Mountain or Road Biking

 National forest bike trails
North Carolina’s national forests offer more than 245 miles of bike trails. Forest roads are also open for mountain biking, unless otherwise signed.

Near Hiwassee Lake  (25 minutes from the cabin)
At Hanging Dog Recreation Area    on the Tusquitee Ranger District, 7.2 miles of intersecting loops are offered. The trails start near the boat launch, with great Hiwassee Lake views.

Near Hayesville  (about 20 minutes from the cabin)
Tracing the edges of Lake Chatuge, Jackrabbit Mountain Bike Trails features 14 miles of challenging trail located only a 1/2 mile from Jackrabbit Mountain Campground and day-use area. 
 More info
Group ride

SABA hosts several weekly group rides each week. The schedule changes, so check their site. 
They offer weekly rides from downtown Hayesville.
Leaving from Jackrabbit   (20 minutes away)
Leaving from Hayesville    (10 minutes away)


Bike Rentals:
Mountain biking - Trails and bike rentals at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. Click for info
Tsali trails - A four loop, 39-mile system of bike trails, some along the shore of Fontana Lake. 





Hiking and Mountain Biking in Unicoi State Park, GA (52 minutes from the  cabin)
Click for directions  

There are many miles of hiking trails in Unicoi State Park, along with a 7 mile mountain bike trail. The trails provide a great opportunity to enjoy the scenery of the north Georgia mountains, with views and hiking experiences that change with each season. Spring brings new greenery to the forest and the colors of the early blooming flowers. Summer offers more flowers and the the fully leaved hardwoods forests. Bright fall colors eventually give way to the open forest and scenic views, which offer a perspective of the landscape that you do not get when the vegetation is more lush and flush with foliage.
Mountain Bike Trail

A 7 mile loop trail. Beginning March 1, a $2 daily or $25 annual pass will be required for mountain biking. This trail is for experienced riders. It is built on an old roadbed and is a wide single track. The trailhead is located at a parking area that provides access for the park's fishermen and mountain bikers. There is a bathroom, a self-serve visitor fee box, and a board with information about fishing and biking in Unicoi. To get to the road leading to the parking area - after passing the turn off for Unicoi Lodge take the first paved road to your right as you travel east on GA 356.

The mountain bike trail was designed as a NORBA racing course and has been used for a number of mountain biking racing events. It varies in difficulty as you travel along the trail but it is not for beginners. In many areas the trail is a real challenge, going up and down in elevation with longer stretches where you really have to pay attention to the track. Other areas provide a little bit of a break. You can enjoy the scenery as you follow the creek and take in some of the views at a few higher elevation portions of the trail.
http://www.unicoistatepark.org/unicoi_hiking.html


These options below are farther away:

Near Hot Springs 
Mountain bikers can ride on three trails in Appalachian District’s Hot Springs area. The 3.6-mile Laurel River Trail follows an old railroad grade.
The Golden Ridge Trail offers several vistas from Rich Mountain along its 7.5 mile route. Check out mountain views along Mill Ridge Trail’s (area is unavailable) four miles of old roadbed.
Click for directions

Near Bryson City 
Tsali Recreation Area’s challenging single-track trails overlook Fontana Lake and the Great Smoky Mountains.
Each day, half of the 42 designated trail miles are open to bikes, and the other half are open to horses. Users can pay a daily fee at trailhead. An annual pass is available at Cheoah District and two vendors. Visit the passes and permits page for more information.


Mountain Bike

Road Cycling