Georgia Magazine - June 2021 - 32

than 10 miles of paved biking trails. Visitors also can
rent a bike at Callaway.
Trussell says he likes to start at the Callaway
Gardens Country Store and ride the ridge to Pine
Mountain.
" It has some great overlooks; it's not real steep.
There are some climbs. It's hilly, but it's not like
North Georgia, " he says. " It's probably 8 miles across
the top. "
An alternative starting location is the
F.D. Roosevelt State Park headquarters in Pine
Mountain, " which is right on top of the mountain, "
Trussell says. " That's probably my No. 1 location
for Middle Georgia. "

Jekyll Island, jekyllisland.com

GEORGIA STATE PARKS AND HISTORIC SITES

Around GEORGIA

Visitors to Panola Mountain State Park in Stockbridge can enjoy 7 miles of scenic
bike trails.

around downtown and in the historic areas. Bike trails and pathways
through town allow cyclists to explore the city firsthand. Bicycle rentals are
also available.
" The best times to ride are midafternoon or late morning to avoid
traffic, " Trussell advises. " If you just ride around the historical parks in
Savannah, you will have a wonderful day. It's just full of history. You can
get in as many as 24 miles doing that. "

" Jekyll Island has a dedicated cycling route that
parallels the paved roads, " Trussell says.
Cyclists who ride along the barrier island's
25-mile trail system have easy access to accommodations and attractions while enjoying the fresh air
and taking in the island's natural beauty.
Jekyll's intersecting trails take visitors just
about any place they wish to go-through the
island's historic district, through the maritime
forest, alongside sandy beaches and across
boardwalks spanning the salt marsh.
" You can get off your bike and walk down to
the beach, do some shopping, play putt-putt, visit
historical sites or have lunch at the Jekyll Island
Club Resort, " Trussell says. " It's just a wonderful
vacation place to go. "
Bike rentals are also available for visitors.

More excellent bicycle trails can be found at state wildlife management areas (WMAs).
" WMA users must have a lands pass, fishing or hunting license to visit.
You can ride a comfort bike or mountain bike in most of these places, " says
Trussell, who explains that comfort and mountain bikes have wider tires
and are more suitable for leisurely rides on paved or dirt roads.
WMAs have mostly dirt roads and very little traffic, Trussell adds.
" If you go to georgiawildlife.com, you can look at all these online and
get maps. "

Savannah Historic Ramble,

Georgia state parks, gastateparks.org

savannahga.gov
The fountain in Forsyth Park is a good place to
start a bicycle tour in Savannah, Trussell says. But
first, stop by the Savannah Visitor Center and pick
up a tourist guide, which lists all the sites, hotels and
restaurants in the city.
Savannah's flat terrain is ideal for cycling

Many state parks offer an abundance of trails for all ages.
In Georgia's northern region, thrill-seeking bike riders can test their
endurance at Cloudland Canyon State Park in Rising Fawn, which offers
30 miles of mountain biking at the Five Points Recreation Area and along
the Cloudland Connector Trail. Hard Labor Creek State Park in Rutledge
boasts 13-plus miles of bike trails for beginners to advanced-level
cyclists. The 14.6-mile East-West Bike Loop at Fort Mountain State Park
in Chatsworth is considered one of the most challenging mountain-bike
trails in the Southeast. And more than 20 miles of trails run through the
woodlands at Fort Yargo State Park in Winder.
" Not all state parks have dedicated mountain-biking trails, " says
Owen Smith, marketing coordinator at Georgia State Parks and Historic
Sites. " A lot of state parks have trails you can both hike and bike on. "
Cyclists can ride paved trails at Panola Mountain State Park in
Stockbridge and Tallulah Gorge State Park in Tallulah Falls.
Bike riders also can enjoy hard-surfaced trails at Red Top Mountain
State Park in Acworth, Smithgall Woods State Park in Helen, Magnolia
Springs State Park in Millen and Skidaway Island State Park in Savannah.
" Many state parks also offer bike rentals, " Smith says.
Victoria Scharf DeCastro is a freelance writer based in Suwanee.

Safety first
Before taking to the road, remember the following:
* The state of Georgia requires motorists to give
bicyclists at least 3 feet of clearance when passing.
* Helmets are required for all bicyclists younger than 16.
* A bicycle is considered a " vehicle, " and the person
riding it is considered a " driver, " meaning the uniform
rules of the road apply to cyclists.
* At night, bicycles must have a white headlight bright
enough to be seen at least 300 feet away and a red
reflector on the rear.

Georgia Magazine

30-32_Around_GA_0621.indd 32

State wildlife management areas, georgiawildlife.com

June 2021

5/12/21 7:49 PM

http://jekyllisland.com/ http://www.georgiawildlife.com http://www.georgiawildlife.com http://www.gastateparks.org http://www.savannahga.gov

Georgia Magazine - June 2021

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