|
|
|
|
|
||
Sourwood Mountain Bike Trail
Cornelia, Georgia
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:   |
5 trail reviews |
|
Status: updated 7/23/10 by GoldenGoose |
Difficulty:  Intermediate |
| Length: 12 miles | Global Rank: #682 |
| Tread: Singletrack | Configuration: Out & Back |
| Ridden: 7 | Wishlist: 3 |
Directions:
To view directions to Sourwood mountain bike trail, please login. If
you don't have an account, sign up now: it's free, only takes a minute, and gives you access to tons of other rad features.
Description: I seriously recommend riding this as an out-and-back in order to not get
lost. The map I was operating off of (out of Jim Parham's "off the beaten
track") was incorrect, and the sparse road signage did not help, turning
what would have been my last 40 min loop into a 4 hour nightmare!
However, that being said this contains some incredible singletrack, great
views, great descents, and an awesome ride! The quality of the singletrack
on this trail is excellent, unlike the Ladyslipper trail. While ladyslipper's
"singletrack" runs down old road beds, this is beautiful purpose-built trail.
Description: I seriously recommend riding this as an out-and-back in order to not get
lost. The map I was operating off of (out of Jim Parham's "off the beaten
track") was incorrect, and the sparse road signage did not help, turning
what would have been my last 40 min loop into a 4 hour nightmare!
However, that being said this contains some incredible singletrack, great
views, great descents, and an awesome ride! The quality of the singletrack
on this trail is excellent, unlike the Ladyslipper trail. While ladyslipper's
"singletrack" runs down old road beds, this is beautiful purpose-built trail.
added on June 10, 2009 by 
SIMILAR TRAILS
Riders who liked this mountain bike trail also liked:Stanley Gap in Blue Ridge
Pinhoti Trail in Dalton
Flat Creek Loop in Blue Ridge
Jones Creek Ridge Trail in Dahlonega
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by GoldenGoose on July 23, 2010
This is some of the best true singletrack in the area and should not be missed. Once it was only open to hikers. Now, the Lake Russel WMA decided to open this trail and Lake Russel Loop up to bikes. Sourwood is VERY tight and it's easy to miss the entrances. Most people ride it clockwise and that entrance is on the left side of FS 92 just before you cross a small creek. Keep your eyes open as the sign is REALLY small. The marker for this trail says "155". The exit is about a mile down FS 92 just as you pass another creek. The map I have from natgeomaps.com lists the trail as 2.7miles and my bike computer seems to agree. Expect lots of tight, technical riding with a few hard climbs and downhills. About halfway through the trail you'll cross over Nancytown Rd so don't be thrown off. Just find the trail on the other side of the road and keep riding. You'll come to a sign that will detour you to the Nancytown Creek falls if you'd like a rest or you can turn right and head to the end. If you want to quickly add this trail to Ladyslipper you can make a left at the exit and continue up FS92 until you see 191 on your right behind the gate. That will connect up to Ladyslipper and you can continue your ride.
Similar Trail: Dwelling at Blankets Creek.
reviewed by calebgaines on February 20, 2010
Rode this trail today with a buddy and it was awesome. Hiked it once so I had an idea of where to go. Trail is in great shape. And yeah, it was about 4 miles according to my GPS. Tacked on Lake Russell Loop to finish out the day. Which was also in great shape!
reviewed by mtbgreg1 on November 13, 2009
Did this ride again today, and managed it without getting lost, now that I know where to turn. So if you don't get lost, this is a really fun ride! And like the person right below me said, 4 or 4.5 miles would be a better mileage rating than 12. Sorry about that.
Similar Trail: Jones Creek Trail, Dahlonega
reviewed by RJackson on November 3, 2009
Sourwood Trail is an old hiking trail that is now also available for bikers. Although there are several options, the trail is basically a loop that includes singletrack and old forest service roads. One way to ride is a clockwise loop starting from the Nancytown Lake campground: Turn right onto Nancytown Rd, turn left at the trailhead onto singletrack just before the first bridge. At about 1 mile, the trail emerges onto a gravel road - go straight across the road back onto singletrack - follow the trail another 2 miles as it again emerges onto a gravel road near a small waterfall. Turn right and stay straight on the gravel road back to the parking lot. Great trail in both directions
Similar Trail: Ladyslipper and Lake Russel Loop are nearby and can be joined with Sourwood for about a 14-15 mile loop.
reviewed by steel36 on July 21, 2009
Thanks to Goo's review I decided to brave this trail today. It was fantastic local fun! I have to believe more would the Lake Russell system if it had decent signage. It's terrible. So, I went exploring and my route went like this: (all distances from parking lot) go right until gravel fork, take left on 92, go up road, after about a mile, you'll see a trail that turns off road uphill to the right. Follow this trail through the forest until you reach a gravel road again (3.5miles into ride). Take right onto it (it's 591) and travel less than .5 mile back to original fork you took and go straight back to parking lot. Total trip for us was 4 miles. Don't know how Goo got 12 out of it, unless it was the 4-hr debacle. Think I'm going to try and add some markings to this trail. Will update w/ instructions if I do. It loses a star for lack of signage.
Similar Trail: Maybe a narrower and more downhill version of Gainesville College's trail.
