If you are looking for the best bike trails in Atlanta, then you have come to the right place! Atlanta is known for many things, but their biking does not get enough credit! The city blends history, nature, arts, and urban neighborhoods into a thriving metropolis with a small-town feel. There are so many different parts of the city to explore!
Sometimes on vacation, the move is laying in the sand and relaxing. Other times, it is mountain bike trails in Atlanta! This city is great for an adults trip, but also for a family friendly trip with the kids and the biking can be catered to any age group and skill level!
With so much city to see, biking in Atlanta Georgia is a great way to get around and see everything that Atlanta has to offer! Grab some sunscreen and a helmet because we are about to run through the best places to bike in Atlanta!
12 Best Bike Trails In Atlanta You Should Try
Big Creek Greenway
One of the best Atlanta cycling routes is Big Creek Greenway! This nine mile concrete and mulch trail runs along Big Creek, parallel to North Point Parkway. We love this trail because the concrete paved trail allows for a certain amount of safety when you do not have to worry about slippery leaves or muddy spots!
A greenway is a linear park that allows you to visit various spots in a given city. The Big Creek Greenway might give you a peek at blue heron, deer, ducks and Canadian geese! The trail is also relatively flat and there are plenty of places to stop and rest or use the restroom. Not to mention, there are beautiful views of Big Creek!
This trial will take you through the Alpharetta, Roswell, and Cumming neighborhoods. Big Creek Greenway is one of the best paved bike trails in Atlanta, GA for beginners and for families!
Arabia Mountain Path
Arabia Mountain Path is the place to go for the best Atlanta mountain biking because it has a handful of trails all wrapped into one area! This greenway trail winds its way through the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area which means you will bicycle through wooded valleys lined with wildflowers and incredible granite outcroppings!
This is one of the more hilly mountain bike trails in Atlanta so make sure you get a good nights sleep and bring some energy! You also will pass the historic ruins of a granite quarry, over several creeks, and a large wetland! The trail also circles Alexander Lake so there are plenty of places to stop and enjoy the scenery!
There are several places to access the Arabia Mountain Path and lots of different trails to take. With so many options, we know you will have the best time mountain biking here and this is great for people living in Atlanta!
Suwanee Greenway
Suwanee Greenway is one of the best bike routes in Atlanta, GA because of the beautiful views! Almost six and a half miles round trip, this bike route has both boardwalks and paved trails making this a great trail for families. The path takes you through the wetlands filled with frogs, turtles, fish, and waterfowl.
Along Suwanee Greenway there are multiple trailheads meaning you can make your journey as long or short as you want. Right along the trails there are waterscapes and wildlife, tributaries and marshes. There are also times when you can take the road less traveled, for example, a dirt path through the trees as opposed to the paved greenway. Although the trails are sometimes by busy roads, more often than not, you will be next to the beautiful marshland or beneath a glorious forest canopy.
Suwanee Greenway has it all and easily earns its spot as one of the best Atlanta bike trails!
Nancy Creek Trail
Connecting the Murphey-Candler Park to Blackburn Park, the Nancy Creek Trail is one of the best bike trails in Atlanta, GA for beginners! Due to the short length and easy terrain, the trail is very popular with families and can get quite crowded during the warmer months!
Nearby is Blackburn Pavilion as well as tennis courts and baseball fields. Nancy Creek Trail is paved and most of it winds through the scenic park. The trail is well marked so you do not need to worry about getting lost! This trail will also lead you straight to a lake which can be a fun surprise if you have the kiddos with you!
If you are staying near the Atlanta suburb of Brookhaven, the Nancy Creek Trail is one of the best paved bike trails in Atlanta for families!
Cochran Shoals Trail
One of the most popular Atlanta cycling routes is the Cochran Shoals Trail because it runs along the Chattahoochee River! With wide abundant views of the river, you will not be disappointed spending a Saturday riding around exploring!
This trail is more suited to mountain bikers as it is level gravel. The weekends can get busy as this trail is popular with runners, hiker, and mountain bikers alike! There are four miles of trails and around every corner is a beautiful site to take in! From angular rock shoals to waterfowl soaring through the skies, there is so much to see!
The outer loop is a 5k in case you are interested in tracking your distance or getting timed. Mostly flat, it is a great spot for beginning mountain bikers while you learn to bike on something other than paved trails. Looping around the marshland habitats, you never know what you may see! Cochran Shoals Trail has some of the best mountain biking in Atlanta for beginners!
Bear Creek Trail
If you are looking for a mossy, fern filled creek valley to spend the day mountain biking, then Bear Creek Trail will be your match made in Heaven for Atlanta mountain biking! This is also one of those trails that you can make as long or short as you want. At five and a half miles round trip and dog friendly this is a popular spot for the adventurers!
Bear Creek Trail is in an old part of Georgia with towering old-growth trees, a boulder lined creek valley, and a wonderful shady forest canopy. This trail also takes you by Gennett Poplar, the second largest living tree in Georgia.
The bubbling creek and abundance of wildflowers makes Bear Creek Trial one of the most popular bike trails in Atlanta! The soft green moss also makes this one a bit of challenge so make sure you are prepared for any slippery spots!
West Palisades Trail
One of the best Atlanta bike trails is the West Palisades Trail because it has a reputation for being ultra scenic! This paved trail is a little over three and a half miles roundtrip and dog friendly, what more could you want!
The trail explores the Paces Mill Park, one of the most popular Chattahoochee River recreation spots! Biking through a wooded forest where you can see a variety of wildlife due to the river ecosystem! Starting off along the Chattahoochee River, the trail swings to follow the Rottenwood Creek upstream to a small waterfall!
The West Palisades Trail provides some of the best nature views in the metro area of Atlanta! Whether you come for the nature or come for the mountain biking, you are sure to have a great time. Check out West Palisades Trail for some of the best bike routes in Atlanta!
Iron Hill Loop Trail
Located in the Red Top Mountain State Park, the Iron Hill Loop Trail is one of the most scenic bike paths in Atlanta Georgia! The trial is almost four miles round trip, dog friendly, and has a lake which is honestly all of the best things rolled into one action packed trail. Biking around the peninsula and into a quiet cove on Lake Allatoona makes it one of the most awe-inspiring bike paths in Atlanta.
This trail is half the distance of the more popular Homestead Loop, but boasts double to the scenic lakeside views. Every turn will reveal a new stunning lake view throughout the trail. The path itself is boardwalks and gravel trails so you will have to share the trail with hikers and walkers! In order to get to the lake, you will get to bike through a young redwood forest!
Panola Mountain PATH Trail
The Panola Mountain PATH Trail is like stepping into your favorite fantasy novel. Filled with lakes, exposed granite fields covered in moss, wildflowers, and shady forests, this is one of the best places to bike in Atlanta! Panola Mountain PATH Trail is a little over five miles round trip and paved! Located in Panola Mountain State Park, the varied terrain makes for a fun ride and shows you various natural ecosystems!
This trail connects with over thirty miles of paved trails through the parks in the Arabia Mountain National Heritage area! The varied terrain leads you to the calm reflective water of Alexander Lake. It gets better. The trail leading you there is over boardwalks that show both upper and lower Alexander Lake as well as the marshy shoreline, views of the mountains, and even a historic barn! With lots to see, the Panola Mountain PATH Trail is one of the best bike trails in Atlanta GA.
Piedmont Park Loop
Known as a road bike trail, the Piedmont Park Loop is one of the easier bike trails in Atlanta and perfect for families! Popular with birders, you are likely to encounter people there for various reasons all exploring the various ecosystems this trail offers. Open year round, the loop circles Lake Clara Meer. Approximately two and half miles, this trail is great if you are looking to get some sunshine on a nice day!
Piedmont Park is almost two hundred acres and has both open meadows and wooded sections. If you have the time, it is a beautiful place to bike around and explore. All relatively flat, the trails are not super strenuous but they are great for a meandering sort of ride. The Piedmont Park Loop is one of the best bike paths in Atlanta!
Stone Mountain Trail
One of the most well known bike paths in Atlanta is the Stone Mountain Trail, but many do not know the full extent of this expansive trail! The greenway between Freedom Park and Candler Park is most well known, but the trail actually extends 19 miles and connects midtown Atlanta to Stone Mountain Park!
Paved with either asphalt or concrete, this trail takes you past skyscrapers, Stone Mountain, the Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site, the Carter Center, and so much more. If you are looking for a trail that will show you a lot of Atlanta, this is it! Blending both car-free paths and bike lanes on the main road, this trail has a lot of variety and provides quite the workout!
We recommend this trail if you are interested in seeing different parts of Atlanta. Make sure to fuel up with a great Atlanta breakfast before this trail ride! Stone Mountain Trail is one of the best Atlanta bike trails!
Atlanta Beltline Bike Trail
The Atlanta Beltline Bike Trail is the best bike trail in Atlanta if you are looking to experience the city from the sites to the sounds and smells! Unlike the standard straight line of a rail trail, the Atlanta Beltline Bike Trail is a twenty-two mile loop around the city and another eleven miles of spur trail that take you into neighborhoods and parks. This is the premier way to see Atlanta!
The trail links more than forty neighborhoods, public parks, and mass transit stations! Dubbed the green ghost because of its shape (it is not a perfect circle), the rail trail incorporates four inactive freight lines! Because the trail connects so many parks, parking is a breeze and bike rental around the city are plentiful! There are a lot of people on this trail but it is not very strenuous and very safe so we recommend it highly as one of the best bike trails in Atlanta!
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