Go Back   Two Wheel Fix > Riding > Dirt

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-15-2014, 10:55 AM   #1
Triple
uncomfortably numb
 
Triple's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: JOH-JAH!
Moto: WR250R & Bonneville
Posts: 409
Default Lake Conasauga, north Georgia

Since so many people frequent this forum (and the "Dirt" section in particular) these days...

Aboard the Triumph earlier this week, climbing Hwy 2/52 between Chatsworth and Ellijay past Fort Mountain State Park, I passed a signed labeled "Lake Conasauga Recreation Area, 14 miles." Having never noticed this before, I decided to research the lake upon returning home that evening. The following morning I mapped a very rudimentary route to the lake through the trails and service roads of the Cohutta wilderness.

And into the woods I went...

Good thing I brought one along!



It doesn't say "good" or "talented," just experienced. Guess I'm good to go...



I think the highest peak in this area reaches about 4000 feet above sea level. Wherever the trail breaks through the trees, you're met with views like these:







I found these creepy things in the middle of nowhere. Alien crypts? Secret military weapons stores? Nazi war bunkers?





Nearly 25 miles from where I entered the woods east of Eton, I finally reached the lake. At almost 3200 feet, it's the highest lake in the state of Georgia. It only has about 19 acres of surface area, but like most dammed, man-made mountain bodies of water, it is probably very deep. Beautiful area, and for such a remote place, very well equipped as well. There is a clearly marked swimming area, a nicely groomed trail that circumnavigates the lake, a boat ramp, two nice campgrounds, bathrooms with running water, and multiple pavilions with grills and picnic tables. Still, that far from civilization and on a mid-Thursday afternoon, the place was deserted.









A few miles beyond the lake, the trail ends at Grassy Mountain Tower (alt. 3400 feet). The tower's platform was inaccessible, but I snapped a few shots from the stairs:









All told, I covered just shy of 60 miles in the "wilderness" over the span of about five hours. With a good map and enough food/gas, I could camp in here and ride these trails and service roads for a week and still not cover the entire system. Most of the trails within 20 miles of my house dead-end a few miles into the woods-- great views and good times, sure, but nothing like the interconnecting network of trails in the Cohutta / Fort Mountain area. These trails connect at least three cities across 50 (or more miles) of wilderness in any given direction.
Triple is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-15-2014, 02:15 PM   #2
Turbo Ghost
Movie Star
 
Turbo Ghost's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Kingsport, TN.
Moto: KLR650
Posts: 682
Default

Very nice! Looks like somewhere I might have to visit in the future!
Turbo Ghost is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2014, 08:39 PM   #3
Gas Man
Trip's Assistant
 
Gas Man's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Imported from Detroit
Moto: 2009 HD Street Classic
Posts: 12,149
Default

WTF were those things? And is that a fire watch tower?
__________________
-Chris



"Why pay somebody else to fuck up your bike?"
Run Amsoil Product
Gas Man is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2014, 10:38 AM   #4
RedRider2k2
Holier Than Thou
 
RedRider2k2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: N.B, Canada
Moto: 06 ZX10R, 18 400 Ninja, 11 KLX250s
Posts: 463
Default

Wow, beautiful area.
__________________
Good judgement is the product of experience...Experience is the product of bad judgement.
Sometimes The Faster It Gets, The Less You Need To Know.
But You Gotta Remember The Smarter It Gets, The Furthur It's Gonna Go.
RedRider2k2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-25-2014, 01:00 AM   #5
Tsunami
Pug Queen
 
Tsunami's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Moto: DR200, SV650
Posts: 2,486
Default

How fun! Make me want to get a smaller dirtbike so I can go play off the beaten path.
Tsunami is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-25-2014, 10:37 AM   #6
Triple
uncomfortably numb
 
Triple's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: JOH-JAH!
Moto: WR250R & Bonneville
Posts: 409
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tsunami View Post
How fun! Make me want to get a smaller dirtbike so I can go play off the beaten path.
Smaller than a DR200..?
Triple is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2014, 05:28 AM   #7
Tsunami
Pug Queen
 
Tsunami's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Moto: DR200, SV650
Posts: 2,486
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Triple View Post
Smaller than a DR200..?
I think something like a TTR125 would be perfect. I'm fine on flat packed wide trails but the technical stuff, I would like something smaller. I'm tiny!
Tsunami is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2014, 04:16 PM   #8
EpyonXero
AMA Supersport
 
EpyonXero's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Redneck Riviera, FL
Moto: 2003 VFR800f6
Posts: 2,531
Default

Cool, looks like fun.
__________________
EpyonXero is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:31 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.