Paved and easy
Smooth surface, no traffic, and flat enough that a first-timer can enjoy it.
Big Creek Greenway
Twelve feet wide and shared with walkers and runners, running from McFarland Parkway north toward Sawnee Mountain Preserve. Five trailheads, with restrooms and parking at Halcyon and Fowler Park.
Eagle’s Beak Park
A near-flat paved loop on 226 acres above the Etowah River. A good first ride with small children, with restrooms and a kayak launch at the middle lot.
Off-road cycling in Forsyth County parks
Three county parks with purpose-built singletrack, from a first dirt ride to rooty and rolling.
Charleston Park
Roots, rocks and short climbs on a loop system that runs along the Lake Lanier shoreline. The ride direction reverses daily at the bridge, so check the sign before you drop in — and use the mountain bike lot, not the boat ramp lot.
Haw Creek Park
Flowy, forgiving and wide enough to ride beside someone. A pump track and a tot track sit at the trailhead for anyone still working on skills.
Matt Community Park
Wide, non-technical and ridden in both directions, off Wallace Tatum Road in the north of the county. Open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Before you ride
Not every trail is open to bikes
Sawnee Mountain Preserve is foot traffic only — walkers, runners and hikers. Leave the bike at home for that one, and leave the dog too; neither is permitted on the preserve trails.
E-bikes and helmets
Class 1 pedal-assist e-bikes are allowed on the county mountain bike trails. Georgia law requires a helmet for every rider under 16, and it is a sensible habit at any age.
Greenway etiquette
The greenway is shared. Keep right, ride single file when it is busy, call your pass before you make it, and slow down through the boardwalk sections.
Check the trail before you load the bike
Greenway sections and park trails close for storm damage, flooding and boardwalk repair. Forsyth County Parks & Recreation posts current closures and park status.