|
Post by Josh on Sept 25, 2005 14:37:59 GMT -5
Hey, folks -
Okay, so I'm not an ultra runner - give me a year to get my mileage up. I am a road runner who wants to get off of the hot and sticky and hard stuff, and get a little dirty. I'd like to move at least one run a week into the woods, but I'm not quite sure where to head -
Could someone recommend a trail-head that has some or all of this going for it? - Near metro Atlanta (proximity to Grant Park area would be great, but anything under an hour is probably doable) - Medium trail difficulty (risk of dying low, but serious enough to mimic what you'd expect to see in a local difficulty trail race). - Real, nature. No traffic noise, a little less smog, maybe even a view.
So who has a favorite to recommend? Any suggestions or local trail reviews would be much appreciated - I had trouble finding much on the net.
Thanks, Josh
|
|
|
Post by GUTS Admin on Sept 26, 2005 7:05:00 GMT -5
Josh, Welcome to the forum. You don't have to be an ultra runner to feel at home here.
You have two fantastic options in the immediate area. 1) Kennesaw Mtn. Over 17 miles of trails. For long trail runs, this is the place to go.
2) Sweetwater Creek State Park (west on I-20 from Atlanta, the exit past 6 Flags). The lesser known of our trails here in the Atlanta area. There is an excellent 5.5 mile loop and another 3 mile loop. Go to the visitor's center and get a map of the trails. I love it, especially for a quick run. My favorite is to run the loop on one direction (white/blue), refit at my car, then go in the other direction (blue/white) for a great 11 mile run.
I always forget about the trails at Stone Mtn. There's a nice ~6 mile loop.
Beyond the immediate area, there are many options. GUTS will be leading members-only long training runs at FDR State Park and Amicolola Falls this fall.
Hope this helps!
|
|
|
Post by janice on Sept 26, 2005 9:48:40 GMT -5
I suppose Cochran Shoals is another option. MOst people just run the flat, gravel path by the river, but there is a large network of trails that go up into the woods from there.
There is also Red Top Mtn. I haven't been there in awhile, but they have about a 6 mile loop.
My fav is Kennesaw Mtn - of course! Janice
|
|
|
Post by Josh on Sept 29, 2005 15:58:44 GMT -5
Thanks, everyone -
I went and did a single blue/white loop at Sweetwater this morning (thanks, Sarah!).
It really is a nice start, and by the time I was finishing up the blue, I was thinking how nice and easy it was...
Of course, the transition from blue to white was an eye-opener. I fell in the first section of the white trail unable to decide whether to try to protect my ankles by looking down or my head by looking up, and then I just couldn't believe the hill up to the meadow kept going and going. I'm looking forward to being able to make it up that thing in one piece, instead of having to listen to the deer laughing at me on my death march.
Overall, a great day. I dragged myself around slowly (about an hour for the five mile loop), but look forward to going back now that I have a little better idea what to expect. If I can handle that little hill, then I'm guessing I'll be ready to visit the mountain in Kennesaw.
Thanks again for the great advice, everyone. If I can build slowly, and stay injury free, I'll see y'all later in the fall... That also assumes I can 'gut up' a little and stop flailing away like Elaine dancing every time I run through a spiderweb. I guess that just goes with the territory, eh?
Josh
|
|
|
Post by JB on Oct 3, 2005 7:49:56 GMT -5
Josh, welcome to Jack's Hill at Sweetwater. After yo do that setion a few times add the yellow trail to it. It's only 3 miles, oh, and do it counter clockwise, it's a good little addition...
|
|
flo
Newbie
Posts: 3
|
Post by flo on Oct 17, 2005 13:48:57 GMT -5
Kennesaw is my favorite, and I also dig the others mentioned here so far. If you're looking for even more options...check out Mike Cosentino's book, Atlanta Running Guide. He gives great options on- and off-road all over the metro-Atlanta area. www.peachtree-online.com/Adults/Catalog/atlrunninguide.htm
|
|
|
Post by drbbt on Nov 18, 2005 13:36:50 GMT -5
Another option might be Berry College in Rome. I run there all the time. There are 28,000 acres of fireroads and singletrack trails to run on. Most of the time you have the place to yourself
|
|
|
Post by Doug on Jan 2, 2006 13:57:14 GMT -5
Couple of others not mentioned...
Yellow River Park outside Stone Mountain before Snellville. Rugged hilly trails on one side, flat trails along the river on the other.
Tribble Mill park in Grayson on New Hope Road. Several trails through the park including aproximately 2 mile loop around the small lake.
|
|
|
Post by Holland on Apr 1, 2006 18:07:30 GMT -5
Hi! Completely new to the forums (and the site) but wanted to throw in my knowledge about the last two suggestions. Tribble Mill is awesome, lots of horse/bike trails that run throughout the park, you can easily come up with a 6-8 mile course with little road or repetition (you will find me there most Sundays).
Yellow river was being paved on one side last summer. I have heard that it is since been finished. At the time there was talk about paving the other side too. This side is the one with bike trails cut across a hill and river. Lots of cutbacks and easy to get lost at first. But for the amount of land, there is an amazing amount of trail there. I haven't been there in a while so I'm not sure of the status of this side.
|
|