Top Towns, Communities, and Cities with Dirt, Gravel, and Mountain Trails

Georgia might not be the first state that comes to mind for trail running destinations, but this southern state’s incredible diversity of terrain is a runner’s dream. The number and variety rivals many celebrated trail havens. Pick from the rugged Appalachian peaks to pristine coastal forests for year-round trail running.

What sets Georgia’s trail systems apart isn’t just the choice in terrain or its individual standout trails but the towns and communities that serve as gateways to dirt, gravel, and singletrack adventures. Discover the places where trail runners can establish a perfect basecamp—communities where trailheads are minutes away and the local culture embraces the muddy-shoed, post-run lifestyle.

What Makes a Great Trail Running Town or Community?

Before diving into specific locations across Georgia, let’s explore what elevates a place from merely having a nearby running trail to becoming a true trail running haven:

• Distance to diverse trail networks: The best trail towns provide immediate access to multiple trail systems with varying difficulty levels.
• Quality off-road surfaces: We’re focusing on genuine trail experiences—dirt paths, technical singletrack, and forest service roads, not concrete road routes
• Active running community: Places with established running groups, regular events, and a culture that celebrates the sport
• Supportive infrastructure: From specialty running shops for gear emergencies to breweries perfect for post-run gatherings

Best Trail Running Towns in North Georgia Mountains

The Appalachian Mountains create a dramatic landscape of ridges and valleys in Georgia’s northeast corner. It shouldn’t be a surprise that this scenic terrain also serves some of the state’s most rewarding and popular trails for running. Most of the towns listed here surround the Chattahooche-Oconee National Forest; people come from all over to hike, bike, and yes, run the scenic trails. 

Dahlonega & Amicalola

This historic gold rush town has transformed into a trail runner’s paradise, serving as the southern gateway to the Appalachian Trail. Dahlonega lures the adventurer at heart.

Trail Highlights:

• The legendary Appalachian Trail approach from Amicalola Falls (8.5 miles of challenging terrain with over 1,800 feet of elevation gain)
• Springer Mountain trail runs give panoramic ridge views and abundant wildlife, including deer and birds
• Amicalola Falls paths, including the challenging staircase alongside North America’s tallest cascading waterfall

Local Scene: Home to the Dahlonega Trail Fest each September, hundreds of trail enthusiasts come for the challenge. The town’s square has several cafés for pre-run fueling, while local outdoor shops also cater to trail runners.

Blue Ridge

Tucked in the mountains just south of the Tennessee border, Blue Ridge gives runners access to some of Georgia’s most pristine wilderness.

Trail Highlights:

• Benton MacKaye Trail segments’ rolling terrain through old-growth forest and magnificent trees
• Aska Trail System’s interconnected network of singletrack paths to bike, hike, and run
• Long Branch Loop features moderate technical challenges with creek crossings

Local Scene: The Blue Ridge Mountain Trail Runners host regular group runs for all levels, while downtown Blue Ridge provides the perfect recovery zone with craft breweries and restaurants. Nature lovers come from all over to fish, hike, and relax in the classic Appalachian scenery.

Suches

Known as “The Valley Above the Clouds,” this tiny mountain community sits at 2,785 feet elevation, making Suches one of Georgia’s highest settlements and an ideal training ground for mountain runners. Build endurance and your red blood cells with challenging hill climbs at elevation.

Trail Highlights:

• Direct access to the Appalachian Trail and Duncan Ridge Trail
• Dockery Lake trails promise moderate technical challenges and great views
• Cooper Gap segments have lung-burning climbs

Local Scene: What Suches lacks in size, it makes up for in authentic mountain culture. The annual Duncan Ridge Trail Race attracts elite trail runners looking to test themselves on one of the most challenging running trails in Georgia.

Helen

This Bavarian-themed town might seem like a tourist attraction, but beautiful trail options in the Chattahoochee National Forest make it a prime town for trail runs.

Trail Highlights:

• Raven Cliff Falls Trail, a 5-mile out-and-back moderate trail alongside Dodd Creek to a dramatic 40-foot waterfall
• Unicoi State Park’s lake loop and mountain trails have stunning scenery
• Smith Creek Trail connecting to Anna Ruby Falls

Local Scene: Helen’s German-themed downtown provides unique post-run refreshment options, including authentic German bakeries and brewhouses. The town hosts several trail and road races annually, including the Helen Holiday Trail Half Marathon. Wrap a run with a trip to this gorgeous part of the Georgia highlands.

Blairsville

Home to more challenging terrain, Blairsville serves as the epicenter for serious mountain running.

Trail Highlights:

• Coosa Backcountry Trail at Vogel State Park—a brutal 12.9-mile loop with roughly 4,000 feet of elevation gain
• Slaughter Creek Trail to Brasstown Bald (Georgia’s highest peak)
• Notla River Trail for gentler recovery runs

Local Scene: Blairsville is home to the infamous Georgia Death Race, one of the Southeast’s most challenging ultramarathons. It starts near here and finishes near Amicalola State Park. The community embraces mountain athletes, with Cabin Coffee Co. serving as the unofficial headquarters for trail runners swapping stories.

Northwest Georgia Trail Running Hubs

While Northeast Georgia gets most of the attention, the northwest corner delivers equally impressive trail running opportunities with slightly different terrain features. Flat terrain meets steep ridges and valleys and give this corner some of the best running trails in Georgia.

Trenton

This small town is the gateway to Cloudland Canyon State Park, one of Georgia’s most scenic trail destinations.

Trail Highlights:

• Cloudland Canyon’s Waterfall Trail descends over 600 feet into the canyon (making for a challenging return climb)
• The 5-mile West Rim Loop features dramatic overlooks
• Sitton’s Gulch Trail follows Daniel Creek through the canyon floor

Local Scene: Though small, Trenton’s proximity to Chattanooga, Tennessee and the mountain trails makes it popular with serious runners. The Canyon Grill makes a perfect post-run refueling stop.

Chickamauga & Dalton

Sandwiched between these two communities are historic trails and the dramatically changing terrain of Houston Valley and Johns Mountain Wildlife Management Areas. 

Trail Highlights:

• Segments of the epic 335-mile Pinhoti Trail, considered the southern extension of the Appalachian Trail
• Fort Mountain State Park’s 14 miles of trails, including the challenging 8-mile Gahuti Trail
• Chickamauga Battlefield’s 15+ miles of natural surface trails through historic Civil War sites
• Mount Rachel Trail is a quick but spicy 1.6-mile gravel running trail near downtown Dalton

Local Scene: Dalton has been actively developing new paved and bike trail systems as part of an ongoing greenway project. Local running clubs host weekly trail runs and social events for the community. The Houston Valley is also one of Georgia’s top off-road vehicle areas. 

Rome

Home to Berry College—campus of the world’s largest contiguous college campus with over 27,000 acres—Rome delivers a surprising variety of trails.

Trail Highlights:

• Berry College’s extensive network of fire roads and singletrack trails to horseback ride, bike, or run
• The technical paths on Lavender Mountain
• Jackson Hill trails overlooking downtown Rome and the rivers

Local Scene: The Berry College campus welcomes respectful runners year-round. Downtown Rome’s Broad Street has several excellent post-run dining options along the Oostanaula River. A few running groups are present in the area.

Metro Atlanta Communities with Excellent Trail Access

Proving you don’t need to escape to the mountains for quality trail running, these Atlanta-area communities provide surprisingly good trail options minutes from urban settings. Even the parks are perfect for a quick spin outside, even if some of them are paved walking trails. You don’t want to make a long trip, try a trail run from these locations.

Marietta

This northern suburb gives access to Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, the epicenter of Atlanta trail running.

Trail Highlights:

• Kennesaw Mountain’s 11-mile perimeter trail with substantial elevation gain and Civil War history
• Sope Creek’s rolling 3+ miles of forest trails
• Cochran Shoals’ riverside dirt paths along the Chattahoochee River

Local Scene: Big Peach Running Co. serves as a hub for local trail runners with locations throughout the Atlanta metro, including Marietta. They have social club runs to get people active. GUTS-an ultramarathon training group– is based near Kennesaw. Red Hare Brewing provides the perfect post-run gathering spot. The Kennesaw Mountain Trail Club maintains the walking trails and hosts regular volunteer days.

Atlanta (Northwest side & Beyond)

Even within the city itself, Atlanta delivers surprisingly good trail running options along the Chattahoochee River corridor and throughout the city.

Trail Highlights:

• East Palisades Trails with the iconic Bamboo Forest
• Sweetwater Creek State Park’s network of walking paths around Civil War mill ruins
• South Peachtree Creek Trail is a popular route, a green escape within the city with its boardwalk and treetop views
• Stone Mountain’s trail system mixes natural surfaces and amazing city views
• Eastside Trail and the developing Atlanta BeltLine, an ongoing project adding pedestrian routes for walking, biking, and running.
• Little Mulberry Park turns out the sounds of metro Atlanta with over five milse of running trails

Local Scene: Several running clubs, including the Atlanta Trail Runners, host weekly group runs on these trails. Piedmont Park and Candler Park serve as popular group-run meeting spots, while neighborhoods like Medlock Park have become havens for those wanting both urban amenities and trail access. Westside Park is the largest Atlanta and has more paths for a trail run.

Hidden Coastal and Southern Trail Running Spots

While North Georgia gets most of the attention, trail runners shouldn’t overlook the South. The terrain is flatter, and the scenery different, but still just as photogenic. If you’re less about hill climbs and more about a trail run that flows, look to the South.

Pine Mountain (near Columbus)

F.D. Roosevelt State Park contains one of Georgia’s trail running treasures—the Pine Mountain Trail.

Trail Highlights:

• The 23-mile Pine Mountain Trail point-to-point route traverses rolling ridges
• The Boot Top Trail features technical challenges with rock gardens
• Wolf Den Loop combines creek crossings with moderate hill climbs

Local Scene: The Pine Mountain Trail Association maintains these trails to impeccable standards and hosts several events throughout the year, including the Pine Mountain Trail Race series, which has distances from 5K to 40 miles. Even if you don’t run, it’s a popular trail for a multi-day hike.

St. Marys

Near Georgia’s Atlantic coast, St. Marys‘ coastal forest trails contrast dramatically with North Georgia’s mountain paths. Imagine a trail run with a sea breeze cooling you down.

Trail Highlights:

• Crooked River State Park’s network of flat but scenic trails through maritime forest and salt marsh
• The Oak Grove Trail runs through ancient live oak canopies
• Palmetto Trail along coastal wetlands with boardwalk sections

Local Scene: While the trail running community is smaller here, the unique ecosystem and year-round accessibility make it a worthy destination, especially during winter months when mountain trails might be icy or muddy. Be ready to stay hydrated during any summer runs.

Multi-Use Trails and Greenways Worth Noting

While this guide focuses primarily on dirt and gravel trails, Georgia does have several notable multi-use trails that deserve mention:

• Big Creek Greenway in Alpharetta and Roswell provides a concrete and boardwalk path alongside Big Creek
• Silver Comet Trail starts in Smyrna and extends 61.5 miles to the Alabama state line. Popular for a bike ride with its flat and smooth terrain, some sections feature packed gravel ideal for trail runners
• Arabia Mountain PATH connects Lithonia’s Arabia Mountain with Panola Mountain State Park through a scenic granite landscape
• East Point PATH, southwest of downtown Atlanta, features both paved and unpaved sections through natural areas

Many of these trails attract hikers and mountain bikers. Trail etiquette is important, especially on weekends with prime outdoor weather.

Top Trail Running Events in Georgia

Georgia’s trail running calendar includes several standout events that showcase the state’s scenic and challenging terrain:

• Georgia Death Race (Blairsville): A brutal 74-mile point-to-point mountain ultra that serves as a Western States 100 qualifier
• Duncan Ridge Trail Race (Suches): Known as Georgia’s toughest 50K with over 10,000 feet of elevation gain
• Pine Mountain Trail Races (F.D. Roosevelt State Park): Multiple distances from 5K to 40 miles on some of middle Georgia’s best running trails
• Kennesaw Mountain Half Marathon (Marietta): A challenging trail half marathon through Civil War battlefields
• Cloudland Canyon Trail Races (Trenton): 5K to 50K distances showcasing the dramatic canyon landscapes unexpected in Georgia

Final Tips for Trail Runners Visiting Georgia

To make the most of Georgia’s trail running opportunities:

• Time your visit wisely: Fall (October-November) brings ideal and drier weather and spectacular foliage, while early spring (March-April) features wildflower displays. Summers can be brutally hot and humid, while winters are generally mild but can bring ice to northern mountains.
• Come prepared for varied terrain: Georgia trails include technical rock gardens and root-strewn paths to creek crossings and muddy sections. Trail shoes with good traction are a must. Know the conditions before heading out on a running trail.
• Connect with locals: Trail Runner Nation Georgia and Atlanta Trail Runners Facebook groups welcome visitors looking for group runs or trail recommendations. Many runners also log their routes and share photos on apps available on multiple platforms like Trail Run Project or Strava.
• Find the right gear: REI locations throughout the state stock basic trail running supplies, while specialty shops like Big Peach Running Co and Mountain High Outfitters (multiple locations) cater specifically to runners.
• Take a photo of trail maps: That way, you always have a copy with you, and it saves on paper waste at the parks.

Discover Georgia’s Trail Running Paradise

Those who explore the state’s dirt, gravel, and mountain paths find a trail running paradise. What truly makes Georgia special isn’t the individual trails but the communities that welcome trail runners with open arms. These are places where you can finish a spectacular mountain run and minutes later, enjoy local craft beer while planning tomorrow’s adventure. 

From the parks’ downtown Atlanta surroundings to the quiet banks of mountain streams, Georgia invites you to lace up your trail shoes and discover the natural beauty just around the bend.