing the way to the small parking lot. If you go on a weekend or some time that could be busy I would suggest parking in one of the small off-shoots of the main road. I saw a few spots that look like they are just alternate parking spaces and not access to anything, then just ride up the road to the trail heads of white twister and a few hundred feet further to stonewall.
Stonewall- When you pull into the parking lot you will see a metal gate to the right, ride around it and the trail entrance is on the left maybe 100 feet after the gate. It is marked by a state forest post sign. You really can't get lost here, it is all a straight forward singletrack. After several miles, guessing around 5-8, there is a post and a split in the trail. Path to the right is an exit/dump out, go for 150 or so feet and then hits the fire road that stonewall starts off of, ride that for 3 mies pretty much all downhill and takes you right back to where you started. To the left it says "trail" just assuming the it continues.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Live in Tampa, FL where I have ridden a bunch, have a lake house up in the area but have only been riding on roads (paved and gravel), as well as meesing around in small oath cutting into the woods. But this is is the first real trail I have ridden up here.
So I gave it a 3 for technical based off of places like Alafia(IMBA Epic) and Carter's Park in FL I ride mainly which both have many diamonds and up to double black diamond trails being a 5 chilli technically demanding. Then I gave it 4 for aerobic because in the heat when I was riding I would say 5 but I imagine in the morning/before noon it wouldn't be quite a lung frier. Just be a little careful on the downhill sections, many time they come to sharp turn or rock garden out from a blind turn.
Can't wait to get back out there and do the full trail + white twister.
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Summary: The Stonewall Trail had a major rework in early 2007 and is better than ever. The long climb on the old Forest Service road has been replaced with singletrack. This has made the loop appr. 11 miles long now, up from 8 miles previously. See the review by Lester for a good description of the trail. SORBA and the USFS are continuing to make improvements to the area. I have been riding this trail for over 10 years and the rework required due to power line construction has turned it into one of the best trails in Georgia. If you quit riding this trail due to the power line construction, its time to come back and enjoy a fine singletrack trail.
Recommended Route: Go 200 yards past the gate and turn left onto the single-track. The trail has multiple "splits" that allow easier or more difficult options. Also there is an Exit at the white post if you need to cut your ride short. The trail now has mileage markers. As in the past, you will go by the waterfall about 1/2 mile before finishing.
Other recommended trails in the same area: The White Twister Trail starts from the same parking lot as Stonewall and it's appr 4.5 miles long. Combine both for a great day of riding. Also the Stoneplace Trail is in the Tallulah Gorge State Park about 7 or 8 miles south of Stonewall on 441/23. The Jackrabbit Trail area near Hiwassee are also offer great riding with trails for almost anyone.
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