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Georgia International Horse Park Mountain Bike Trail
Conyers, Georgia
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:   |
27 trail reviews |
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Status: updated 2/4/12 by 143CMEC |
Difficulty:  Intermediate |
| Length: 8 miles | Global Rank: #503 |
| Tread: Singletrack | Configuration: Network |
| Ridden: 209 | Wishlist: 74 |
| Avg. Speed: 7.02 mph | Avg. Time: 1hr 22min |
| Elevation Gain/Loss: +1,807/-1,933 ft | |
 2 trail check-ins |
Mountain Bike Trails in the Georgia International Horse Park Trail System
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Description: The GHIP mountain bike trail was built for the 1996 Olympics. The trail was built to race not for sustainability so in the past 14 years there has been a lot of wash out. However SORBA Atlanta has been hard at work. They have been doing reroutes around badly worn areas and have more planned in the near future. The trail is a great technical trail with fast, fun downhills, some gut busting uphills, a few rock gardens and a new ladder bridge over a fallen tree. There are two sides to the trail: the dirt side and the granite side. The trail does cross horse paths so keep an eye out for them. SORBA also has some beginners trails in the works. It is a great place to ride with great scenery and nothing but the sounds of nature, once you get back into the trails.
added in 2003 by 
SIMILAR TRAILS
Riders who liked this mountain bike trail also liked:Blankets Creek Bicycle Trail in Woodstock
Bear Creek in Ellijay
Chicopee Woods in Gainesville
Dauset Trails Nature Center in Jackson
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by Thursday on February 3, 2012
The new beginner trail is definitely worth another visit. It ties into the Steeplechase side and is really a great warmup or novice trail. Also a great place to start a road ride. Lots of good roads in north Rockdale county. Stop by C Town just down the road to get supplies.
* Review edited 2/3/2012
reviewed by rwcameron66 on December 24, 2011
Great trail with mixture of everything you want in beautiful scenic setting on right side of rode. Ride the left side of rode for more technical difficulty.
Similar Trail: Daucet trail
reviewed by Slee_Stack on October 2, 2011
I don't understand the fascination with this trail system. I guess its a different strokes for different folks thing. The Steeple Loop was fun. The granite loop was OK, but frankly the rock face parts were bleh. As mentioned prior, loose pine straw and rubble on top of slickrock is NOT fun, its just dangerous. Both loops are pretty short so you have to do laps for any kind of length. If you live close, its worth a look, but SO many better trail systems are all over the place within an hour of Atlanta.
reviewed by mtbgreg1 on September 15, 2011
This is a super fun trail! I thoroughly enjoyed my time here. Most of the trails in the Southeast tend to have the same sort of rhythym and flow (SORBA stuff), but GIHP was very different, well, because it wasn't built by Sorba. As a result, you'll find some much rougher, rootier sections, drops, some fast, steep bombs, big swooping turns, and oh yeh: the slickrock! I highly recommend it.
reviewed by coachk on September 14, 2011
Bada$$ trail. Probably one of my favorite all time. Few short steep climbs and some technical stuff and tons of fast flow.
reviewed by cracker302 on June 12, 2011
I would rate the steeple side a 4 out of 5 for the signage but it was a great intermediate ride. I would rate the granite side a 3 out of 5 and consider it more on the expert side b/c of the loose rocks and slick pine straw in spots and unmarked areas on the rocks. It was great ride over all ,got lost at first on the trail, rode about 12 miles total and we were beat at the end of the day. Would revisit without any doubt in my mind.
reviewed by flamdrag8 on May 3, 2011
I have ridden the steeplechase side of this trail and it is super clean and fast in areas. There are little short hills that feel like they go straight up in places. This is a fun trail and definitely worth putting on your to-ride-list.
Similar Trail: blanket's creek
reviewed by trek7k on February 2, 2011
Fun trail with some exposed granite sections you won't find many other places. If you live in the area and haven't ridden here once, put it on your to-do list. That isn't to say it's easy - most riders will find parts to be challenging.
reviewed by bikegaucho on September 1, 2010
rode both sides on monday and good times were had. i cant say that the granite side was fun on a rigid ss but still glad i rode it. the worn paint on the rock def makes it confusing at some points. the dirt side was a blast! some great flow sections with some burners thrown in. dont look for the top while climbing these, just do it, you'll be rewarded. look out for xc runners on monday afternoons...they swarm these trails. overall, it was good times! $HARDTAIL HOOLIGANS$
Similar Trail: chicopee
reviewed by Loonytik on August 14, 2010
I rode both the "granite loop" and the new trails today. The trails are rough but they are mountain bike trails so I have no problem with that. The one criticism I do have is they are POORLY marked. The intersections are so confusing that I had no idea which way to go. I just guessed most of the time. Some intersections has 6 different directions of travel or blue/red/orange marks on 5 different trees. Which way do you go? If you're in the area and have your bike go ride it. It's worth saying you rode the Olympic area(even though the actual Olympic course is long gone), but don' t make a special trip here.
reviewed by MTBbasher on April 13, 2010
We rode the new reroutes as well this past Sunday and they were a lot of fun, especially the ladder bridge over the huge fallen tree. There needs to be more of that. I've spoken with people who have ridden the forest side of the trails years back (when it was fairly new) and always have negative things to say about the trails. My feeling is that the trails will never be the same without a lot of maitenance. Plus, who wants to ride a perfectly smooth trail? I, for one don't. I like the technical descents/ascents when you have pick your lines and shoot for the smoothest part of the trail. I'll step off my soap-box now, kthanxbye.
* Review edited 4/13/2010
reviewed by rande11699 on March 1, 2010
Rode the new dirt side reroutes on Saturday. They are great. There is a ladder bridge/pyramid over a fallen tree. The downhill section of the reroute gives you a good dose of speed and swoop. I enjoyed the trail much more than last time I was there.
reviewed by rande11699 on February 23, 2010
Just an update for those interested. SORBA has been out there doing some reroutes to make the trail more sustainable and to get rid of the bad washed out places. It is not done yet and there is much work to be done still. But some of it may be open this week so just keep your eyes peeled if you are over there. Also the rumor is there is going to eventually be some beginner trails cut over there also.
* Review edited 3/1/2010
reviewed by sntruitt on January 3, 2010
Does anyone know where downhill course is located that was made this year for the GT race?
reviewed by GoldenGoose on August 23, 2009
Just a quick update...they have added a downhill slalom course for the recent GT mountain bike races that is supposed to become permanent. The racers gave very positive reviews on the course and the table top at the end definitely provides for ample air time.
* Review edited 8/23/2009
reviewed by jneuff on June 23, 2009
Fun ride, 2 loops which together are about 10 miles. One loop is fun tight singletrack, and the one on the side of the road opposite the parking area is where the slickrock riding is. A very cool trail definitely worth checking out.
Similar Trail: The slickrock riding is similar to Dupont State Forest in NC, at times.
reviewed by GoldenGoose on May 24, 2009
GA slickrock! Well, maybe 1/4 mile of it anyways. These trails run through the Olympic horsepark in Conyers which also happens to be in ROCKdale County. I think you can figure out why they named it that from the picks. These are two sweet trails that will both bust your lungs on the climbs and leaving you smiling on the downhills. The advanced side is definitely more technical. When you consider that they were doing multiple loops at HIGH speed, this place will make you respect what the Olympic athletes went through in 1996. Great trail.
Similar Trail: Blankets Creek Chicopee Woods
reviewed by cbauza on April 11, 2009
Very challenging ride. Do both loops b/c they are very different.
reviewed by RunandBike0519 on September 3, 2008
This trail can easily replace any work out routine you having going on first off. Some of the climbs are nasty, but overall the trail is great. However it is a little disapointing how it is not more popular and maintained. Make sure you take a right and follow the fence when approaching the woods on the granite side.
* Review edited 9/3/2008
reviewed by zsnau734 on July 7, 2008
Great trail, killer climbs. A bit tough to follow once you "cross the road" to the slickrock side. Worth the drive to conyers.
Similar Trail: Blankets, Jake Mountain, Bull Mountain
reviewed by trent34 on June 6, 2008
Hands down the best trail in the atlanta area. This is a VERY FAST trail with killer climbs. The Climbs are not too long though but not too short either. Super steep downs and sweet obsticals. There used to be a down hill with three 3ft drops in a row but it has been closed. on the granite side you have to payattention on which direction yu go because the paint on the ground has worn off. And this trail is free to ride now it used to be like 10 bucks. About 9 miles here and it will put your ass in shape!
Similar Trail: Blankets Creek, which is a killer ride too!
reviewed by s1ng1etrack on March 17, 2008
Sweet ride. A few nice climbs which are rewarded by fast twisty downhill. The rock face climb is steep but short. Very cool mountain biking. Would be a nasty race course. What is the story on the cross memorial on the other side of the field across from the parking area?
reviewed by sideshow75 on January 26, 2008
Amazing trail, worthy of the Olympics. Nearly 1000 feet of climb with at least an equal amount of exciting descents. Great flow, wide and fast, takes alot of aerobic fitness to take full advantage of this trail, but even a beginner can enjoy this ride. The exposed granite on the opposite sid eof the road from the wooded trail is steep, sticky and unforgiving...who could ask for more. Nothing closer to slick rock on this part of the country.
reviewed by singleblade1 on January 20, 2007
I drove out to Conyers and was really surprised by the trail system. For my first visit, I road the western (woods) loop. It was fun and challenging. There are some really tough climbs for intermmediate riders, but the experts made them look easy! I had to walk up 1 hill on both loops that I did. The trail system is well marked and in good shape. There are roots all over the trail, but it is off road mountain biking. I don't expect flat smooth trails everywhere I go. I will go back again and try the Granite section. Great place to ride.
* Review edited 1/20/2007
Similar Trail: Yellow River, Blankets Creek
reviewed by R3 on September 10, 2006
This trail is a great challenge of technical and aerobic abilities. Both the forest and granite sides have long, steep climbs and the granite side will surely test your technical skills.
reviewed by Rebus on December 15, 2005
After riding for 2 years in Colorado, this was the first trail I hit when I moved back to Georgia. It was a fun ride but really kicked my butt. The singletrack on the front side was completely covered by leaves in most spots, but we managed our way through and had fun doing it. The granite slickrock was a challenge and the hills past that were hard. I'm used to having switchbacks take me up a steep slope, but this trail just gave you a path straight up. At about the 6 mile mark I was pretty wasted, but had enough energy to do some creative stuff on the last section of slickrock. I plan on going back once it opens back up in Spring.
Similar Trail: Blankets' South Loop
reviewed by getonthetrail on December 26, 2003
This trail is great! This trail provides it all, fast single-track, technical up and downs, technical rock and creek crossings. I rode this trail several times before leaving ATL for VA. I miss it!
Similar Trail: Yellow River, Chicopee Woods, Bull Mountain, Fountainhead Regional Park
