Sumac Creek Tr

Trail Description: Sumac Creek Trail was completed on October 3rd, 1997; a joint project of the US Forest Service, Cohutta District, SORBA, the Cohutta Volunteers and CBC volunteers. The trail is a loop consisting of singletrack on old forest roadbeds, a gated Forest Service road, and newly cut singletrack. The trail follows two parallel ridgelines with a dip at either end to cross Sumac Creek. There are some great views along the latter part of the ride and the fall color is great all along this trail.

Location: About 5 miles west of Cisco, GA - about two hours north of Atlanta, GA, and one hour from Chattanooga, TN.

Distance: Complete - 10.8 miles; 1.7 miles of singletrack, 5.6 miles of singletrack trail on old forest roadbed, and 3.5 miles of gated Forest Service road. Shortcut - 6.4 miles.

Highlights: The view along the ridgelines are great. There are some pretty spots down along Sumac Creek that just beg for a good camera and a few minutes of exploration. The creek crossings are deep and refreshing. If you like switchbacks, you'll love this trail. If you don't like switchbacks, at least you'll be better at riding them after you finish this trail. The climbs are typical Cohutta--short but steep, and you have to earn the three overlooks. The fall color is awesome throughout the trail. There is a sweet singletrak downhill halfway through the ride that makes the ensuing climb out almost worth it.

Directions: To get to the trail head from Chattanooga: From I-75 south, go left at the second Ringgold exit (Hwy 41). Turn right onto GA 2. Follow GA-2 through Varnell, past Prater Mill, through Beaverdale to US-411. There are several turns. GA-2 crosses US 411 at Cisco. Continue on 2 beside a stone church - the road turns to gravel. At 1.5 miles past US-411, the road forks; go right. At 1.8 miles, go straight at the 3-way intersection. At 3.1 miles, turn right onto FS17 across from a game check cabin on your left. Follow FS17 for 2.1 miles to a parking lot on your right at the intersection of FS17 & FS17-A. Park here. Go thru the gate on FS17-A and the trailhead is about 1/10th of a mile on your left.

This is a multi-use trail. Please respect the rights of other trail users and follow IMBA's rules of the trail. This area will be popular with local equestrian groups. Always yield the trail to other users.

Note: Most of this information is courtesy of the SORBA Fat Tire Times, November 1997 in a trail review written by Alex Nutt. This was later included in the Chattanooga Bicycle Club Tailwind, January 1998.

Full Trail Route

Flag	Mile	Full Trail Route
1	0.0	From parking lot, follow the gated FS17-A to the right
2	0.1	Trailhead on left - turn left - singletrack begins
3	1.1	5-way intersectoin. Take the far right fork on the forest roadbed, down the hill
4	1.4	Trail enters from left at a switchback right - stay right
	1.8	Short mudbog at a hard right turn
	2.0	Creek crossing
6	2.1	Large creek crossing. Look upstream for a great picture! Trail begins to climb
	3.2	Wildlife opening
8	3.6	Intersection with FS 630-C at a gravel clearing after going thru a gate - turn right, go thru a gate
9	3.7	Left at fork for the full trail (Shortcut goes to the right)
	4.6	Small clearing
10	5.3	Singletrack downhill begins
11	5.8	Creek crossing (This one's deep!) - immediately across the creek, the trail begins climbing through a series of switchbacks on an old logging roadbed
	6.9	Overlook to right - see what you earned with that climb?
	7.2	Trail enters a group camping area through a gate. Follow the gravel FS 17-A to the left from this clearing
13	8.0	Road enters from left - go straight
14	8.7	Shortcut trail enters from right
	9.5	Overlook to right
	10.4	Overlook to right
2	10.7	Trailhead on right - stay on FS 17-A
1	10.8	Return to parking area

Chattahoochee/Ocoee National Forest

Sumac Creek Trail

Full Trail Route

Full Trail Route

Shortcut Trail Route

Shortcut Trail Route