There are a number of riding spots in Georgia, but one of the best is the Locust Stake ORV Area in the Chattooga Ranger District of the Chattahoochee National Forest.
Located in northern Georgia, the Locust Stake ORV Area is the second largest of the 10 federally managed riding areas in the state, with 17 miles of trails ranging from easy to most difficult. It's one of the most popular riding areas because it offers a scenic and challenging ride through stands of Georgia Pine and then on the more challenging trails- a railroad trestle.
The North Fork Trestle is about 1,400 feet long and is supported by 10 reinforced concrete piers with heights up to 200 feet. It was the first bridge of this height to employ hollow piers. You can’t really get the whole picture as you sit below the trestle, but you can see the whole structure from near the riding area.
To go there, do this: When you leave Locust Stake Road and go to the nearby four-lane road, turn left, go up the hill, and the railroad tracks pass under a bridge. The very next paved road on the left is Trestle Ridge. Go to the end of the road and take the black top to the left and you’ll see it as you approach the turn-around.
The Georgia Recreational Trail Riders Association (GARTRA) works in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service to maintain the area, and can be found working on the trail system throughout the season. Using the same idea as the Department of Natural Resource's Adopt a Trail program, volunteers that ride these trails also help maintain them and help keep them from suffering too much impact from overuse. The Locust Stake ORV Area closes from January 1 through March 31 to protect the environment during the wet and freezing months of the year, this also lessens environmental impact on the riding trails.
There is a user fee of $5 per day and/or $25 for a season pass. Some 80 percent of this money is returned to the riding area for trail maintenance and improvements. There are no rest rooms on site but facilities are planned in a future expansion.
