Albert Einstein once mused, ‘Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.’
Biking around Georgia is a great way to foster that balance and see the sights. You’ll enjoy being immersed in destinations at a slower pace, soaking up the public art, getting an up-close view of wildlife, learning a bit of cultural heritage, and earning your thirst and hunger. And whether it’s a day trip or a weekend, time in nature will send you back to work refreshed.
Knowing our four seasons, I suggest the following: Augusta’s historic canal and levee trail offers a colorful ride when spring flowers are blooming. Once the summer heat and humidity catch up with us, mountain trails near lakes offer a chance to cool off. Pine Mountain’s new rail trail offers a flat ride under a mature tree canopy for viewing that autumn color during Oktoberfest. And of course our 100 miles of coastline are picturesque in winter and offer uncrowded time on bug-free beach trails.
Spring: Bombasin Trails in Augusta
Local visitor center staff won awards for their campy videos of park rangers in short shorts paddling the Serene 18 trail and riding bikes along the canal, river, and lakes and that lured us to Augusta! Bombasin Trails includes numerous sites in the area to bike or hike. For longer visits, ride them all, but for a weekend I recommend the levee/canal trail and the riverwalk. Hyatt Place, in downtown boasts a great rooftop scene with a view of downtown, and sits just a couple of blocks from the trail. Friday night while looking for the James Brown statue we roll by Bike Bike Baby out for a group ride on tricycles with lights and sound systems. Mardi Gras should be a hoot with them. Saturday morning, we bike north along the river levee trail to where it intersects with the canal trail and ride about 6-7 miles along the water before turning back. Many will pause at the pavilion to gaze at the locks of love, and notice the kayakers in the canal or above the spillway paddling to an island where we can feed the resident donkeys from our kayak.
For a breakfast or sunset ride the next day, bike south on the riverwalk and across the Savannah River on the bikes only Freedom Bridge. Both these rides will entice you to snap photos: of fancy homes along the wide Savannah River, the Greenjackets minor league ballpark, an artsy bridge over the river, lilies blooming on the river banks, and those iconic bridges over the canal. Terrain changes from the earthen levee/canal trail, to the brick paved riverwalk, across the colorful paved 5th Street bridge, to the concrete multi use trail along the other side of the river. (Note, that once you cross the river into North Augusta, you are actually in South Carolina as the river serves as the state line.)
Biking beside the water will inevitably lure you to make a choice the next day between more biking or paddling. Either way, vendors are onsite to rent the gear. You can paddle to see the donkeys with Cole Watkins Tours and rent bikes from the Bicycle Peddler. Pad thai or gyros downtown are a tasty treat after a day of exploring. We’ve enjoyed everything from cocktails on the roof of our hotel to patio games at Edgar’s Above. And if you have a third day, drive down to Phinizy Swamp (actually a nature center where the water is filtered) and bike the boardwalks and trails. Running clubs will be sharing the trails with you if it’s early.
Summer: Mountain biking at Cleveland/Lake Chatuge
Knowing that an hour or so north of Atlanta one can find cooler weather in summer, we head up through Cleveland on our way to camp at Lake Chatuge. Yonah Preserve Trails is a must stop in Cleveland to mountain bike the well maintained, machine-groomed trails in the woods flanking the town reservoir. After a couple of loops on the blue trails on my fat tire bike, and a chat with other riders at the park pavilion, we head down the road to Jumping Goat Coffee for a stunning view of Mt. Yonah from their patio that showcases local singer songwriters. If we’re hungry a stop at Clyde’s Table & Tavern on the square is a must for a brisket sandwich or a grilled salmon salad. Since setting up camp before sunset is on our minds, we cruise on up to Hiawassee’s Lake Chatuge. More mountain biking is in store at the lake from Jackrabbit Mountain campsite #45. Take the connector trail, through a meadow, to the trailhead. Ride the white loop, followed by blue, green, red/white lead you to the bike beach on a peninsula. We bring along an inflatable kayak to paddle in the coves, but when you see the Aqua Tiki pontoon boat / bar sail by, you may want to book a proper sunset cruise, drinks included.
Autumn: Rail trails in Pine Mountain/Callaway
Man O’ War Rail Trail runs 13 miles from Pine Mountain south past Callaway Gardens to Hamilton. Featuring an asphalt surface with ample tree canopy, it is mostly flat except for a slight rise on the way back, isnt that always the way! Chipley Cycle will set you up with a bike, and they have e-bikes too, if you are hankering to try one of those, especially if 26 miles RT seems a stretch. Plan on tacos in Hamilton before you turn around to head back. An ice cream shop and coffee/market are next door if you time it right. Back in Pine Mountain, quench that thirst at a german pub newly opened in the old PURE Chipley service station. They’ll curate wine or beer selections for you and invite you to lounge inside or out while you watch the cars go by. A good friend always loves to hit the shops along the 2-block stretch of town and a favorite is the Cats Meow for pottery, puzzles, in an antique frame store. Many choose to stay at the Lodge & Spa at Callaway Gardens where you can ride their paved park trails the next day and grab a charcuterie board and a cocktail at the Cason’s Tap Room afterwards.
Winter: coastal trails on Tybee/WhiteMarsh
Gravel bikes serve me well if I’m unsure what the terrain will be or i’m simply planning on biking on mixed surfaces. In winter, when we head to the coast, Tybee Island has a sandy road running behind homes that keeps you off the busy main road; Skidaway has nature trails filled with roots and downed leaves; and Whitemarsh switches from boardwalk over marshy areas to natural surface. So my Salsa Journeyer (a gravel bike) is ideal for the adventure. Honestly it just has a relaxed riding posture, flat handle bars, and more tread on the tires, which all work to keep me upright!
We love Chamaco Tacos on Tybee and park in the parallel spots out on the main road near them and/or Tybean Coffee. Energize if needed with a toasty london fog and then get to biking. Solomon Avenue is just behind those shops and perfect to bike the northern arc of the island, crossing over at 2nd Avenue to ride the length of the island on a signed bike route cutting through the neighborhoods all the way out to AJs Dockside. It’s easy to zig zag over to the beach near the pier and grab a green drink at Ripe, or wander around in T.S. Chu looking for beach gifts. After 6 or so miles roundtrip, you’ll find us back at Chamaco Tacos for palomas, guacamole, and fish tacos. Look for the surfboard!
Whether you are based in Savannah or the Skidaway Cabins, you can quickly ride trails in the state park under the tall trees and amongst the saw palmettos. A wooden overlook will help you see across the vast marshes. And if you need one more stop on the way back to the city, Whitemarsh Preserve offers nice earthy mulched trails and boardwalks with wildlife sightings just off Johnny Mercer Blvd. On the way back into town, Sandfly is a must stop and each side of the 4-way offers tasty local foods. We love fried scallops at Castaways, BBQ platter at Sandfly BBQ, or the ahi tuna at Driftaway Cafe. Wash it all down with a mexican lager from Silver Bluff Brewing and you are winning and dining local!
