The Silver Comet Trail

The web site for The Silver Comet Trail describes it this way: Imagine gliding along on your bike through the north Georgia countryside, crossing a 500-foot-long trestle over a rushing river below, winding between rock cliffs and weaving among tall stately pines. Imagine doing this without having to worry about cars and trucks. Now imagine doing this for 60 miles on one trail! No, that’s not a dream, it’s the Silver Comet Trail.

Actually since this information was written, a new section was completed,making the trail a full 101 miles long! Not only do you go over impossibly high trestles and between rock cliffs…you even get to go through a tunnel or two. The Silver Comet is truly one of my most favorite places, so much so, I’ve even considered moving so I could be a bit closer.

The trail, which runs through 3 counties, was constructed on an abandoned railway, a railway where a train by the name of The Silver Comet ran for many, many years. It’s great for jogging, rollerblading, doggie walking, horseback riding and biking. I’ve ridden every inch of it, well, except for the most recently finished section, and I’m itching to ride that! For one full year, I rode it 3-4 days a week after work, biking 22 miles round trip each time. On weekends, I sometimes rode 35-40 miles in a day with a biking friend. Unfortunately, a dear lady named Jennifer Ewing was attacked and killed a couple of years ago while riding alone in the very heart of the section I always rode…so I gave up riding alone after that. Consequently, that means I rarely get to ride on the trail now. 🙁

On Sunday, a friend of mine was in town and we decided to hit the trail. I’m pretty out of shape these days…blogging just doesn’t do much for the leg muscles…but we still managed to get in a 14-15 mile ride. Don’t be too impressed, the trail is relatively flat with less than a 2% grade in some areas. That is one of the reasons I love it so much…you can go for miles and miles enjoying the gorgeous scenery before you have to turn around and head back. Since the trail is one of my favorite, favorite places in this crazy world, I thought I’d share some pics from that day.

Welcome to a little piece of paradise called The Silver Comet Trail!

As you bike The Silver Comet, this is your usual view…trees, lots and lots of beautiful trees…

Tunnels, bridges and blue skies…

Our first pass over the bridge…no train.

Yep, no train.

Looking back…

Today we started around the 11th mile marker and rode well beyond the 18th…then turned around and headed back due to time constraints.

You may even ride your horse out here…just no motorized vehicles. This sign was right before a bridge.

As we headed back and we were just coming up on the bridge, my friend asked, “Do you hear that?” I raced onto the bridge, dove off my bike, ran over to the edge and just managed to snap a picture as the train approached the bridge.

I have this thing about trains. I’m one of those crazy folks who actually gets a thrill out of having to sit in my car at the crossroads and watch the train go by…they are just soooo powerful! I wish my blog had rumblevision so you could FEEL and HEAR this train going by underneath!

There it goes…that was cool!

With our hearts still pounding from the excitement of being on the bridge while the train went underneath, we got another little thrill a short distance down the path. I swerved to miss this guy but my friend never even saw him. Fortunately, he didn’t run over him…just missed him by inches. I like snakes…they eat rats and stuff…that’s a good thing! When I was growing up my best friend’s brother always had a pet snake. I loved holding them and feeling the coolness as they wrapped around my arm. Ok, I’ll stop with the snake…but I thought this guy was pretty neat slithering across the bike path. You will often see other critters like bunny rabbits and deer while biking, too!

Ahhhh, more gorgeous trail…what a fantastic day!

You see little signs like these along the trail.

Some areas are heavily shaded and very cool, while others are completely open and sunny.

If you start out around the 11th mile marker, you only have to cross one or two busy roads. After that, the roads you pass aren’t that well traveled, so you hardly even have to slow down.

Another one of the more heavily wooded sections…the path feels almost fairytale-like, at times.

I love the wildflowers that grow along some areas.

 

Every so often, you come across a place to sit and rest. They have ‘Stella de Oro’ daylilies planted at many of the rest stops.

We didn’t have time to ride all the way out to the Pumpkinvine Trestle. (photo from http://www.silvercometga.com/index.shtml)

But it’s a blast to ride over!

Nor, did we make it all the way out to Coots Lake…a great place for a picnic! (photo from http://www.silvercometga.com/index.shtml)

And we didn’t go through Brushy Mountain Tunnel on this trip (photo from http://www.silvercometga.com/index.shtml)

But there’s always next time. Thanks for coming along for the ride

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Comments

  1. ButterYum says

    Great photos!!!

  2. Susan! This is so similar to the trail I walk with my buddies in Washington state…all except for the snake :0)
    What a great trail. Happy O.W. to you.
    See you tomorrow for Tablescapes!

  3. BEAUTIFUL trail! UGLY snake! Thanks for sharing.
    Traci

  4. Miss Laura Lu/RMS4291960 says

    Hi Susan! How cool is this!!! What fun! I haven't been on a bike in years! I could do without the snake though! I'm not a big fan of the slithery ones! God Bless! Lauralu 🙂

  5. Pat@Back Porch Musings says

    Wonderful photos Susan. We have the Katy Trail in Missouri. My children ride that trail. It runs through historic St Charles and goes across the state. Quite a trail, built on the track of the old Katy Railroad!

  6. Oh I havn't biked in years, but I love to take long walks. This is such a gorgeous place. I loved all the pics. Hugs, Marty

  7. Spectacular photos! I am very impressed with your biking abilities!!! I was only in Georgia for a few days last year at Fort Benning, but I loved the GREEN. Thick green! Thank you for this lovely tour.

  8. The Quintessential Magpie says

    Hi, Susan! WOW! What an amazing ride you took us on today! I can ssee why you love it so, and like you, I have a thing for trains. I love to hear their whistles in the distance at night.

    Glad you had a wonderful ride and that you took your camera with you. I feel like I've been on a wonderful hike!

    Happy Outdoor Wednesday…

    XO,

    Sheila 🙂

  9. Oh my goodness, Susan, you have taken me back….In our last house I used to bike every night after dinner too! I LOVED IT! For some reason never did again after we moved here. Probably because we built the house and the neighborhood is VERY hilly so….anyway I loved my VIRTUAL bike ride!!! Maybe some day I'll see this wonderful trail. BTW, did you ever see my "train room for the gys" on RMS???? Since you like trains you might like to see it. Hugs, xoxo, Pinky

  10. That was fun. I have not ridden a bike in a long time. I would enjoy riding on that trial. Especially since it is not that hilly. Don't know how far I would make it on my time out. But I know I would enjoy it.

  11. Great photos and what a beautiful day you had for a ride.

  12. Susan,
    What fun to go on a tour of this place. Thank you for sharing in pics. Enjoyed this post.

    God Bless you real good,
    ~Deanna~

  13. cedwards55 says

    This looks like so much fun. Mark has recently taken up biking and he would love this. You need to take a vacation to the Watercolor/ Seaside, Florida area. We ride bikes EVERYWHERE there. It's so much fun and so beautiful. I could almost smell that bike trail. You are more than welcome to keep Mr Snake all to yourself!

  14. The only part of Georgia I have seen has been on 95 as we drive through on our way down to Florida each year. I always long to travel off and see what must be a beautiful state! Thank you for a peek at this beauty!
    ~Nancy

  15. Michelle says

    What a wonderful bike trail! I feel like I was with you! Nice perspective!
    I'm glad to see TT is on as usual…I know it's so busy for everyone.
    Michelle

  16. Beautiful trail! Stunning!
    Blessings,
    Sandra

  17. mary beth says

    This was beautiful..it reminded me of when my daughter and son in law lived in Gainesville GA..sooo pretty! I have been asking my family for a bike for my birthday for several years now, but they never get me one…I think they think I will never ride it. I am just gonna get one for myself and ride ride ride! I wish I had a shady lane like these, but Im sure there's one out there! thanks!

  18. Ok, that was a BIG snake …

    I have little garter snakes that scare me … usually cause I almost step on them while walking.

    I've seen at least 10 so far at my new beach place. Last time there was a bigger one in the garage.

    It went under the porch …

    I'm always on the look out now.

    I know … they eat bugs …

  19. Such a pretty scenic trail! I will have to add it to my places to check out next time I'm in the South! Enjoyed your post! Miss Bloomers/Sonia

  20. Beautiful pictures and a beautiful place! but I just dont like snakes.

  21. Diane @ Four Paws and Co says

    I for one am very impressed with your ability to ride that far! It's beautiful! Chris is an avid bike rider & would love riding this one. ☺ Diane

  22. Maryrose says

    Susan,
    What a beautiful bike ride. I bet the miles flew by. Looking at the pictures I thought of the old movie "Stand by Me" It looked like quite and adventure. Happy Outdoor Wednesday.
    ~Maryrose~

  23. Barb~Bella Vista says

    Wonderful pictures, Susan.

    Happy Outdoor Wednesday.

    Barb

  24. I like the new template. It actually loads faster for me now.

  25. What a great place for a bike ride!!! A lovely setting!!!

    Your new blog dress is sooo pretty!!!

    Happy Outdoor Wednesday!!!
    XOXO
    Cathy

  26. Allidink says

    Great photos! What a fun place to ride a bike! I don't know of many neat places like that!

    All the best,
    Allison

  27. Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer says

    Happy Outdoor Wednesday Susan! Oh my….what a fabulous way to spend the day…. wow…. I don't know how far I would make it! Thanks for sharing your photos.~ Susan

  28. Oh this is great! We have a walking/biking trail near here, but it's nothing like that. What a great way to exercise! I'm going to have to look into getting the hubby and I bikes and hit that trail. I loved riding my bike when I was younger. Thanks for letting us know about this place. Beautiful!

  29. Hi Susan, Beautiful Pics! We have the Great River Trail that runs along the Mississippi River. That snake unnerved me. My mom is so afraid of snakes and she told me she couldn't live in the south because of them. Your brave my dear, Cindy

  30. Wow – what a fantastic bike trail! We have something similar here that runs along the James River down to Williamsburg. I've only passed it in my car. I think I need to dust of my bike and investigate.

  31. abeachcottage says

    goodness, the best Outdoor Wednesday post I've seen!!

    the photos are to die for, I woulda loved to have been on that bike ride with you, even though 15 miles seems quite a bit of a trek for these blogging legs, I love riding my bike though, such a great way to keep fit, we often ride to the beach though it's not quite flat so a bit of hard work involved…

    eek to the snake, I've yet to see one in Australia, and been here 4 years, I don't ever want to see one really

    happy outdoor wednesday

    Sarah

  32. This post is right up my ally. We used to be big road bikers and have pretty much given that up due to the fear of being killed. We rode on the VA Creeper Trail in Abingdon last summer and it seems very similar to your beloved Silver Comet Trail. I'm glad to hear about your trail and hope to someday ride parts of it!

  33. Suzann @ Lavender and Roses says

    Oh it's wonderful!! I am buying a new bike for myself this week – still weighing out my options. I hope I find a wonderful trail such as this one.

  34. What a pretty place. It looks like it was a beautiful day too. 🙂

  35. Still Learning says

    You know when we lived in Acworth all of our friends raved about the Silver Comet. I hear it is a great place to ride. Truly it was sad about the murder there. Didn't the jury just sentence him? What a jerk. We live in Ball Ground now so it's a little far but isn't it a great place to visit & ride? There should be more places like that around I think.

    Hey, we love trains over here too. I often take my 2 yr. old out to the tracks to wave at the trains. It's a real hoot, literally ha ha.

    Jennifer

  36. I am blown away by this!! I've NEVER seen anything like it! NOW I see why you like this so much!! What an awsome and fun way to get some exercise too! 🙂
    I'm like you (although not about the snakes!), I've always LOVED trains! My first apartment in Houston had a train that ran along the backside and shook my teeny little bedroom…and I loved every minute! lol
    GREAT post! I can see why you'd want to move closer! 🙂 L~

  37. Happy Outdoor Wednesday susan,
    It makes me so angry that there is always some evil lurking around that destroys the very safety of an area that is so beautiful and provides such exercise…plus you never know what wonderful nature awaits for its photograph.
    Maybe they may provide some kind of protection that rides horseback through the area.
    Thank you for sharing these beautiful pictures
    hugs
    debbie

  38. The Raggedy Girl says

    What beautiful photos and I loved the snake, not really the snake but that you like snakes, very interesting. It must be so much fun to bike ride in such a lovely place.

    The Raggedy Girl

  39. Have to confess that we have never been there and it is so close to our home too.
    Joyce

  40. Glenda/MidSouth says

    Beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing your ride with us. As far as the snake – Shudder!
    Glenda

  41. Good morning Susan 🙂

    I had so much fun with you on the Silver Comet! We have a trail like that by us too. They took the train trcks out and you can ride for miles. We plan on using it soon 🙂

    I love snakes too LOL

    xo,
    rue

  42. Kathysue says

    susan what beautiful scenery, I can see why you love this trail so much. I just visited North Carolina and saw so much of the scenery you are showing in this post,all that gorgeous greenery. Good for you, keep biking!! Hugs kathysue

  43. The Stylish House says

    Hi Susan,
    What a wonderful trail for bike riding, but it looks like you need to watch out for slithering critters! Happy Outdoor Wednesday. ~Cathy~

  44. stefanie says

    thank you for my mini vacation!! just beautiful

  45. stefanie says

    thank you for my mini vacation!! just beautiful

  46. What a spectacular trail and what beautiful pictures. I felt as though I was riding with you. Unfortunately I lost no weight. I thought the exercise would help.

  47. laurie @ bargain hunting says

    What a beautiful place to ride, and how wonderful that you have access to it. Unfortunately, I am afraid I wouldn't make it a mile. You're right, blogging does absolutely nothing for leg muscles! I am so impressed with your energy and your drive to do this. I certainly SHOULD be inspired, and I think I am, but following through is another story. Great post! laurie

  48. A Beach House Dreamer says

    This is the best! I love hiking and would be biking too if there was a bike trail like this where I live.

  49. What a beautiful trail! I was really enjoying the pictures until I go to the snake. Eeeoowwww! I am terrified of snakes but it's good you captured it….Christine

  50. I've used it a couple of times and it is indeed a fantastic trail. I wished they'd run in on down here to Macon and I'd use it more often 🙂

  51. Hi Susan,
    What a beautiful trail to be able to ride on. It looks similar to a trail in Hancock, Maryland, very beautiful and tranquil riding. I wish there was one like that closer to me.
    However, I would not like to see a snake 🙂
    Thanks for sharing!
    Crystal

  52. I'm Julia says

    You lost me at the snake 😉 Seriously, what a nice ride. Thanks for sharing.

  53. Charli and me says

    What a beautiful place to bike. It looks like so much fun. Thanks for sharing with us ♥

  54. what a great place to bike. Looks beautiful.

    amy@maisonbelle

  55. Kathleen says

    That is neat! Do you have a little sidecar for me on your bike? 18 mi..no way!
    And that snake would scare the bejitters out of me..BIG!

  56. Tamara Jansen says

    You know, if you live close to a train track like I do, the train really loses it's romance. The darn thing rumbles through here at night every 30 minutes, blowing it's horn like crazy. Even the bed shakes like an earthquake as it passes. I don't really like trains much anymore 🙂

  57. Wow that was great!
    I'd like to ride there but with a body guard! Lots of places to lurk. Am I paranoid?

  58. Susan, Thanks for sharing…I've heard of the Silver Comet trail but never been. Love to ride bike but don't share your love for snakes! Witnessing the train go through was amazing I bet. Well must get ready to post my tablescape!!!!! xoxo~Kathy~ Sweet Up-North Mornings…

  59. I wouldn't get too close to that snake, he looks poisonous!

  60. Beautiful weather and beautiful spaces to be in, love this time of year! But can do without the snakes, thanks, LOL!
    Test also to see if I can post a comment, still having problems with that!
    Linda

  61. "Blossom" says

    What a way to spend the day! This looks like a real good time. The senery is awesome except for the snake; that would have done me in right then and there.

  62. Susan, thanks a million for joining our Cloche Party. It is scheduled for Fri. June 19th and Mr Linky will be up on the 18th by 8pm. Some of the ladies are also going to include their apothecary jars they decorate, so feel free to include both if you want. Maybe you can tie one of your creations into your Tablescape on Thurs before. That would be such fun for everyone to see. Thanks again. Hugs, Marty

  63. Beautiful Pear Tree Lane says

    Hi Susan,
    What a beautiful and fun filled day you had, the scenery was absolutely beautiful. I close clicked on the snake he was so cute.Thank you doe sharing,I so enjoyed it and I hope you get to go many more times
    Sue

  64. Fabulous post, Susan…
    beautiful trails and beautiful photos.
    See ya tomorrow…
    xo bj

  65. imjacobsmom says

    I live near the Gateway Trail which ties into the Munger trail- which is also an abandoned railway line. My friend Sandy lives just a block off of the Lake Wobegon Trail which is also an abandoned railline. Nothing beats a great biking trail. ~ Robyn

  66. I love all the trails and pathways. I could do without the snake. But the photos (even the one of the aforementioned snake) are outstanding! And I love railroads and trains.
    Brenda

  67. Blondie's Journal says

    Susan,

    I love your enthusiasm for riding The Silver Comet! It really shows in your words and pictures. How fun to enjoy something where you get great exercize and connect with nature (along with a lot of great views!).

    Wonderful OW post!!

    xoxo
    Jane

  68. Leigh of Bloggeritaville says

    AWESOME!!!! WHat a great path!

  69. That is an amazing trail! Love imagining with all of your great pictures!

  70. I've been toying with the idea of getting a bike again, and this makes me really want one. I'll have to find out how far this is from Tennessee.

  71. I am telling you Susan, if I attempted to bike that trail for that long, there would have to be paramedics waiting for me!! Have you no end to that energy? This is just beautiful. I'll bet you had a wonderful day. Hugs, Jan

  72. Susan,
    I must have been out of town when you posted this. You know how I love to bike and just haven't made it out to the SC yet…hopefully one day soon! Congrats to you on a job well done!
    Blessings…

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