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A winding dirt path through a sparse, wooded area. The landscape features dry grass and small bushes, with scattered trees in the background under a cloudy sky.
A close-up image of a green bicycle frame with the word "7000" and the logo for "singletracks." In the background, a camping tent is visible, suggesting an outdoor setting. A water bottle can also be seen near the bicycle.
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On my way down to the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/blog/?p=745">Ocala Spring Break Fat Tire Festival</a> I stopped off in <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&amp;state_id=10&amp;city_get=Macon">Macon</a> to ride a couple of the local trails. Despite its location smack in the middle of the state, Macon actually has a fairly diverse mountain bike scene spread across 5 main trail areas.

The first trail I rode was at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1417">Arrowhead Park</a> where locals claim "you'll feel like you're riding in the mountains." The trailhead signage backed up the claim with the stats: a 6 mile loop with 650 of climbing. My general rule is that if a trail has 100 feet of climbing (or more) per mile then it has to have some good climbs (and descents) and Arrowhead did not disappoint.

At the beginning of the trail I climbed up a fairly long hill which was quickly followed by a nice downhill section. After the first mile or so and another climb I came upon something I hadn't seen before--a trail through a barn. Yep, the trail winds its way past a barn, makes a sharp 180 degree turn, then goes directly through the middle of the structure. Only in Georgia ;)

<img width="500" height="375" alt="barn.jpg" id="image752" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/barn.jpg" />

The middle of the ride seemed to give a bit of a break from climbing but on the back side near the lake it felt as if the steep climbs came out of nowhere. Then, quickly and almost without warning, the trail was over--I was back at my car. I only got 5 miles out of the loop, though according to the map posted at the trailhead there were a few other short trails not connected to the main loop.

On my way across town to <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=571">East Macon park</a> I stopped at <a href="http://www.bbqrestaurantreviews.com/2/29/BBQ-Restaurants/JLs-Open-Pit-Bar-B-Q.html">JL's Open Pit BBQ</a> which turned out to be VERY good 'que indeed. Past the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and downtown I found East Macon park which was eerily quiet and virtually deserted. The trails here turned out to be pretty neglected as well except for the teenagers (illegally) riding their 4-wheelers in the park. Overall the trails were mostly rideable, though at times I had to dismount to get around fallen trees.

<img width="484" height="362" alt="emacon.jpg" id="image751" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/emacon.jpg" />

Macon also boasts three other mountain bike trails which I didn't get to ride--North Macon park, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1616">Children's Home</a>, and the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=2477">LH Thomson factory trails</a>. Yep, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/mtbreviews/Thomson/77.html">Thomson</a>, the stem and seat post guys, are located in little ole Macon and I'm sure they are a major force in keeping Macon on the MTB map. Back in February the local bike club hosted Thompson appreciation day though sadly many of the weekend activities were rained out.

Yep, sometimes mountain biking shows up in some of the most unexpected places and it pays to keep up with the latest dirt. Next time you're heading down the interstate consider the local mountain bike trails you might be passing--some might just be worth a stop.
On my way down to the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/blog/?p=745">Ocala Spring Break Fat Tire Festival</a> I stopped off in <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&amp;state_id=10&amp;city_get=Macon">Macon</a> to ride a couple of the local trails. Despite its location smack in the middle of the state, Macon actually has a fairly diverse mountain bike scene spread across 5 main trail areas.

The first trail I rode was at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1417">Arrowhead Park</a> where locals claim "you'll feel like you're riding in the mountains." The trailhead signage backed up the claim with the stats: a 6 mile loop with 650 of climbing. My general rule is that if a trail has 100 feet of climbing (or more) per mile then it has to have some good climbs (and descents) and Arrowhead did not disappoint.

At the beginning of the trail I climbed up a fairly long hill which was quickly followed by a nice downhill section. After the first mile or so and another climb I came upon something I hadn't seen before--a trail through a barn. Yep, the trail winds its way past a barn, makes a sharp 180 degree turn, then goes directly through the middle of the structure. Only in Georgia ;)

<img width="500" height="375" alt="barn.jpg" id="image752" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/barn.jpg" />

The middle of the ride seemed to give a bit of a break from climbing but on the back side near the lake it felt as if the steep climbs came out of nowhere. Then, quickly and almost without warning, the trail was over--I was back at my car. I only got 5 miles out of the loop, though according to the map posted at the trailhead there were a few other short trails not connected to the main loop.

On my way across town to <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=571">East Macon park</a> I stopped at <a href="http://www.bbqrestaurantreviews.com/2/29/BBQ-Restaurants/JLs-Open-Pit-Bar-B-Q.html">JL's Open Pit BBQ</a> which turned out to be VERY good 'que indeed. Past the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and downtown I found East Macon park which was eerily quiet and virtually deserted. The trails here turned out to be pretty neglected as well except for the teenagers (illegally) riding their 4-wheelers in the park. Overall the trails were mostly rideable, though at times I had to dismount to get around fallen trees.

<img width="484" height="362" alt="emacon.jpg" id="image751" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/emacon.jpg" />

Macon also boasts three other mountain bike trails which I didn't get to ride--North Macon park, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1616">Children's Home</a>, and the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=2477">LH Thomson factory trails</a>. Yep, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/mtbreviews/Thomson/77.html">Thomson</a>, the stem and seat post guys, are located in little ole Macon and I'm sure they are a major force in keeping Macon on the MTB map. Back in February the local bike club hosted Thompson appreciation day though sadly many of the weekend activities were rained out.

Yep, sometimes mountain biking shows up in some of the most unexpected places and it pays to keep up with the latest dirt. Next time you're heading down the interstate consider the local mountain bike trails you might be passing--some might just be worth a stop.
On my way down to the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/blog/?p=745">Ocala Spring Break Fat Tire Festival</a> I stopped off in <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&amp;state_id=10&amp;city_get=Macon">Macon</a> to ride a couple of the local trails. Despite its location smack in the middle of the state, Macon actually has a fairly diverse mountain bike scene spread across 5 main trail areas.

The first trail I rode was at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1417">Arrowhead Park</a> where locals claim "you'll feel like you're riding in the mountains." The trailhead signage backed up the claim with the stats: a 6 mile loop with 650 of climbing. My general rule is that if a trail has 100 feet of climbing (or more) per mile then it has to have some good climbs (and descents) and Arrowhead did not disappoint.

At the beginning of the trail I climbed up a fairly long hill which was quickly followed by a nice downhill section. After the first mile or so and another climb I came upon something I hadn't seen before--a trail through a barn. Yep, the trail winds its way past a barn, makes a sharp 180 degree turn, then goes directly through the middle of the structure. Only in Georgia ;)

<img width="500" height="375" alt="barn.jpg" id="image752" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/barn.jpg" />

The middle of the ride seemed to give a bit of a break from climbing but on the back side near the lake it felt as if the steep climbs came out of nowhere. Then, quickly and almost without warning, the trail was over--I was back at my car. I only got 5 miles out of the loop, though according to the map posted at the trailhead there were a few other short trails not connected to the main loop.

On my way across town to <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=571">East Macon park</a> I stopped at <a href="http://www.bbqrestaurantreviews.com/2/29/BBQ-Restaurants/JLs-Open-Pit-Bar-B-Q.html">JL's Open Pit BBQ</a> which turned out to be VERY good 'que indeed. Past the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and downtown I found East Macon park which was eerily quiet and virtually deserted. The trails here turned out to be pretty neglected as well except for the teenagers (illegally) riding their 4-wheelers in the park. Overall the trails were mostly rideable, though at times I had to dismount to get around fallen trees.

<img width="484" height="362" alt="emacon.jpg" id="image751" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/emacon.jpg" />

Macon also boasts three other mountain bike trails which I didn't get to ride--North Macon park, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1616">Children's Home</a>, and the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=2477">LH Thomson factory trails</a>. Yep, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/mtbreviews/Thomson/77.html">Thomson</a>, the stem and seat post guys, are located in little ole Macon and I'm sure they are a major force in keeping Macon on the MTB map. Back in February the local bike club hosted Thompson appreciation day though sadly many of the weekend activities were rained out.

Yep, sometimes mountain biking shows up in some of the most unexpected places and it pays to keep up with the latest dirt. Next time you're heading down the interstate consider the local mountain bike trails you might be passing--some might just be worth a stop.
On my way down to the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/blog/?p=745">Ocala Spring Break Fat Tire Festival</a> I stopped off in <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&amp;state_id=10&amp;city_get=Macon">Macon</a> to ride a couple of the local trails. Despite its location smack in the middle of the state, Macon actually has a fairly diverse mountain bike scene spread across 5 main trail areas.

The first trail I rode was at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1417">Arrowhead Park</a> where locals claim "you'll feel like you're riding in the mountains." The trailhead signage backed up the claim with the stats: a 6 mile loop with 650 of climbing. My general rule is that if a trail has 100 feet of climbing (or more) per mile then it has to have some good climbs (and descents) and Arrowhead did not disappoint.

At the beginning of the trail I climbed up a fairly long hill which was quickly followed by a nice downhill section. After the first mile or so and another climb I came upon something I hadn't seen before--a trail through a barn. Yep, the trail winds its way past a barn, makes a sharp 180 degree turn, then goes directly through the middle of the structure. Only in Georgia ;)

<img width="500" height="375" alt="barn.jpg" id="image752" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/barn.jpg" />

The middle of the ride seemed to give a bit of a break from climbing but on the back side near the lake it felt as if the steep climbs came out of nowhere. Then, quickly and almost without warning, the trail was over--I was back at my car. I only got 5 miles out of the loop, though according to the map posted at the trailhead there were a few other short trails not connected to the main loop.

On my way across town to <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=571">East Macon park</a> I stopped at <a href="http://www.bbqrestaurantreviews.com/2/29/BBQ-Restaurants/JLs-Open-Pit-Bar-B-Q.html">JL's Open Pit BBQ</a> which turned out to be VERY good 'que indeed. Past the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and downtown I found East Macon park which was eerily quiet and virtually deserted. The trails here turned out to be pretty neglected as well except for the teenagers (illegally) riding their 4-wheelers in the park. Overall the trails were mostly rideable, though at times I had to dismount to get around fallen trees.

<img width="484" height="362" alt="emacon.jpg" id="image751" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/emacon.jpg" />

Macon also boasts three other mountain bike trails which I didn't get to ride--North Macon park, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1616">Children's Home</a>, and the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=2477">LH Thomson factory trails</a>. Yep, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/mtbreviews/Thomson/77.html">Thomson</a>, the stem and seat post guys, are located in little ole Macon and I'm sure they are a major force in keeping Macon on the MTB map. Back in February the local bike club hosted Thompson appreciation day though sadly many of the weekend activities were rained out.

Yep, sometimes mountain biking shows up in some of the most unexpected places and it pays to keep up with the latest dirt. Next time you're heading down the interstate consider the local mountain bike trails you might be passing--some might just be worth a stop.
An online webpage featuring the logo of singletracks.com, displaying a blue silhouette map of the southeastern United States, specifically highlighting areas of South Carolina and surrounding states. The layout includes navigation links on the left in a yellow sidebar.
On my way down to the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/blog/?p=745">Ocala Spring Break Fat Tire Festival</a> I stopped off in <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&amp;state_id=10&amp;city_get=Macon">Macon</a> to ride a couple of the local trails. Despite its location smack in the middle of the state, Macon actually has a fairly diverse mountain bike scene spread across 5 main trail areas.

The first trail I rode was at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1417">Arrowhead Park</a> where locals claim "you'll feel like you're riding in the mountains." The trailhead signage backed up the claim with the stats: a 6 mile loop with 650 of climbing. My general rule is that if a trail has 100 feet of climbing (or more) per mile then it has to have some good climbs (and descents) and Arrowhead did not disappoint.

At the beginning of the trail I climbed up a fairly long hill which was quickly followed by a nice downhill section. After the first mile or so and another climb I came upon something I hadn't seen before--a trail through a barn. Yep, the trail winds its way past a barn, makes a sharp 180 degree turn, then goes directly through the middle of the structure. Only in Georgia ;)

<img width="500" height="375" alt="barn.jpg" id="image752" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/barn.jpg" />

The middle of the ride seemed to give a bit of a break from climbing but on the back side near the lake it felt as if the steep climbs came out of nowhere. Then, quickly and almost without warning, the trail was over--I was back at my car. I only got 5 miles out of the loop, though according to the map posted at the trailhead there were a few other short trails not connected to the main loop.

On my way across town to <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=571">East Macon park</a> I stopped at <a href="http://www.bbqrestaurantreviews.com/2/29/BBQ-Restaurants/JLs-Open-Pit-Bar-B-Q.html">JL's Open Pit BBQ</a> which turned out to be VERY good 'que indeed. Past the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and downtown I found East Macon park which was eerily quiet and virtually deserted. The trails here turned out to be pretty neglected as well except for the teenagers (illegally) riding their 4-wheelers in the park. Overall the trails were mostly rideable, though at times I had to dismount to get around fallen trees.

<img width="484" height="362" alt="emacon.jpg" id="image751" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/emacon.jpg" />

Macon also boasts three other mountain bike trails which I didn't get to ride--North Macon park, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1616">Children's Home</a>, and the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=2477">LH Thomson factory trails</a>. Yep, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/mtbreviews/Thomson/77.html">Thomson</a>, the stem and seat post guys, are located in little ole Macon and I'm sure they are a major force in keeping Macon on the MTB map. Back in February the local bike club hosted Thompson appreciation day though sadly many of the weekend activities were rained out.

Yep, sometimes mountain biking shows up in some of the most unexpected places and it pays to keep up with the latest dirt. Next time you're heading down the interstate consider the local mountain bike trails you might be passing--some might just be worth a stop.
On my way down to the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/blog/?p=745">Ocala Spring Break Fat Tire Festival</a> I stopped off in <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&amp;state_id=10&amp;city_get=Macon">Macon</a> to ride a couple of the local trails. Despite its location smack in the middle of the state, Macon actually has a fairly diverse mountain bike scene spread across 5 main trail areas.

The first trail I rode was at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1417">Arrowhead Park</a> where locals claim "you'll feel like you're riding in the mountains." The trailhead signage backed up the claim with the stats: a 6 mile loop with 650 of climbing. My general rule is that if a trail has 100 feet of climbing (or more) per mile then it has to have some good climbs (and descents) and Arrowhead did not disappoint.

At the beginning of the trail I climbed up a fairly long hill which was quickly followed by a nice downhill section. After the first mile or so and another climb I came upon something I hadn't seen before--a trail through a barn. Yep, the trail winds its way past a barn, makes a sharp 180 degree turn, then goes directly through the middle of the structure. Only in Georgia ;)

<img width="500" height="375" alt="barn.jpg" id="image752" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/barn.jpg" />

The middle of the ride seemed to give a bit of a break from climbing but on the back side near the lake it felt as if the steep climbs came out of nowhere. Then, quickly and almost without warning, the trail was over--I was back at my car. I only got 5 miles out of the loop, though according to the map posted at the trailhead there were a few other short trails not connected to the main loop.

On my way across town to <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=571">East Macon park</a> I stopped at <a href="http://www.bbqrestaurantreviews.com/2/29/BBQ-Restaurants/JLs-Open-Pit-Bar-B-Q.html">JL's Open Pit BBQ</a> which turned out to be VERY good 'que indeed. Past the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and downtown I found East Macon park which was eerily quiet and virtually deserted. The trails here turned out to be pretty neglected as well except for the teenagers (illegally) riding their 4-wheelers in the park. Overall the trails were mostly rideable, though at times I had to dismount to get around fallen trees.

<img width="484" height="362" alt="emacon.jpg" id="image751" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/emacon.jpg" />

Macon also boasts three other mountain bike trails which I didn't get to ride--North Macon park, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1616">Children's Home</a>, and the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=2477">LH Thomson factory trails</a>. Yep, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/mtbreviews/Thomson/77.html">Thomson</a>, the stem and seat post guys, are located in little ole Macon and I'm sure they are a major force in keeping Macon on the MTB map. Back in February the local bike club hosted Thompson appreciation day though sadly many of the weekend activities were rained out.

Yep, sometimes mountain biking shows up in some of the most unexpected places and it pays to keep up with the latest dirt. Next time you're heading down the interstate consider the local mountain bike trails you might be passing--some might just be worth a stop.
On my way down to the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/blog/?p=745">Ocala Spring Break Fat Tire Festival</a> I stopped off in <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&amp;state_id=10&amp;city_get=Macon">Macon</a> to ride a couple of the local trails. Despite its location smack in the middle of the state, Macon actually has a fairly diverse mountain bike scene spread across 5 main trail areas.

The first trail I rode was at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1417">Arrowhead Park</a> where locals claim "you'll feel like you're riding in the mountains." The trailhead signage backed up the claim with the stats: a 6 mile loop with 650 of climbing. My general rule is that if a trail has 100 feet of climbing (or more) per mile then it has to have some good climbs (and descents) and Arrowhead did not disappoint.

At the beginning of the trail I climbed up a fairly long hill which was quickly followed by a nice downhill section. After the first mile or so and another climb I came upon something I hadn't seen before--a trail through a barn. Yep, the trail winds its way past a barn, makes a sharp 180 degree turn, then goes directly through the middle of the structure. Only in Georgia ;)

<img width="500" height="375" alt="barn.jpg" id="image752" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/barn.jpg" />

The middle of the ride seemed to give a bit of a break from climbing but on the back side near the lake it felt as if the steep climbs came out of nowhere. Then, quickly and almost without warning, the trail was over--I was back at my car. I only got 5 miles out of the loop, though according to the map posted at the trailhead there were a few other short trails not connected to the main loop.

On my way across town to <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=571">East Macon park</a> I stopped at <a href="http://www.bbqrestaurantreviews.com/2/29/BBQ-Restaurants/JLs-Open-Pit-Bar-B-Q.html">JL's Open Pit BBQ</a> which turned out to be VERY good 'que indeed. Past the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and downtown I found East Macon park which was eerily quiet and virtually deserted. The trails here turned out to be pretty neglected as well except for the teenagers (illegally) riding their 4-wheelers in the park. Overall the trails were mostly rideable, though at times I had to dismount to get around fallen trees.

<img width="484" height="362" alt="emacon.jpg" id="image751" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/emacon.jpg" />

Macon also boasts three other mountain bike trails which I didn't get to ride--North Macon park, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1616">Children's Home</a>, and the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=2477">LH Thomson factory trails</a>. Yep, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/mtbreviews/Thomson/77.html">Thomson</a>, the stem and seat post guys, are located in little ole Macon and I'm sure they are a major force in keeping Macon on the MTB map. Back in February the local bike club hosted Thompson appreciation day though sadly many of the weekend activities were rained out.

Yep, sometimes mountain biking shows up in some of the most unexpected places and it pays to keep up with the latest dirt. Next time you're heading down the interstate consider the local mountain bike trails you might be passing--some might just be worth a stop.
A red and silver mountain bike with a sturdy frame, front suspension, and wide tires, positioned on a plain white background.
  1
A circular logo featuring a laurel wreath, with the number "10" prominently displayed in the center. Below, the word "singletracks" is written in a bold, modern font. The color scheme is a muted blue, giving the design a clean and contemporary look.
  1
On my way down to the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/blog/?p=745">Ocala Spring Break Fat Tire Festival</a> I stopped off in <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&amp;state_id=10&amp;city_get=Macon">Macon</a> to ride a couple of the local trails. Despite its location smack in the middle of the state, Macon actually has a fairly diverse mountain bike scene spread across 5 main trail areas.

The first trail I rode was at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1417">Arrowhead Park</a> where locals claim "you'll feel like you're riding in the mountains." The trailhead signage backed up the claim with the stats: a 6 mile loop with 650 of climbing. My general rule is that if a trail has 100 feet of climbing (or more) per mile then it has to have some good climbs (and descents) and Arrowhead did not disappoint.

At the beginning of the trail I climbed up a fairly long hill which was quickly followed by a nice downhill section. After the first mile or so and another climb I came upon something I hadn't seen before--a trail through a barn. Yep, the trail winds its way past a barn, makes a sharp 180 degree turn, then goes directly through the middle of the structure. Only in Georgia ;)

<img width="500" height="375" alt="barn.jpg" id="image752" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/barn.jpg" />

The middle of the ride seemed to give a bit of a break from climbing but on the back side near the lake it felt as if the steep climbs came out of nowhere. Then, quickly and almost without warning, the trail was over--I was back at my car. I only got 5 miles out of the loop, though according to the map posted at the trailhead there were a few other short trails not connected to the main loop.

On my way across town to <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=571">East Macon park</a> I stopped at <a href="http://www.bbqrestaurantreviews.com/2/29/BBQ-Restaurants/JLs-Open-Pit-Bar-B-Q.html">JL's Open Pit BBQ</a> which turned out to be VERY good 'que indeed. Past the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and downtown I found East Macon park which was eerily quiet and virtually deserted. The trails here turned out to be pretty neglected as well except for the teenagers (illegally) riding their 4-wheelers in the park. Overall the trails were mostly rideable, though at times I had to dismount to get around fallen trees.

<img width="484" height="362" alt="emacon.jpg" id="image751" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/emacon.jpg" />

Macon also boasts three other mountain bike trails which I didn't get to ride--North Macon park, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1616">Children's Home</a>, and the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=2477">LH Thomson factory trails</a>. Yep, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/mtbreviews/Thomson/77.html">Thomson</a>, the stem and seat post guys, are located in little ole Macon and I'm sure they are a major force in keeping Macon on the MTB map. Back in February the local bike club hosted Thompson appreciation day though sadly many of the weekend activities were rained out.

Yep, sometimes mountain biking shows up in some of the most unexpected places and it pays to keep up with the latest dirt. Next time you're heading down the interstate consider the local mountain bike trails you might be passing--some might just be worth a stop.
Kona logo featuring the word "KONA" in bold blue letters, set against a black paint splatter background.
On my way down to the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/blog/?p=745">Ocala Spring Break Fat Tire Festival</a> I stopped off in <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&amp;state_id=10&amp;city_get=Macon">Macon</a> to ride a couple of the local trails. Despite its location smack in the middle of the state, Macon actually has a fairly diverse mountain bike scene spread across 5 main trail areas.

The first trail I rode was at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1417">Arrowhead Park</a> where locals claim "you'll feel like you're riding in the mountains." The trailhead signage backed up the claim with the stats: a 6 mile loop with 650 of climbing. My general rule is that if a trail has 100 feet of climbing (or more) per mile then it has to have some good climbs (and descents) and Arrowhead did not disappoint.

At the beginning of the trail I climbed up a fairly long hill which was quickly followed by a nice downhill section. After the first mile or so and another climb I came upon something I hadn't seen before--a trail through a barn. Yep, the trail winds its way past a barn, makes a sharp 180 degree turn, then goes directly through the middle of the structure. Only in Georgia ;)

<img width="500" height="375" alt="barn.jpg" id="image752" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/barn.jpg" />

The middle of the ride seemed to give a bit of a break from climbing but on the back side near the lake it felt as if the steep climbs came out of nowhere. Then, quickly and almost without warning, the trail was over--I was back at my car. I only got 5 miles out of the loop, though according to the map posted at the trailhead there were a few other short trails not connected to the main loop.

On my way across town to <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=571">East Macon park</a> I stopped at <a href="http://www.bbqrestaurantreviews.com/2/29/BBQ-Restaurants/JLs-Open-Pit-Bar-B-Q.html">JL's Open Pit BBQ</a> which turned out to be VERY good 'que indeed. Past the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and downtown I found East Macon park which was eerily quiet and virtually deserted. The trails here turned out to be pretty neglected as well except for the teenagers (illegally) riding their 4-wheelers in the park. Overall the trails were mostly rideable, though at times I had to dismount to get around fallen trees.

<img width="484" height="362" alt="emacon.jpg" id="image751" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/emacon.jpg" />

Macon also boasts three other mountain bike trails which I didn't get to ride--North Macon park, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1616">Children's Home</a>, and the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=2477">LH Thomson factory trails</a>. Yep, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/mtbreviews/Thomson/77.html">Thomson</a>, the stem and seat post guys, are located in little ole Macon and I'm sure they are a major force in keeping Macon on the MTB map. Back in February the local bike club hosted Thompson appreciation day though sadly many of the weekend activities were rained out.

Yep, sometimes mountain biking shows up in some of the most unexpected places and it pays to keep up with the latest dirt. Next time you're heading down the interstate consider the local mountain bike trails you might be passing--some might just be worth a stop.
On my way down to the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/blog/?p=745">Ocala Spring Break Fat Tire Festival</a> I stopped off in <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&amp;state_id=10&amp;city_get=Macon">Macon</a> to ride a couple of the local trails. Despite its location smack in the middle of the state, Macon actually has a fairly diverse mountain bike scene spread across 5 main trail areas.

The first trail I rode was at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1417">Arrowhead Park</a> where locals claim "you'll feel like you're riding in the mountains." The trailhead signage backed up the claim with the stats: a 6 mile loop with 650 of climbing. My general rule is that if a trail has 100 feet of climbing (or more) per mile then it has to have some good climbs (and descents) and Arrowhead did not disappoint.

At the beginning of the trail I climbed up a fairly long hill which was quickly followed by a nice downhill section. After the first mile or so and another climb I came upon something I hadn't seen before--a trail through a barn. Yep, the trail winds its way past a barn, makes a sharp 180 degree turn, then goes directly through the middle of the structure. Only in Georgia ;)

<img width="500" height="375" alt="barn.jpg" id="image752" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/barn.jpg" />

The middle of the ride seemed to give a bit of a break from climbing but on the back side near the lake it felt as if the steep climbs came out of nowhere. Then, quickly and almost without warning, the trail was over--I was back at my car. I only got 5 miles out of the loop, though according to the map posted at the trailhead there were a few other short trails not connected to the main loop.

On my way across town to <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=571">East Macon park</a> I stopped at <a href="http://www.bbqrestaurantreviews.com/2/29/BBQ-Restaurants/JLs-Open-Pit-Bar-B-Q.html">JL's Open Pit BBQ</a> which turned out to be VERY good 'que indeed. Past the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and downtown I found East Macon park which was eerily quiet and virtually deserted. The trails here turned out to be pretty neglected as well except for the teenagers (illegally) riding their 4-wheelers in the park. Overall the trails were mostly rideable, though at times I had to dismount to get around fallen trees.

<img width="484" height="362" alt="emacon.jpg" id="image751" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/emacon.jpg" />

Macon also boasts three other mountain bike trails which I didn't get to ride--North Macon park, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1616">Children's Home</a>, and the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=2477">LH Thomson factory trails</a>. Yep, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/mtbreviews/Thomson/77.html">Thomson</a>, the stem and seat post guys, are located in little ole Macon and I'm sure they are a major force in keeping Macon on the MTB map. Back in February the local bike club hosted Thompson appreciation day though sadly many of the weekend activities were rained out.

Yep, sometimes mountain biking shows up in some of the most unexpected places and it pays to keep up with the latest dirt. Next time you're heading down the interstate consider the local mountain bike trails you might be passing--some might just be worth a stop.
Logo of Shimano, a brand known for cycling components and fishing tackle, featuring the brand name in bold, uppercase letters against a plain background.
On my way down to the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/blog/?p=745">Ocala Spring Break Fat Tire Festival</a> I stopped off in <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&amp;state_id=10&amp;city_get=Macon">Macon</a> to ride a couple of the local trails. Despite its location smack in the middle of the state, Macon actually has a fairly diverse mountain bike scene spread across 5 main trail areas.

The first trail I rode was at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1417">Arrowhead Park</a> where locals claim "you'll feel like you're riding in the mountains." The trailhead signage backed up the claim with the stats: a 6 mile loop with 650 of climbing. My general rule is that if a trail has 100 feet of climbing (or more) per mile then it has to have some good climbs (and descents) and Arrowhead did not disappoint.

At the beginning of the trail I climbed up a fairly long hill which was quickly followed by a nice downhill section. After the first mile or so and another climb I came upon something I hadn't seen before--a trail through a barn. Yep, the trail winds its way past a barn, makes a sharp 180 degree turn, then goes directly through the middle of the structure. Only in Georgia ;)

<img width="500" height="375" alt="barn.jpg" id="image752" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/barn.jpg" />

The middle of the ride seemed to give a bit of a break from climbing but on the back side near the lake it felt as if the steep climbs came out of nowhere. Then, quickly and almost without warning, the trail was over--I was back at my car. I only got 5 miles out of the loop, though according to the map posted at the trailhead there were a few other short trails not connected to the main loop.

On my way across town to <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=571">East Macon park</a> I stopped at <a href="http://www.bbqrestaurantreviews.com/2/29/BBQ-Restaurants/JLs-Open-Pit-Bar-B-Q.html">JL's Open Pit BBQ</a> which turned out to be VERY good 'que indeed. Past the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and downtown I found East Macon park which was eerily quiet and virtually deserted. The trails here turned out to be pretty neglected as well except for the teenagers (illegally) riding their 4-wheelers in the park. Overall the trails were mostly rideable, though at times I had to dismount to get around fallen trees.

<img width="484" height="362" alt="emacon.jpg" id="image751" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/emacon.jpg" />

Macon also boasts three other mountain bike trails which I didn't get to ride--North Macon park, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1616">Children's Home</a>, and the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=2477">LH Thomson factory trails</a>. Yep, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/mtbreviews/Thomson/77.html">Thomson</a>, the stem and seat post guys, are located in little ole Macon and I'm sure they are a major force in keeping Macon on the MTB map. Back in February the local bike club hosted Thompson appreciation day though sadly many of the weekend activities were rained out.

Yep, sometimes mountain biking shows up in some of the most unexpected places and it pays to keep up with the latest dirt. Next time you're heading down the interstate consider the local mountain bike trails you might be passing--some might just be worth a stop.
A black mountain bike with wide tires, a sturdy frame, and front suspension. The bike features disc brakes and a comfortable seat, positioned for off-road riding.
On my way down to the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/blog/?p=745">Ocala Spring Break Fat Tire Festival</a> I stopped off in <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&amp;state_id=10&amp;city_get=Macon">Macon</a> to ride a couple of the local trails. Despite its location smack in the middle of the state, Macon actually has a fairly diverse mountain bike scene spread across 5 main trail areas.

The first trail I rode was at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1417">Arrowhead Park</a> where locals claim "you'll feel like you're riding in the mountains." The trailhead signage backed up the claim with the stats: a 6 mile loop with 650 of climbing. My general rule is that if a trail has 100 feet of climbing (or more) per mile then it has to have some good climbs (and descents) and Arrowhead did not disappoint.

At the beginning of the trail I climbed up a fairly long hill which was quickly followed by a nice downhill section. After the first mile or so and another climb I came upon something I hadn't seen before--a trail through a barn. Yep, the trail winds its way past a barn, makes a sharp 180 degree turn, then goes directly through the middle of the structure. Only in Georgia ;)

<img width="500" height="375" alt="barn.jpg" id="image752" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/barn.jpg" />

The middle of the ride seemed to give a bit of a break from climbing but on the back side near the lake it felt as if the steep climbs came out of nowhere. Then, quickly and almost without warning, the trail was over--I was back at my car. I only got 5 miles out of the loop, though according to the map posted at the trailhead there were a few other short trails not connected to the main loop.

On my way across town to <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=571">East Macon park</a> I stopped at <a href="http://www.bbqrestaurantreviews.com/2/29/BBQ-Restaurants/JLs-Open-Pit-Bar-B-Q.html">JL's Open Pit BBQ</a> which turned out to be VERY good 'que indeed. Past the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and downtown I found East Macon park which was eerily quiet and virtually deserted. The trails here turned out to be pretty neglected as well except for the teenagers (illegally) riding their 4-wheelers in the park. Overall the trails were mostly rideable, though at times I had to dismount to get around fallen trees.

<img width="484" height="362" alt="emacon.jpg" id="image751" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/emacon.jpg" />

Macon also boasts three other mountain bike trails which I didn't get to ride--North Macon park, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1616">Children's Home</a>, and the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=2477">LH Thomson factory trails</a>. Yep, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/mtbreviews/Thomson/77.html">Thomson</a>, the stem and seat post guys, are located in little ole Macon and I'm sure they are a major force in keeping Macon on the MTB map. Back in February the local bike club hosted Thompson appreciation day though sadly many of the weekend activities were rained out.

Yep, sometimes mountain biking shows up in some of the most unexpected places and it pays to keep up with the latest dirt. Next time you're heading down the interstate consider the local mountain bike trails you might be passing--some might just be worth a stop.
  3
A scenic view of a winding dirt path through a grassy landscape, surrounded by sparse trees and mountains in the distance. The sky is blue with scattered white clouds. A signpost is visible near the path, indicating a trail or point of interest.
  3
A narrow dirt path winding through a dense forest with lush greenery and scattered trees, inviting exploration into the serene, natural surroundings.
  1
On my way down to the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/blog/?p=745">Ocala Spring Break Fat Tire Festival</a> I stopped off in <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&amp;state_id=10&amp;city_get=Macon">Macon</a> to ride a couple of the local trails. Despite its location smack in the middle of the state, Macon actually has a fairly diverse mountain bike scene spread across 5 main trail areas.

The first trail I rode was at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1417">Arrowhead Park</a> where locals claim "you'll feel like you're riding in the mountains." The trailhead signage backed up the claim with the stats: a 6 mile loop with 650 of climbing. My general rule is that if a trail has 100 feet of climbing (or more) per mile then it has to have some good climbs (and descents) and Arrowhead did not disappoint.

At the beginning of the trail I climbed up a fairly long hill which was quickly followed by a nice downhill section. After the first mile or so and another climb I came upon something I hadn't seen before--a trail through a barn. Yep, the trail winds its way past a barn, makes a sharp 180 degree turn, then goes directly through the middle of the structure. Only in Georgia ;)

<img width="500" height="375" alt="barn.jpg" id="image752" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/barn.jpg" />

The middle of the ride seemed to give a bit of a break from climbing but on the back side near the lake it felt as if the steep climbs came out of nowhere. Then, quickly and almost without warning, the trail was over--I was back at my car. I only got 5 miles out of the loop, though according to the map posted at the trailhead there were a few other short trails not connected to the main loop.

On my way across town to <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=571">East Macon park</a> I stopped at <a href="http://www.bbqrestaurantreviews.com/2/29/BBQ-Restaurants/JLs-Open-Pit-Bar-B-Q.html">JL's Open Pit BBQ</a> which turned out to be VERY good 'que indeed. Past the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and downtown I found East Macon park which was eerily quiet and virtually deserted. The trails here turned out to be pretty neglected as well except for the teenagers (illegally) riding their 4-wheelers in the park. Overall the trails were mostly rideable, though at times I had to dismount to get around fallen trees.

<img width="484" height="362" alt="emacon.jpg" id="image751" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/emacon.jpg" />

Macon also boasts three other mountain bike trails which I didn't get to ride--North Macon park, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1616">Children's Home</a>, and the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=2477">LH Thomson factory trails</a>. Yep, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/mtbreviews/Thomson/77.html">Thomson</a>, the stem and seat post guys, are located in little ole Macon and I'm sure they are a major force in keeping Macon on the MTB map. Back in February the local bike club hosted Thompson appreciation day though sadly many of the weekend activities were rained out.

Yep, sometimes mountain biking shows up in some of the most unexpected places and it pays to keep up with the latest dirt. Next time you're heading down the interstate consider the local mountain bike trails you might be passing--some might just be worth a stop.
A nighttime scene at the Kona 24 Hours in Old Pueblo event in Tucson, Arizona, featuring a blue tent with tables and bikes in the foreground. Dynamic light trails suggest movement, while the logo and event title are displayed prominently.
A motorcycle helmet decorated with a blue mohawk design, featuring a sleek black and silver exterior with checkered accents. The background is a vibrant gradient of pink and green.
Five interlocking rings in blue, yellow, black, green, and red on a white background, representing the Olympic Games.
On my way down to the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/blog/?p=745">Ocala Spring Break Fat Tire Festival</a> I stopped off in <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&amp;state_id=10&amp;city_get=Macon">Macon</a> to ride a couple of the local trails. Despite its location smack in the middle of the state, Macon actually has a fairly diverse mountain bike scene spread across 5 main trail areas.

The first trail I rode was at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1417">Arrowhead Park</a> where locals claim "you'll feel like you're riding in the mountains." The trailhead signage backed up the claim with the stats: a 6 mile loop with 650 of climbing. My general rule is that if a trail has 100 feet of climbing (or more) per mile then it has to have some good climbs (and descents) and Arrowhead did not disappoint.

At the beginning of the trail I climbed up a fairly long hill which was quickly followed by a nice downhill section. After the first mile or so and another climb I came upon something I hadn't seen before--a trail through a barn. Yep, the trail winds its way past a barn, makes a sharp 180 degree turn, then goes directly through the middle of the structure. Only in Georgia ;)

<img width="500" height="375" alt="barn.jpg" id="image752" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/barn.jpg" />

The middle of the ride seemed to give a bit of a break from climbing but on the back side near the lake it felt as if the steep climbs came out of nowhere. Then, quickly and almost without warning, the trail was over--I was back at my car. I only got 5 miles out of the loop, though according to the map posted at the trailhead there were a few other short trails not connected to the main loop.

On my way across town to <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=571">East Macon park</a> I stopped at <a href="http://www.bbqrestaurantreviews.com/2/29/BBQ-Restaurants/JLs-Open-Pit-Bar-B-Q.html">JL's Open Pit BBQ</a> which turned out to be VERY good 'que indeed. Past the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and downtown I found East Macon park which was eerily quiet and virtually deserted. The trails here turned out to be pretty neglected as well except for the teenagers (illegally) riding their 4-wheelers in the park. Overall the trails were mostly rideable, though at times I had to dismount to get around fallen trees.

<img width="484" height="362" alt="emacon.jpg" id="image751" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/emacon.jpg" />

Macon also boasts three other mountain bike trails which I didn't get to ride--North Macon park, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1616">Children's Home</a>, and the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=2477">LH Thomson factory trails</a>. Yep, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/mtbreviews/Thomson/77.html">Thomson</a>, the stem and seat post guys, are located in little ole Macon and I'm sure they are a major force in keeping Macon on the MTB map. Back in February the local bike club hosted Thompson appreciation day though sadly many of the weekend activities were rained out.

Yep, sometimes mountain biking shows up in some of the most unexpected places and it pays to keep up with the latest dirt. Next time you're heading down the interstate consider the local mountain bike trails you might be passing--some might just be worth a stop.
Top-down view of a bicycle handlebar with a gloved hand gripping the left side. Two GPS devices are mounted on the handlebars, with one styled for biking and the other for outdoor navigation. The background features a forest trail covered in brown leaves.
  1
Abstract image featuring a 3D graph overlaying a terrain model with a bicycle, possibly indicating data analysis or mapping in an outdoor or cycling context. The letters "IBP" are prominently displayed in the foreground.
  1
On my way down to the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/blog/?p=745">Ocala Spring Break Fat Tire Festival</a> I stopped off in <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&amp;state_id=10&amp;city_get=Macon">Macon</a> to ride a couple of the local trails. Despite its location smack in the middle of the state, Macon actually has a fairly diverse mountain bike scene spread across 5 main trail areas.

The first trail I rode was at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1417">Arrowhead Park</a> where locals claim "you'll feel like you're riding in the mountains." The trailhead signage backed up the claim with the stats: a 6 mile loop with 650 of climbing. My general rule is that if a trail has 100 feet of climbing (or more) per mile then it has to have some good climbs (and descents) and Arrowhead did not disappoint.

At the beginning of the trail I climbed up a fairly long hill which was quickly followed by a nice downhill section. After the first mile or so and another climb I came upon something I hadn't seen before--a trail through a barn. Yep, the trail winds its way past a barn, makes a sharp 180 degree turn, then goes directly through the middle of the structure. Only in Georgia ;)

<img width="500" height="375" alt="barn.jpg" id="image752" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/barn.jpg" />

The middle of the ride seemed to give a bit of a break from climbing but on the back side near the lake it felt as if the steep climbs came out of nowhere. Then, quickly and almost without warning, the trail was over--I was back at my car. I only got 5 miles out of the loop, though according to the map posted at the trailhead there were a few other short trails not connected to the main loop.

On my way across town to <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=571">East Macon park</a> I stopped at <a href="http://www.bbqrestaurantreviews.com/2/29/BBQ-Restaurants/JLs-Open-Pit-Bar-B-Q.html">JL's Open Pit BBQ</a> which turned out to be VERY good 'que indeed. Past the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and downtown I found East Macon park which was eerily quiet and virtually deserted. The trails here turned out to be pretty neglected as well except for the teenagers (illegally) riding their 4-wheelers in the park. Overall the trails were mostly rideable, though at times I had to dismount to get around fallen trees.

<img width="484" height="362" alt="emacon.jpg" id="image751" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/emacon.jpg" />

Macon also boasts three other mountain bike trails which I didn't get to ride--North Macon park, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1616">Children's Home</a>, and the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=2477">LH Thomson factory trails</a>. Yep, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/mtbreviews/Thomson/77.html">Thomson</a>, the stem and seat post guys, are located in little ole Macon and I'm sure they are a major force in keeping Macon on the MTB map. Back in February the local bike club hosted Thompson appreciation day though sadly many of the weekend activities were rained out.

Yep, sometimes mountain biking shows up in some of the most unexpected places and it pays to keep up with the latest dirt. Next time you're heading down the interstate consider the local mountain bike trails you might be passing--some might just be worth a stop.
Map displaying a topographic view with plotted hiking routes highlighted in yellow. The left panel lists various active logs with dates and points, while the map features terrain contours, trail markers, and landmarks, including "Captain Jack" and "Stonewall Fall."
A mountain biker performing a jump on a trail surrounded by bare trees in a forest setting. The ground is covered with leaves, and the scene depicts a sunny day with clear skies.
On my way down to the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/blog/?p=745">Ocala Spring Break Fat Tire Festival</a> I stopped off in <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&amp;state_id=10&amp;city_get=Macon">Macon</a> to ride a couple of the local trails. Despite its location smack in the middle of the state, Macon actually has a fairly diverse mountain bike scene spread across 5 main trail areas.

The first trail I rode was at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1417">Arrowhead Park</a> where locals claim "you'll feel like you're riding in the mountains." The trailhead signage backed up the claim with the stats: a 6 mile loop with 650 of climbing. My general rule is that if a trail has 100 feet of climbing (or more) per mile then it has to have some good climbs (and descents) and Arrowhead did not disappoint.

At the beginning of the trail I climbed up a fairly long hill which was quickly followed by a nice downhill section. After the first mile or so and another climb I came upon something I hadn't seen before--a trail through a barn. Yep, the trail winds its way past a barn, makes a sharp 180 degree turn, then goes directly through the middle of the structure. Only in Georgia ;)

<img width="500" height="375" alt="barn.jpg" id="image752" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/barn.jpg" />

The middle of the ride seemed to give a bit of a break from climbing but on the back side near the lake it felt as if the steep climbs came out of nowhere. Then, quickly and almost without warning, the trail was over--I was back at my car. I only got 5 miles out of the loop, though according to the map posted at the trailhead there were a few other short trails not connected to the main loop.

On my way across town to <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=571">East Macon park</a> I stopped at <a href="http://www.bbqrestaurantreviews.com/2/29/BBQ-Restaurants/JLs-Open-Pit-Bar-B-Q.html">JL's Open Pit BBQ</a> which turned out to be VERY good 'que indeed. Past the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and downtown I found East Macon park which was eerily quiet and virtually deserted. The trails here turned out to be pretty neglected as well except for the teenagers (illegally) riding their 4-wheelers in the park. Overall the trails were mostly rideable, though at times I had to dismount to get around fallen trees.

<img width="484" height="362" alt="emacon.jpg" id="image751" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/emacon.jpg" />

Macon also boasts three other mountain bike trails which I didn't get to ride--North Macon park, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1616">Children's Home</a>, and the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=2477">LH Thomson factory trails</a>. Yep, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/mtbreviews/Thomson/77.html">Thomson</a>, the stem and seat post guys, are located in little ole Macon and I'm sure they are a major force in keeping Macon on the MTB map. Back in February the local bike club hosted Thompson appreciation day though sadly many of the weekend activities were rained out.

Yep, sometimes mountain biking shows up in some of the most unexpected places and it pays to keep up with the latest dirt. Next time you're heading down the interstate consider the local mountain bike trails you might be passing--some might just be worth a stop.
  1
Two mountain bikers are seen in mid-air, jumping over a barrier with a logo in the foreground. A grassy hillside and spectators in the background suggest an outdoor biking event, with rolling hills and a cloudy sky visible.
A DVD cover featuring a woman in cycling apparel, smiling and positioned on an exercise bike. The title reads "Cycle - All Terrain with Brooke Hayward," and the logo for Softride is displayed at the bottom. The background is a gradient, enhancing the focus on the cyclist.
  1
On my way down to the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/blog/?p=745">Ocala Spring Break Fat Tire Festival</a> I stopped off in <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&amp;state_id=10&amp;city_get=Macon">Macon</a> to ride a couple of the local trails. Despite its location smack in the middle of the state, Macon actually has a fairly diverse mountain bike scene spread across 5 main trail areas.

The first trail I rode was at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1417">Arrowhead Park</a> where locals claim "you'll feel like you're riding in the mountains." The trailhead signage backed up the claim with the stats: a 6 mile loop with 650 of climbing. My general rule is that if a trail has 100 feet of climbing (or more) per mile then it has to have some good climbs (and descents) and Arrowhead did not disappoint.

At the beginning of the trail I climbed up a fairly long hill which was quickly followed by a nice downhill section. After the first mile or so and another climb I came upon something I hadn't seen before--a trail through a barn. Yep, the trail winds its way past a barn, makes a sharp 180 degree turn, then goes directly through the middle of the structure. Only in Georgia ;)

<img width="500" height="375" alt="barn.jpg" id="image752" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/barn.jpg" />

The middle of the ride seemed to give a bit of a break from climbing but on the back side near the lake it felt as if the steep climbs came out of nowhere. Then, quickly and almost without warning, the trail was over--I was back at my car. I only got 5 miles out of the loop, though according to the map posted at the trailhead there were a few other short trails not connected to the main loop.

On my way across town to <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=571">East Macon park</a> I stopped at <a href="http://www.bbqrestaurantreviews.com/2/29/BBQ-Restaurants/JLs-Open-Pit-Bar-B-Q.html">JL's Open Pit BBQ</a> which turned out to be VERY good 'que indeed. Past the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and downtown I found East Macon park which was eerily quiet and virtually deserted. The trails here turned out to be pretty neglected as well except for the teenagers (illegally) riding their 4-wheelers in the park. Overall the trails were mostly rideable, though at times I had to dismount to get around fallen trees.

<img width="484" height="362" alt="emacon.jpg" id="image751" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/emacon.jpg" />

Macon also boasts three other mountain bike trails which I didn't get to ride--North Macon park, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1616">Children's Home</a>, and the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=2477">LH Thomson factory trails</a>. Yep, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/mtbreviews/Thomson/77.html">Thomson</a>, the stem and seat post guys, are located in little ole Macon and I'm sure they are a major force in keeping Macon on the MTB map. Back in February the local bike club hosted Thompson appreciation day though sadly many of the weekend activities were rained out.

Yep, sometimes mountain biking shows up in some of the most unexpected places and it pays to keep up with the latest dirt. Next time you're heading down the interstate consider the local mountain bike trails you might be passing--some might just be worth a stop.
  1
On my way down to the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/blog/?p=745">Ocala Spring Break Fat Tire Festival</a> I stopped off in <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&amp;state_id=10&amp;city_get=Macon">Macon</a> to ride a couple of the local trails. Despite its location smack in the middle of the state, Macon actually has a fairly diverse mountain bike scene spread across 5 main trail areas.

The first trail I rode was at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1417">Arrowhead Park</a> where locals claim "you'll feel like you're riding in the mountains." The trailhead signage backed up the claim with the stats: a 6 mile loop with 650 of climbing. My general rule is that if a trail has 100 feet of climbing (or more) per mile then it has to have some good climbs (and descents) and Arrowhead did not disappoint.

At the beginning of the trail I climbed up a fairly long hill which was quickly followed by a nice downhill section. After the first mile or so and another climb I came upon something I hadn't seen before--a trail through a barn. Yep, the trail winds its way past a barn, makes a sharp 180 degree turn, then goes directly through the middle of the structure. Only in Georgia ;)

<img width="500" height="375" alt="barn.jpg" id="image752" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/barn.jpg" />

The middle of the ride seemed to give a bit of a break from climbing but on the back side near the lake it felt as if the steep climbs came out of nowhere. Then, quickly and almost without warning, the trail was over--I was back at my car. I only got 5 miles out of the loop, though according to the map posted at the trailhead there were a few other short trails not connected to the main loop.

On my way across town to <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=571">East Macon park</a> I stopped at <a href="http://www.bbqrestaurantreviews.com/2/29/BBQ-Restaurants/JLs-Open-Pit-Bar-B-Q.html">JL's Open Pit BBQ</a> which turned out to be VERY good 'que indeed. Past the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and downtown I found East Macon park which was eerily quiet and virtually deserted. The trails here turned out to be pretty neglected as well except for the teenagers (illegally) riding their 4-wheelers in the park. Overall the trails were mostly rideable, though at times I had to dismount to get around fallen trees.

<img width="484" height="362" alt="emacon.jpg" id="image751" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/emacon.jpg" />

Macon also boasts three other mountain bike trails which I didn't get to ride--North Macon park, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1616">Children's Home</a>, and the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=2477">LH Thomson factory trails</a>. Yep, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/mtbreviews/Thomson/77.html">Thomson</a>, the stem and seat post guys, are located in little ole Macon and I'm sure they are a major force in keeping Macon on the MTB map. Back in February the local bike club hosted Thompson appreciation day though sadly many of the weekend activities were rained out.

Yep, sometimes mountain biking shows up in some of the most unexpected places and it pays to keep up with the latest dirt. Next time you're heading down the interstate consider the local mountain bike trails you might be passing--some might just be worth a stop.
On my way down to the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/blog/?p=745">Ocala Spring Break Fat Tire Festival</a> I stopped off in <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&amp;state_id=10&amp;city_get=Macon">Macon</a> to ride a couple of the local trails. Despite its location smack in the middle of the state, Macon actually has a fairly diverse mountain bike scene spread across 5 main trail areas.

The first trail I rode was at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1417">Arrowhead Park</a> where locals claim "you'll feel like you're riding in the mountains." The trailhead signage backed up the claim with the stats: a 6 mile loop with 650 of climbing. My general rule is that if a trail has 100 feet of climbing (or more) per mile then it has to have some good climbs (and descents) and Arrowhead did not disappoint.

At the beginning of the trail I climbed up a fairly long hill which was quickly followed by a nice downhill section. After the first mile or so and another climb I came upon something I hadn't seen before--a trail through a barn. Yep, the trail winds its way past a barn, makes a sharp 180 degree turn, then goes directly through the middle of the structure. Only in Georgia ;)

<img width="500" height="375" alt="barn.jpg" id="image752" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/barn.jpg" />

The middle of the ride seemed to give a bit of a break from climbing but on the back side near the lake it felt as if the steep climbs came out of nowhere. Then, quickly and almost without warning, the trail was over--I was back at my car. I only got 5 miles out of the loop, though according to the map posted at the trailhead there were a few other short trails not connected to the main loop.

On my way across town to <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=571">East Macon park</a> I stopped at <a href="http://www.bbqrestaurantreviews.com/2/29/BBQ-Restaurants/JLs-Open-Pit-Bar-B-Q.html">JL's Open Pit BBQ</a> which turned out to be VERY good 'que indeed. Past the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and downtown I found East Macon park which was eerily quiet and virtually deserted. The trails here turned out to be pretty neglected as well except for the teenagers (illegally) riding their 4-wheelers in the park. Overall the trails were mostly rideable, though at times I had to dismount to get around fallen trees.

<img width="484" height="362" alt="emacon.jpg" id="image751" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/emacon.jpg" />

Macon also boasts three other mountain bike trails which I didn't get to ride--North Macon park, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1616">Children's Home</a>, and the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=2477">LH Thomson factory trails</a>. Yep, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/mtbreviews/Thomson/77.html">Thomson</a>, the stem and seat post guys, are located in little ole Macon and I'm sure they are a major force in keeping Macon on the MTB map. Back in February the local bike club hosted Thompson appreciation day though sadly many of the weekend activities were rained out.

Yep, sometimes mountain biking shows up in some of the most unexpected places and it pays to keep up with the latest dirt. Next time you're heading down the interstate consider the local mountain bike trails you might be passing--some might just be worth a stop.
On my way down to the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/blog/?p=745">Ocala Spring Break Fat Tire Festival</a> I stopped off in <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&amp;state_id=10&amp;city_get=Macon">Macon</a> to ride a couple of the local trails. Despite its location smack in the middle of the state, Macon actually has a fairly diverse mountain bike scene spread across 5 main trail areas.

The first trail I rode was at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1417">Arrowhead Park</a> where locals claim "you'll feel like you're riding in the mountains." The trailhead signage backed up the claim with the stats: a 6 mile loop with 650 of climbing. My general rule is that if a trail has 100 feet of climbing (or more) per mile then it has to have some good climbs (and descents) and Arrowhead did not disappoint.

At the beginning of the trail I climbed up a fairly long hill which was quickly followed by a nice downhill section. After the first mile or so and another climb I came upon something I hadn't seen before--a trail through a barn. Yep, the trail winds its way past a barn, makes a sharp 180 degree turn, then goes directly through the middle of the structure. Only in Georgia ;)

<img width="500" height="375" alt="barn.jpg" id="image752" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/barn.jpg" />

The middle of the ride seemed to give a bit of a break from climbing but on the back side near the lake it felt as if the steep climbs came out of nowhere. Then, quickly and almost without warning, the trail was over--I was back at my car. I only got 5 miles out of the loop, though according to the map posted at the trailhead there were a few other short trails not connected to the main loop.

On my way across town to <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=571">East Macon park</a> I stopped at <a href="http://www.bbqrestaurantreviews.com/2/29/BBQ-Restaurants/JLs-Open-Pit-Bar-B-Q.html">JL's Open Pit BBQ</a> which turned out to be VERY good 'que indeed. Past the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and downtown I found East Macon park which was eerily quiet and virtually deserted. The trails here turned out to be pretty neglected as well except for the teenagers (illegally) riding their 4-wheelers in the park. Overall the trails were mostly rideable, though at times I had to dismount to get around fallen trees.

<img width="484" height="362" alt="emacon.jpg" id="image751" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/emacon.jpg" />

Macon also boasts three other mountain bike trails which I didn't get to ride--North Macon park, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1616">Children's Home</a>, and the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=2477">LH Thomson factory trails</a>. Yep, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/mtbreviews/Thomson/77.html">Thomson</a>, the stem and seat post guys, are located in little ole Macon and I'm sure they are a major force in keeping Macon on the MTB map. Back in February the local bike club hosted Thompson appreciation day though sadly many of the weekend activities were rained out.

Yep, sometimes mountain biking shows up in some of the most unexpected places and it pays to keep up with the latest dirt. Next time you're heading down the interstate consider the local mountain bike trails you might be passing--some might just be worth a stop.
A black bicycle helmet displayed on a mannequin head, featuring built-in blue LED lights for enhanced visibility. The helmet has mesh ventilation and adjustable straps.
  1
On my way down to the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/blog/?p=745">Ocala Spring Break Fat Tire Festival</a> I stopped off in <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&amp;state_id=10&amp;city_get=Macon">Macon</a> to ride a couple of the local trails. Despite its location smack in the middle of the state, Macon actually has a fairly diverse mountain bike scene spread across 5 main trail areas.

The first trail I rode was at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1417">Arrowhead Park</a> where locals claim "you'll feel like you're riding in the mountains." The trailhead signage backed up the claim with the stats: a 6 mile loop with 650 of climbing. My general rule is that if a trail has 100 feet of climbing (or more) per mile then it has to have some good climbs (and descents) and Arrowhead did not disappoint.

At the beginning of the trail I climbed up a fairly long hill which was quickly followed by a nice downhill section. After the first mile or so and another climb I came upon something I hadn't seen before--a trail through a barn. Yep, the trail winds its way past a barn, makes a sharp 180 degree turn, then goes directly through the middle of the structure. Only in Georgia ;)

<img width="500" height="375" alt="barn.jpg" id="image752" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/barn.jpg" />

The middle of the ride seemed to give a bit of a break from climbing but on the back side near the lake it felt as if the steep climbs came out of nowhere. Then, quickly and almost without warning, the trail was over--I was back at my car. I only got 5 miles out of the loop, though according to the map posted at the trailhead there were a few other short trails not connected to the main loop.

On my way across town to <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=571">East Macon park</a> I stopped at <a href="http://www.bbqrestaurantreviews.com/2/29/BBQ-Restaurants/JLs-Open-Pit-Bar-B-Q.html">JL's Open Pit BBQ</a> which turned out to be VERY good 'que indeed. Past the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and downtown I found East Macon park which was eerily quiet and virtually deserted. The trails here turned out to be pretty neglected as well except for the teenagers (illegally) riding their 4-wheelers in the park. Overall the trails were mostly rideable, though at times I had to dismount to get around fallen trees.

<img width="484" height="362" alt="emacon.jpg" id="image751" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/emacon.jpg" />

Macon also boasts three other mountain bike trails which I didn't get to ride--North Macon park, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1616">Children's Home</a>, and the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=2477">LH Thomson factory trails</a>. Yep, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/mtbreviews/Thomson/77.html">Thomson</a>, the stem and seat post guys, are located in little ole Macon and I'm sure they are a major force in keeping Macon on the MTB map. Back in February the local bike club hosted Thompson appreciation day though sadly many of the weekend activities were rained out.

Yep, sometimes mountain biking shows up in some of the most unexpected places and it pays to keep up with the latest dirt. Next time you're heading down the interstate consider the local mountain bike trails you might be passing--some might just be worth a stop.
On my way down to the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/blog/?p=745">Ocala Spring Break Fat Tire Festival</a> I stopped off in <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&amp;state_id=10&amp;city_get=Macon">Macon</a> to ride a couple of the local trails. Despite its location smack in the middle of the state, Macon actually has a fairly diverse mountain bike scene spread across 5 main trail areas.

The first trail I rode was at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1417">Arrowhead Park</a> where locals claim "you'll feel like you're riding in the mountains." The trailhead signage backed up the claim with the stats: a 6 mile loop with 650 of climbing. My general rule is that if a trail has 100 feet of climbing (or more) per mile then it has to have some good climbs (and descents) and Arrowhead did not disappoint.

At the beginning of the trail I climbed up a fairly long hill which was quickly followed by a nice downhill section. After the first mile or so and another climb I came upon something I hadn't seen before--a trail through a barn. Yep, the trail winds its way past a barn, makes a sharp 180 degree turn, then goes directly through the middle of the structure. Only in Georgia ;)

<img width="500" height="375" alt="barn.jpg" id="image752" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/barn.jpg" />

The middle of the ride seemed to give a bit of a break from climbing but on the back side near the lake it felt as if the steep climbs came out of nowhere. Then, quickly and almost without warning, the trail was over--I was back at my car. I only got 5 miles out of the loop, though according to the map posted at the trailhead there were a few other short trails not connected to the main loop.

On my way across town to <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=571">East Macon park</a> I stopped at <a href="http://www.bbqrestaurantreviews.com/2/29/BBQ-Restaurants/JLs-Open-Pit-Bar-B-Q.html">JL's Open Pit BBQ</a> which turned out to be VERY good 'que indeed. Past the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and downtown I found East Macon park which was eerily quiet and virtually deserted. The trails here turned out to be pretty neglected as well except for the teenagers (illegally) riding their 4-wheelers in the park. Overall the trails were mostly rideable, though at times I had to dismount to get around fallen trees.

<img width="484" height="362" alt="emacon.jpg" id="image751" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/emacon.jpg" />

Macon also boasts three other mountain bike trails which I didn't get to ride--North Macon park, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1616">Children's Home</a>, and the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=2477">LH Thomson factory trails</a>. Yep, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/mtbreviews/Thomson/77.html">Thomson</a>, the stem and seat post guys, are located in little ole Macon and I'm sure they are a major force in keeping Macon on the MTB map. Back in February the local bike club hosted Thompson appreciation day though sadly many of the weekend activities were rained out.

Yep, sometimes mountain biking shows up in some of the most unexpected places and it pays to keep up with the latest dirt. Next time you're heading down the interstate consider the local mountain bike trails you might be passing--some might just be worth a stop.
A folding handsaw with a serrated blade and a red rubber grip handle. The blade features text indicating "RAZOR SHARP TEETH."
Close-up of a newspaper article titled "Money &amp;," featuring a vintage style and sepia tones. The text suggests a focus on financial news and market trends.
On my way down to the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/blog/?p=745">Ocala Spring Break Fat Tire Festival</a> I stopped off in <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&amp;state_id=10&amp;city_get=Macon">Macon</a> to ride a couple of the local trails. Despite its location smack in the middle of the state, Macon actually has a fairly diverse mountain bike scene spread across 5 main trail areas.

The first trail I rode was at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1417">Arrowhead Park</a> where locals claim "you'll feel like you're riding in the mountains." The trailhead signage backed up the claim with the stats: a 6 mile loop with 650 of climbing. My general rule is that if a trail has 100 feet of climbing (or more) per mile then it has to have some good climbs (and descents) and Arrowhead did not disappoint.

At the beginning of the trail I climbed up a fairly long hill which was quickly followed by a nice downhill section. After the first mile or so and another climb I came upon something I hadn't seen before--a trail through a barn. Yep, the trail winds its way past a barn, makes a sharp 180 degree turn, then goes directly through the middle of the structure. Only in Georgia ;)

<img width="500" height="375" alt="barn.jpg" id="image752" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/barn.jpg" />

The middle of the ride seemed to give a bit of a break from climbing but on the back side near the lake it felt as if the steep climbs came out of nowhere. Then, quickly and almost without warning, the trail was over--I was back at my car. I only got 5 miles out of the loop, though according to the map posted at the trailhead there were a few other short trails not connected to the main loop.

On my way across town to <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=571">East Macon park</a> I stopped at <a href="http://www.bbqrestaurantreviews.com/2/29/BBQ-Restaurants/JLs-Open-Pit-Bar-B-Q.html">JL's Open Pit BBQ</a> which turned out to be VERY good 'que indeed. Past the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and downtown I found East Macon park which was eerily quiet and virtually deserted. The trails here turned out to be pretty neglected as well except for the teenagers (illegally) riding their 4-wheelers in the park. Overall the trails were mostly rideable, though at times I had to dismount to get around fallen trees.

<img width="484" height="362" alt="emacon.jpg" id="image751" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/emacon.jpg" />

Macon also boasts three other mountain bike trails which I didn't get to ride--North Macon park, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1616">Children's Home</a>, and the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=2477">LH Thomson factory trails</a>. Yep, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/mtbreviews/Thomson/77.html">Thomson</a>, the stem and seat post guys, are located in little ole Macon and I'm sure they are a major force in keeping Macon on the MTB map. Back in February the local bike club hosted Thompson appreciation day though sadly many of the weekend activities were rained out.

Yep, sometimes mountain biking shows up in some of the most unexpected places and it pays to keep up with the latest dirt. Next time you're heading down the interstate consider the local mountain bike trails you might be passing--some might just be worth a stop.
Image of a mountain bike with highlighted components featuring Thomson seatpost and stem. The text at the bottom reads "State of the Art Seatposts &amp; Stems."
On my way down to the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/blog/?p=745">Ocala Spring Break Fat Tire Festival</a> I stopped off in <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&amp;state_id=10&amp;city_get=Macon">Macon</a> to ride a couple of the local trails. Despite its location smack in the middle of the state, Macon actually has a fairly diverse mountain bike scene spread across 5 main trail areas.

The first trail I rode was at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1417">Arrowhead Park</a> where locals claim "you'll feel like you're riding in the mountains." The trailhead signage backed up the claim with the stats: a 6 mile loop with 650 of climbing. My general rule is that if a trail has 100 feet of climbing (or more) per mile then it has to have some good climbs (and descents) and Arrowhead did not disappoint.

At the beginning of the trail I climbed up a fairly long hill which was quickly followed by a nice downhill section. After the first mile or so and another climb I came upon something I hadn't seen before--a trail through a barn. Yep, the trail winds its way past a barn, makes a sharp 180 degree turn, then goes directly through the middle of the structure. Only in Georgia ;)

<img width="500" height="375" alt="barn.jpg" id="image752" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/barn.jpg" />

The middle of the ride seemed to give a bit of a break from climbing but on the back side near the lake it felt as if the steep climbs came out of nowhere. Then, quickly and almost without warning, the trail was over--I was back at my car. I only got 5 miles out of the loop, though according to the map posted at the trailhead there were a few other short trails not connected to the main loop.

On my way across town to <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=571">East Macon park</a> I stopped at <a href="http://www.bbqrestaurantreviews.com/2/29/BBQ-Restaurants/JLs-Open-Pit-Bar-B-Q.html">JL's Open Pit BBQ</a> which turned out to be VERY good 'que indeed. Past the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and downtown I found East Macon park which was eerily quiet and virtually deserted. The trails here turned out to be pretty neglected as well except for the teenagers (illegally) riding their 4-wheelers in the park. Overall the trails were mostly rideable, though at times I had to dismount to get around fallen trees.

<img width="484" height="362" alt="emacon.jpg" id="image751" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/emacon.jpg" />

Macon also boasts three other mountain bike trails which I didn't get to ride--North Macon park, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=1616">Children's Home</a>, and the <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=2477">LH Thomson factory trails</a>. Yep, <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/mtbreviews/Thomson/77.html">Thomson</a>, the stem and seat post guys, are located in little ole Macon and I'm sure they are a major force in keeping Macon on the MTB map. Back in February the local bike club hosted Thompson appreciation day though sadly many of the weekend activities were rained out.

Yep, sometimes mountain biking shows up in some of the most unexpected places and it pays to keep up with the latest dirt. Next time you're heading down the interstate consider the local mountain bike trails you might be passing--some might just be worth a stop.
An image of the flag of the United States, featuring 13 alternating horizontal stripes of red and white, with a blue canton containing 50 white stars arranged in nine rows.