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Sope Creek Mountain Bike Trail
Sandy Springs, Georgia
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:   |
27 trail reviews |
|
Status: updated 10/2/11 by cracker302 |
Difficulty:  Intermediate |
| Length: 6 miles | Global Rank: #1822 |
| Tread: Singletrack | Configuration: Network |
| Ridden: 143 | Wishlist: 29 |
| Avg. Speed: 5.98 mph | Avg. Time: 1hr 2min |
| Elevation Gain/Loss: +2,499/-2,689 ft | |
 3 trail check-ins |
Directions:
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Description: Mostly wide singletrack and doubletrack. Be courteous to hikers and joggers and control your speed as this area sees heavy traffic on weekends. Nice scenery and a good option for riding close to town.
added in 2003 by guest
Description: Mostly wide singletrack and doubletrack. Be courteous to hikers and joggers and control your speed as this area sees heavy traffic on weekends. Nice scenery and a good option for riding close to town.
added in 2003 by guest 
SIMILAR TRAILS
Riders who liked this mountain bike trail also liked:Bear Creek in Ellijay
Blankets Creek Bicycle Trail in Woodstock
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by alyanne on September 4, 2011
I love this trail! You can park at top or bottom, and I did see some weirdos starting at the top. The beauty of this trail is the long downhill, close intown location, and river side approach. The track is well worn and wide. Only negative (could be positive) is that it is rather short. In that respect, it was good for me as a novice. True downhill, but not a lot of tricky technical stuff or large obstacles, so its great to cut your teeth for beginners. Railroad ties at the head were intimidating to start (I walked past) but flew down them on the decent. just try not to plow down any hikers!
Similar Trail: Yellow River
reviewed by Sizzlin_Weasel on July 21, 2011
This trail has hints of Bear Creek and Raccoon Mountain. It is fast in spots with the occasional climb. Don't under estimate it. The trail is wide in spots and then gets thin. The terrain is similar to a baseball infield. Lean to much on hard tires and you will slip and fall. My favorite part is the last part that blazes down the hill similar to a Roller Coaster. Glad to have this in my backyard.
Similar Trail: Raccoon Mountain
reviewed by dallan1 on April 6, 2011
After you pony up the $3 to park, get unloaded and cruise through the hundreds of people jogging the main jogging paths, you come to a pretty long uphill climb splitting off the main path to the left. The work is worth it though because it's a great time coming back. There's not much technical here, trail flows pretty well with a few tricky climbs over erosion control timbers. I wouldn't go here on a weekend, but a weekday with no-one out here is a blast and its just 10 miles from midtown!
reviewed by trek7k on January 31, 2011
I can't believe I've never reviewed this trail! Been riding Sope Creek off and on for years and things have certainly changed a lot. Overall I have to rate this trail low because there isn't a lot of singletrack available to bikers (though that will change soon) and because the hikers and joggers really aren't very friendly to bikers. The terrain is good - a few nice ups and downs - but overall the riding is a little boring.
reviewed by ChainSuckSux on January 27, 2011
This is the first trail system I ever mountain biked on 21 years ago. It had a great vibe then. Most if not all trails were open to bikers, and it was a fun place to ride and meet up with friends. I stopped riding here about 10 years ago, because it became inconvenient to my work location, all the side trails were off limits, the one and only main out and back trail became too eroded, and there were a number of jerk walker/runner types making the experience not worth the hassle. I rode here back in November of 2010, and I loved the new improvements made. Very well built alternate trails, although the bi-directional was a little unnerving, because you can get going really fast and you just don't know when your going to come across people and their kids wondering all over the bike sections. I went during the week so it was not crowded. I would imagine that the weekends are still very crowded, so I will avoid it on the weekends. I had a nice time and longed for the days when the rest of the trails were still open. All this being said, if you like riding here then you (myself included) need to get involved with not only preserving what is still legal here, but also trying to get more access for building MTB only trails. The local hikers still overshadow this place with their distain for mountain bikers, and make this place unwelcoming. It's a great place to ride but it still needs lots of work. Great near the city ride
Similar Trail: Blankets Creek, sorta
reviewed by clmyrick on January 27, 2011
As the trail steward for Sope Creek and the guy trying like hell to get more trails built and opened to bikes, I beg you DO NOT RIDE THE SIDE TRAILS. They are off-limits to bikes and are so signed. Stay on the main double track trail that goes from the Booty Loop (gravel trail) to Sibley Pond. We have a regulation in Washington DC right now that, once passed, will open 9 miles of trail to MTB. I expect that occur by Fall 2011. If you ride the side trails, people DO send emails to the NPS and they urge the NPS to ban MTB altogether. Trust me, I see every email. How can you help? Info at www.sopecreektrails.com. Come to workdays I post, be courteous to ALL trail users. Don't ride the side trails. Most of all, send a monthly email to the park superintendent (info on the SCT website) and thank them for the work they are doing to promote mountain biking. Want more info? Email me at charles@atlantaoutfitters.com. Thanks! Remember....www.sopecreektrails.com and on Facebook at 'Sope Creek Trails Atlanta.'
reviewed by SpyderRider on January 22, 2011
Dont go through cochran shoals sidetrails to get to sope creek, they are really rocky and you cant go at a highspeed.This was in mid december and i was sick with the flu so that made it worse. watch out for dogs and runners on the green way. IM REVIWEING THE SIDETRAILS. great scenery tough! saw some beautiful ducks about 4 feet away.
* Review edited 1/22/2011
reviewed by iluv2mtb on January 20, 2011
Just finished a lunch ride at Sope. Not a bad trail for a quick aerobic workout. Is an out and back, wide but short (2.5 miles one way) trail. Seems to be well maintained. There are a couple technical climbs but overall a moderately difficult/technical ride. Again, good for a quick lunch workout but dont go there expecting to have a ball.
Similar Trail: Big Creek?
reviewed by fat_billy on August 4, 2010
Been off the bike for years and have started riding again. Soap Creek is much improved from the old days. Good single track(somewhat limited) better than the old days. Close to town for a good quick work out. Not much traffic during the week bet the week ends are still packed.
reviewed by mvkubota on July 5, 2010
This trail is eroded in a couple of parts and in other parts there are some steps. On the uphill they may look hard, but you can usually find a way to climb. Many times I just powered through right on the middle of the steps. Those steps on the uphill become drop-offs when going downhill, which makes the ride really nice if you know how to do it. This is an intermediate short trail I ride when I'm tired of the other trails. Note 1: Pay attention to the signs and you will not get lost, I mean, you won't get so lost. Note 2: I would avoid this trail in the weekends because there are a lot of hikers there. You will have to hit the brakes more often than you want.
reviewed by kingjohn08 on June 8, 2010
yo this trail rocks went in the middle of the week so not to many walkers and hikers. Some rocky parts, jumps ,fast downhills, peddling back up not much fun
reviewed by Breakingtaboos on April 23, 2010
Just came back from riding the new trails at Sope Creek and LOVE THEM! Even though these trails are bi-directional and multi use they are a lot of fun. I think they are safer now, they changed/closed some areas that were very eroded. They have new real restrooms now. Sope Creek has a magic other parks don't have. It's worth checking out their new trails!
Similar Trail: Big Creek
reviewed by trenttyre on November 10, 2009
unfortunately this trail is no longer good. The new trail renovation has rendered sope creek extremely dangerous. not in a good way either. the new trail is about a single track and a half inorder to keep erosion down but it is bi-directional and multi use. lots of kids and runners in the afternoon and they like to yell at people on bikes. they feel it is their trail even though they never show up for the trail maintenance! there is so much land here the person who "redesinded it" should be kicked in the nuts! because they ruined it. If they make a loop and keep all the runners on the other trails it would be waaaaaaaay better. it is flowy now but not techy at all ... another mistake
reviewed by fastcat on October 22, 2009
The previous person was right. It was very hard to get into a rhythm with this trail. Some sections of the trail are extremely fun, some are so eroded that you either risk you well being going down or you get off and walk you bike down. The uphill climb is steep but well worth the effort. It is extremely easy to get lost here. There are posted maps along the way, but kinda hard to read, since alot of them don't have a "You are Here" dot.
Similar Trail: blankets creek
reviewed by gtmichaelb on May 15, 2009
There are many side trails and they all lead down to the same area, so you can ride many of them in one visit, good downhill sections, good work out on up-climbs, but can't get a rythm going - you are either going down the trails or up them, good rocky and technical trail. new trails are being carved out and will be ready to ride within the next month, in order to eliminate erosion. these new trails are thinner, and cut out the steps and some rock faces to create a smoother, faster ride.
* Review edited 5/15/2009
reviewed by Frank_C on September 3, 2008
I'm new to MTB, and live about 20 minutes away from this trail. It's a good quick ride, and has a few short stretches of technical areas. Unfortunately, there are quite a few 4x4's and 6x6's along the trail to prevent erosion (they become a bit of a nuisance on the climbs). Watch for hikers, and bidirectional traffic.
reviewed by flamdrag8 on April 8, 2008
The parts of this trail that are most fun are now closed for "natural reconstruction". The parts that are open are pretty short and crowded; especially on the weekends. Nonetheless, it is a great afterwork ride for a technical jaunt. This is good trail to work on your technical skills, as it can be ridden over and over in one day. I recommend it to newbies those wanting something different.
reviewed by jamesgc on November 6, 2007
It's a nice short after work trail. Simple out and back, uphill one way, downhill back. Some of the uphill is quite technical. I loved these trails because i could be out of the house and back in an hour, great for when the nights are getting darker!
reviewed by jamesgc on November 6, 2007
It's a simple out and back trail which can be accessed from either interstate pkwy near I285 or Paper Mill Road. I ride it from the Interstate Pkwy entrance. the outward half is mostly uphill with some nice technical bits which are great. Then the return journey is just a peach, all that climbing was worth it. Once again, it's only a short trail but really great for an afterwork ride, or if you're a bit pressed for time but really need to have a quick blast and get some oxygen in your lungs!
reviewed by zsnau734 on October 17, 2007
Trail is virtually impossible to ride. All climbs and decents have been stairstepped which make it impossible to ride with anytype of flow. Ride the gravel loop to just get some excercise, but the trail isn't worth the trip.
reviewed by mscaldas on May 16, 2007
It was an interesting experience... A little short, but fun anyways. Some descents are very scary, but hey! I'm getting old anyways... what can I say. The erosion and wear and tear make the ride very technical and you gotta be on good condition to climb those walls!
reviewed by madlion on October 29, 2006
When you get to the bottom of the main hill on the gravel path, take a right and follow road for 300 yards or so. Turn right on to the catwalk over the marsh and you will be at the best single track Sope Creek offers. This area is about 4 miles with 2 loops you can ride before going back out to climb the hill to the parking lot. I donít think you are supposed to ride on the wooden catwalk but once you get back in the woods some of the trails are for bikes. I donít know any other way to get there so be careful not to get in trouble. I have never had a problem.
reviewed by twallclimber on September 13, 2006
not bad trail but more challenge and tech if***eep staying on a right trail when you see a fork of trails where you can find a lot of jumps and big rocks...(steps).
reviewed by jbersch on November 2, 2004
Mostly heavily eroded double-track with a few steep climbs over heavily washed out terrain. Very crowded, 2 way traffic with lots of walkers and leashed up dogs. If you're close, it's not bad, but head 7-10 minutes north on 400 to Big Creek if you want a much much better experience.
reviewed by gman on September 25, 2004
Not a bad way to spend an afternoon, though the walkers didn't seem to notice that walking in the middle of the trail is both inpolite and dangerous. Trail was not too challenging, but had enough good downhills to make it fun. Got better when we got lost and went on some of the hiking only singletrack. All in all a good time, but I will try many more area trails before heading back. By the way, I'm new to Atlanta and looking for folks to ride with. If interested email me at grantren@yahoo.com.
Similar Trail: Any Kiwanas Club walking trail.
reviewed by hardtailer on June 13, 2004
A fun quick downhill to the Hooch and then you're racing pedestrians to the turns. Everything but the climb back up to Sope is for beginners. Don't complain about the $2 parking fee. Trails are far and few to come by. Be thankful for what we have being so close to the city or buy the property to blaze your own trails. Hell, you watch some terrible $8.50 movie with that Ashton kid. Maybe parks should charge the same.
Similar Trail: Yellow River
reviewed by adhart on April 15, 2004
Started from the to of the trail, not the Hooch entrance. Pretty fast riding on the way down with some really technical, rocky downers. Wouldn't reccomend this one to your newbie friend, although there may be some alternate routes around that stuff. Lots of fun on the way down but burned on the way back. The bottom ends up at Cochran Shoals on the Hooch. Good riding but it hasn't drawn me back...yet.
