More water availability would be nice, but the trail was in great shape, and was clearly enjoyed by many bikers and pedestrians. WHAT A GEM! Definitely worse when we came back--tired legs and sore butt were feeling it. I rode the Silver Comet trail April 10-11, 2012. We rode from Rockmart in both directions and will be back for more! Very serene. Stopped in Jacksonville for lunch at Strut’s. The grade is very level, and the trail is in good shape. The folks we encountered were nice enough, but it seemed to be a seedy area. We recently rode from Cedartown to the Georgia/Alabama line and back making a pretty good ride out of it. We got there around 5:20, and it was very packed shortly thereafter. Easy to moderate round-trip starting near Drummond Park trail head (mm 20.16) and ride west to Coots Lake (mm 33.48). At Mile Marker 30.8, the Brushy Mountain Tunnel sounds a spooky note with 700 feet of damp, dark corridor. Go do it. ", "After riding the Comet only once I immediately saw a need for more trail use education. Perfect place for lunch. You can get to West Anniston but you have to go out on the two lane highway to do so. We rode from Symrna, GA to Hiram GA, which is about 15 miles each way, and absolutely loved it. There were no workers present and a sign that advised riding at our own risk. FYI on the food situation - we rode on saturday and expected to eat lunch at Moore's soda fountain in Cedartown but it is closed on Saturdays! We enjoyed the scenery as well as much of the trail being shaded. A few miles after crossing the Pumpkin Vine Creek trestle, I don't think there is more than one house visible, nothing but forest, with numerous hills, creeks and brooks. The combined total will be 95 miles.Add in the connector fron S. Cobb Rd and East West Connector and get another mile. I am planning to come back sometime next month and ride further out toward Smyrna. Be sure to bring plenty of water, cell phone and a repair kit. Yes, secure as it is patrolled by several county sheriffs that it passes through. Rode the farthest western portion for 20 miles. I am shamed! Interpretive plaques, historical markers, place names, availability and direction of restroom\food\lodging\police\medical signs, etc. These parts of the CL & SC trails were great but bring plenty of fluids and be careful at all the crossings. I would recommend this trail to anyone, be sure to bring lots of water though in the summer, either we could not locate the water fountains or there were not as many as the map indicates, probably the former I would guess. It wasn't center lined or finished in the grading on the edges. My 11 year-old son and I have just completed the trail from start to finish.We started in the parking lot of Publix in Cobb county which is the Silver Comet Connector. Not having a choice, we began riding again. 471 (Edgemont). I encountered a couple of motorcycles and two atvs, driving at high rates of speed near the Dallas trailhead. Beautiful trail. Presently, a good mountain bike or hybrid will make the stretch nicely with only a couple of muddy places to skirt. The tunnel at mi31 was fun, as was the trestle at mi23, and the village of Rockmart. All-in-all – a great ride! There are a couple of unique places to lunch but since it was Sunday most of the place were close so we ate some awesome Sunday-after-church fried chicken at Bojangles. 92, near the K-Mart.Tom BaughmanAlgonquin, Illinois", "To the person who likes to ride fast (posting 3/8), I have 2 young kids (1 riding, one in bike cart). ", "The Silver Comet is by far the best rails-to-trails path I've ridden. It’s a good place to stay and has a great breakfast in the morning. We really enjoyed our ride of 25 miles (12.5 each way) on the 19th. If you stay at Holiday Inn Express for couple days, ask for a room with Kitchenette. We rode the trail the first week of August in 100 degree heat so we enjoyed several dips in the flowing water near the trails. We stayed at the Country Hearth Inn in Cedartown Ga, they have great prices and clean rooms. Hope to return in the fall. Every road crossing was very well marked and I believe all of them had a stop light with a button to stop traffic. Jerry Taylor", "My wife and I just did the Full Monty. It is concrete paving, wide and very well maintained. There are a ton of walkers on the trail, especially the first 5 miles and you have to be very careful riding. I wrote a book about this trail after walking the whole trail in 2004 with friends. I saw 7 wild turkeys ( big! all around would definitely do it again! GM Kay Wallace was so nice. It's one of Georgia's best kept activity trails if not across the nation. 278 just west of Rt. This section of the trail was not well-maintained, but that may have been due to recent storms. Since the old railbed is in use from Rockmart to Cedartown (mi53), the trail runs alongside the railroad for much of this stretch. Stayed in a very bicycle friendly establishment in Cedartown, GA, the Quality Inn. My wife and I have rode the trail several times. Dinner that evening was at Zorba’s – an easy ¼ mile walk back down Main St. Our 3rd days destination was Dallas. I think the more people out rideing the merrier it is. At Mile Marker 23, the Pumpkinvine Creek Trestle stands 100 feet high and 700 feet long. The Silver Comet Rail/Trail is remarkably well maintained with regular, plumbed restrooms/H2O and accurate mileposts. I think the biggest negative is also a good thing -- the trail is crowded. Mile Marker 37.6 heralds your arrival in idyllic, small-town Rockmart. It was a beautiful ride. Great little town, super friendly locals, discount at Holiday Inn Express because we told them we were riding the trail, and delicious post ride fare: BBQ at Wallaces, Lasagna and broiled fish at Zorbas, and a great lunch on our last day at Perckles on Main Street--yummy little local deli. for Sherman Tree trail General Sherman Tree Pear Lake 9200ft 2804m Alta Peak 1 1204ft '3415m River Tokopah Falls —Heather Lake Elizabeth ass 1 1400ft 3475m Tamarack Lake Bearpaw Meadow 7800ft 2377m Crystal Cave 4540ft 1384m Road open summer Only. I have ridden this trail start to finish and back encountering the sheriff for the county almost every time. We thoroughly enjoyed the scenery, the wildlife, the trestle, and the tunnels. None of the dogs were the least bit annoyed or startled by the number of joggers, bikers, roller bladers or the other less than behaved dogs on the trail. At the end of our days ride we came into Dallas, riding to the north side of town to the Ragsdale Inn. We rode the Comet east to Cedartown mi53 (see my reviews of other sections of Comet), then turned around and rode west to Borden Springs. ", "I have ridden my bike on the Silver Comet on several occasions and really like it. It is on the trial with plenty of acreage, a running creek, clean showers and a great staff (Terry & his dog Honey)! Wear bug spray!! Both kids left with a great deal more confidence than when they started! Unfortunately, we both crashed on a wooden bridge as we left Cedartown. We can't just ride part. The path definitely needs a nearby shop that sells hard ice cream! Didn't see any animals at all, but we cycled from noon til about 2:15 so they were probably all taking a siesta. ", "WE JUMPED ON IN HIRAM AT THE 14.6 MILE MARKER AND WENT TO THE WEST END INTO ROCKMART AT THE 37.5 MILE MARKERTHE RIDE IS GREAT THE PEOPLE THAT DID THIS DID AN AMAZING JOB.THE SURFACE IS WONDERFUL, WELL MAINTAINED, GREAT PARKINGEVERYONE SHOULD DO THIS RIDE.WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO RIDING THE COMPLETE TRAIL NEXT TRIP", "What a beautiful paved trail...it seems no effort was spared to preserve the natural environment...thrilling bridges where you feel like you are riding thru treetops...able to maintain a contiuous pace very easily because of the very gentle grade. I said we were, and she said "Your room rate wll be $75 because we like cyclists and appreciate their business. I have never seen a sight so incredible, much less Rottweilers being so calm and undisturbed by the activities. This section is well shaded along both sides by large hardwood and pine trees, very nice especially in the heat. Benches are found every two or three miles and side excursions at well traveled road intersections can reveal dining and refreshment facilities. Great job to those who created this trail! He saw I had a problem, dropped what he was doing and took care of me...now that's what customer service is all about!This was our first time on the trail and it was a very positive experience overall. West of the trestle, the trail alternates between rock cuts and considerably elevated embankments above lovely deep, wooded ravines. Day three, from Hiram to Smyrna was short but pleasant. The trail condition was great, and most everyone on the trail was very courteous. There is a full service bike shop (The Silver Comet Depot) right on the trail just a few miles from the western terminus. ... a GoPro HERO4 Silver with water housing is a great option. It was a great ride, I barely noticed that I was getting exercise at the same time. The hot tub was broken and a few of the amenities were out of date. If you live in or near the Atlanta area, it's a must ride. Coming into Rockmart the park setting is beautiful. I hope everyone will respect the trail's beauty and not trash this treasure. The path is cement in Georgia and asphalt in Alabama for the entire length. You do hear the East West Connector at some points along the trail. In a few weeks my family is going to Panama City, FL. ", "The Silver Comet is part rural and part suburban. At Rockmart a bike shop near the trail sells ice cream bars. Since one of our hobbies is to ride bike trails in as many different states as vacation time allows I thought I would share my perspective of the SCT in relation to the others. Terrapin Creek to Peidmont is a great ride. The trails are easy to use, parking is close, restrooms are available and the maintenance is adequate. A trail in Silver Falls State Park past 10 beautiful waterfalls, perfect for the whole family. The first day I went alone and that convinced me to find friends. Standing atop the trestle, you can almost picture the Comet streaking past in a silver blur. There are a few spots where I wondered how they got the concrete on the steep slopes. . The owners are from Lousiana (displaced from Katrina) and the food was very good. I can't wait to ride it end to end. The western portions are generally free of high bike and blade use and more rural in demeanor. Bring lots of water, as I have yet to find a fresh-water supply on the trail, and 'check six' - watch behind you often, as few riders will announce that they're passing, and the trail is curvy enough that speed demons appear as if from nowhere. Joe's is a meat-and-two type restaurant with great country fried steak and mac & cheese. I had intentions of riding the whole way to Alabama and back but my arrival in Atlanta did not allow for enough daylight to travel the full 120 miles. There is a lot of shade and the ride is interesting as you ride through forests, over a high bridge, and through a couple of tunnels. Scenic and long. We did lunch in Powder Springs Road – a Subway shop and then ice cream at Dairy Queen. The only complaint I have is the restrooms that are on the maps, in reality are not. Make sure you stop and sign the guest register. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Cedartown and were very happy with the lodging. At every intersection there were crossing buttons that instantly changed the traffic light to green for trail users. "We have ridden this trail many times. The also have sag support and some repair stuff. Especially when approaching some road crossings is this true. Trail Icon Trail Name Miles Class Rating Description; Indian Spring Trail: 2.2: C: 2: Inside the Lake Area near the sled hill, Indian Spring Trail passes its namesake spring before looping back through two types of forests. Very few riders were out as the weather was not the best, it was March not vbacation time and we were cycling during the week. I give it at ""10""!! We live in Illinois and are coming down there for spring break, and we're looking forward to trying the Silver Comet Trail. If starting the trail at the Ga line you want to get on hwy 278 west and go to the 1 mile marker towards Alabama. ", "OK, you want a good workout on a bike or roller blades or just a location to walk and jog and haven't found a suitable place in the Atlanta to Cedartown area that's free of vehicular traffic. The trail was nice, smooth concrete. Piedmont to Cedartown and back was 48 scenic miles. ), one rattlesnake ( small! Note: This is not the North Falls Day Use area. Stay off McClellan Highway as there’s no shoulder on a good part of it and the traffic is too heavy. The first couple of miles into Georgia, the trail was clear and offered more exposure to the sun than the trail did in Alabama. My wife and I rode the trail yesterday. I was there last about a year ago and plan to go back soon. That is if you dont count the attack by the killer squirel that tried to climb the leg of one of the ladies in the group. I saw several police patrols in Smart cars on the trail, and there are cameras at various spots too. An additional comment is that the SCT trail can now be ridden all the way from Smyrna GA to the AL state line without leaving the trail. We enjoyed the pool, the late afternoon cookies, the free breakfast, and started riding toward Alabama the next morning. You can't believe your so close to the city in this peaceful area. It would be a shame to have the trail closed because some fool got hurt and sued the trail management forcing the trail to close. To end the ride, we continued onto the Silver Comet Connector and then the Cumberland Connector to reach the Hampton Inn that’s just south of the Cumberland Mall. Shady, clean (they were blowing off leaves while we rode), mostly flat, some small hills near alabama state line, fun! I'm looking forward to returning to the area to ride both trails. We rode the first day from Smyrna to mile 25 and turned around. We started the day by getting to-go lunches at the Solid Rock Café, and ate them up on the AL/GA state line. Rockmart has a nice little Italian place located in the square. I have nothing against development, but the size and style of some of the construction seems out of touch with the nature of the trail. Real nice folks at both places. Ready for some activity? Spent the night at the Sleep Inn in Hiram, GA (sidewalk most of the way then took the Home Depot/Target shopping center parking lot route to hotel). There are some challenging ups & downs and twists/turns here until you’ve passed the landfill that’s about halfway to Rockmart. Plenty of rest stops, much shade, and such nice people along the way. The tomales, and handmade tortillas (used in the tacos) really were fantastic after the ride.Two weeks later we started at Floyd Rd and rode to Mile 17. "Along with being surprised I was deeply appreciative for the discount. I have ridden the whole thing from end to end but, it took me four days. Now, that's quite a few miles from suburban Atlanta to the Alabama border. Whether you want to run 5 miles or bike 60, this rail-trail is an excellent option. However after about 12 miles, the trail is very rural. Leaving from Hiram, we made stops in Cedartown, Anniston, Cedartown, Hiram and then looped to the end of the trail in Symrna returning to Hiram the same day. It great exercise. This is a trail not to be missed if you are in the Atlanta area. We road back to Cedartown, GA and stayed at the Holliday Inn Express “great place and clean” we had dinner at Portobello’s in Cedartown just ¼ mile from the hotel on main st. “great food and service”. they did great - largely on the original rail/paved trail. Great trails though! When completed (in 2005, we hope) all 57 miles will be available. We took our two boys and had a great time!! We wanteed to sample more of the GA trail systems. March: 8:00am- 8:00pm May be an issue for some folks! ", "The Silver Comet is close enough to the Cobbb County and Vinings area suburbs for rapid access. Go get it. A bit hilly, but even with all our gear we did OK. Dinner across the road in the mall – at the Cheesecake Factory – was a just reward! Thumbs up to the club and thumbs up to the Rottweiler lady who kindly instructed others on proper trail etiquette while walking their dogs. On the third day we rode back to Mableton. The best section of the path was west of the Pumpkinville Trestle, about 0.7 miles west of the Rambo trailhead. We regroomed Saturday evening and the trails are in great shape for skate and classic skiing. The number of road crossings and trail traffic increase in Cobb, as well. Improvements that we would love to see are more benched rest areas with bike racks and covered shelters and enforcement of animal control. Road the leg from the Georgia State line to Cedartown. Disability placard and winter parking for Beautiful trail, well maintained. This added about 10 miles more to the trip. They made it! The section between Mavell Road trailhead and Rockmart Riverwalk was a stunning ride with a few controlled intersections with fast light changes! What struck me most was the extreme and precise signage all along the trail with far more than mile markers. Oh well, just one of those days. The park itself is 9,000 acres and contains over 24 miles of trails for biking and hiking. In the past, most of the dogs I have seen on the trail were not under control and many were on leashes well over 6 feet in length. Our well-educated and courteous group had many close calls with people and children. I can only see the popularity of the Comet increasing and accidents becoming all too common if we don't educate people on proper trail use. This was our tenth ride on the trail. This 90+ mile ride started in Nickajack in Georgia and ended in Woodland Park just north of Anniston, AL. Silver Comet Trail spans 61.5 mi. Looking for a great trail in Silver Falls State Park, Oregon? Another 12 miles connects Cedartown with the AL line. Slight uphill grade westward (downhill heading back). I ran with my GPS watch but the trail is so well marked with mile posts, you don't need it unless you want to check your pace. We were slugging back a lot of water during the 20 mile round trip ride and that was our only letdown. Good Job! Recommend this trail. Furthermore, keep those stray kids over to the right side and if they must stop, get them off the trail. Thumbs up to Polk County. The bridge crossings are very cool and the elevation change is so slight that you don't realize you are pedalling uphill unless you notice the change in your pace. ( until the next day) I recommend it to all ages. . could be added at appropriate sites. Happy Trails.I'll also post some pictures of the Parking/Trail access soon. Love it! The inclines and declines were gradual and easy to traverse. All in all, great riding! Yes, I usually do my faster riding early in the morning. If you MUST ride on a weekend start west of Powder Springs and head west. We found the eastern sections (close to Atlanta) the most used and occasionally crowded especially on weekends (watch out for uncontrolled kids and dogs on long leashes). The Eubanks Welcome Center at MP 13.6 is a God send. We should try to make paths safe for kids, so they can enjoy a long future of biking fun, too. He wasn't kidding - this is a great trail. We rode the Silver Comet and Chief Ladiga Trail as a loop from Hiram, GA towards AL and then looping back to the Smyrna end. After returning the same way, we had a great night sleep and I hit the CL trial westbound. If a group of people are taking up the whole trail announce ""Passing on Your Left"" and they will politely move over. I look forward to the next time. We ride all of the trail. Our future generations will be able to enjoy this beautiful bit of serenity in a great state. We took a nice drive along the East-West Connector - by the park.... and quickly learned that the roads on the map do not connect to the East West Connector! 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