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Winding Stairs Mountain Bike Trail
Dahlonega, Georgia
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:   |
4 trail reviews |
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Status: updated 11/18/11 by mtbgreg1 |
Difficulty:  Advanced |
| Length: 19 miles | Global Rank: #791 |
| Tread: Fire Road | Configuration: Loop |
| Ridden: 13 | Wishlist: 4 |
| Avg. Speed: 8.39 mph | Avg. Time: 1hr 46min |
| Elevation Gain/Loss: +2,885/-2,746 ft | |
 1 trail check-ins |
Directions:
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Description: A forest road loop with gnarly climbs and incredible views. Head up on FS 28 past the 4H camp and the US Army Ranger training camp. Continue up Cooper Gap Rd / FS 80 to the top of Cooper Gap and the Canada Creek loop parking area (the Appalachian trail also crosses here). Make a left on FS 42 and ride on the ridge above 3,000 feet with great views on either side. Continue on FS 42 to Winding Stair Gap and go left on FS 77 and enjoy the 4 mile (steep) downhill back to your car. Not much traffic and great views.
Description: A forest road loop with gnarly climbs and incredible views. Head up on FS 28 past the 4H camp and the US Army Ranger training camp. Continue up Cooper Gap Rd / FS 80 to the top of Cooper Gap and the Canada Creek loop parking area (the Appalachian trail also crosses here). Make a left on FS 42 and ride on the ridge above 3,000 feet with great views on either side. Continue on FS 42 to Winding Stair Gap and go left on FS 77 and enjoy the 4 mile (steep) downhill back to your car. Not much traffic and great views.
added on April 13, 2009 by 
SIMILAR TRAILS
Riders who liked this mountain bike trail also liked:Jones Creek Ridge Trail in Dahlonega
Jake Mountain Trails in Dahlonega
Lake Russell Loop in Cornelia
Bear Creek in Ellijay
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by thatsnogood on July 25, 2010
From below: I was one of the guys on a cross bike. Only disadvantage of riding a cyclocross bike on a gravel grind like this was the sketchy downhill sections. Lowest gear I had in the bag was 38x26, but was plenty enough to manage most of the uphill. I got caught walking on the last pitch before the first peak, man it was SO STEEP there. Just a nice gravel grind.
* Review edited 7/25/2010
reviewed by ckdake on July 25, 2010
The views aren't photo-worthy in the middle of the summer when trees are in full foliage, but this is still a nice ride! The long continuous uphill gives you plenty of time to put your head down and crank out the 3000+ ft of elevation gain, and the downhill is fast and quick. I rode it on a mountian bike today, but the two guys I rode with did cyclocross bikes and still had a good time.
reviewed by mtbgreg1 on January 19, 2010
Did this ride yesterday, and dang was it intense! The road was soggy from rain and seriously destroyed any momentum, so that most likely increased the difficulty significantly. This ride has some killer climbs to start off with, coupled with some amazing views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The up and down along the ridge was a gorgeous ride. Wish there was legal singletrack up that high to ride. Anyhow, when the downhill came, it came quickly and was BLAST to come bombing down FS77. Maybe the fast I've ever gone off pavement. All in all, a killer ride! I was inclined to give this a 4 star rating simply because it's not singletrack, but if ever a Fire Road ride deserved 5 stars, this is it!
Similar Trail: Cooper Creek, anything on a forest service road, Bull Mountain
reviewed by floyd_r_turbo on May 30, 2009
I usually start this trail at the entrance to the 5th Ranger Training Battalion Camp Frank Merrill on Camp Washega Rd. Heading uphill, this is the start of the 34k Ranger Mtn bike race, going east or right facing the Ranger Camp. Its a fairly steady climb of over 6k getting progressively more difficult at 5 - 6 k point. Taking a left on Forest Service road 42 you continue to climb but not as steep with some gliding. Eventually you'll run along the top ridge and take a left fork down Winding Stair. Be cautious, it's steep downhill and fast and can be muddy just below the fork if it's been raining but then turns coarse gravel and fast downhill. You're taking Forest Service Rd 42 to left on FS77 and then left on FS28 back to entrance to Camp Frank Merrill. That's 34k or about 19.5 - 21 miles. You'll go by Camp Wahsega at the 30k point and then 4k of steep uphill for the last section before a short flat before the camp and Mt Zion Church which some people park at to ride this loop.
