Southeast - Chief Ladiga & Silver Comet Trails

i wanted to see if anyone has any information on these trails. i have read the websites and found a few conversations on BF but i guess i want more info.

who here has rode it?

how flat is it?
some of what i have read states the alabama side is very flat. the georgia side has a few steeper hills. just how steep are we looking at?

me and a few guys from work are talking about riding from the trail head in alabama to the end on a saturday and coming back on a sunday. i just want to hear from others that have done this. feel free to share any pictures or stories you may have.

I rode the Comet from the Publix (Smyrna, GA starting point) to Cedartown, GA and back a few years ago. Cedartown is about 10 miles from the AL line so I don't know what its like west of there. Note that this was before the trail was completed between Rockmart and Cedartown so I can't comment on the newer portion. With the exception of the short climb up to the Smyrna Publix, around Rockmart and a few highway overpasses, the GA side is pancake flat. Make sure you verify that its completely re-opened as parts were closed due to flooding. Never stayed anywhere on the Comet so I can't help there. I'm sure you'll get more responses but I hope this helps.

i seen where some had closed i will keep an eye on that. we were talking of going in early december.

I've ridden it end to end a few times. The SC is about 60ish miles long. Currently, the trail is closed in Hiram at Seaboard Rd. west about a mile. There is a detour that takes you around the closed section. The detour has some hills on it. You can find the detour route on mapmyride.com. Search Hiram. Between Rockmart and Cedartown there is a section that is quite hilly. From Grady rd. west there is one climb that is 12 %. Be careful on this section. Some people have lost control and crashed. Navigating through Cedartown requires paying attention. You travel on city streets for part of this section and it's not well marked. You can eat at Frankies in Rockmart. Hope this helps. have fun.

Rode from Weaver, AL (terminus) to Rockmart and back Saturday, with a good lunch at Frankies. Frankies was almost all cyclists. Good ride, and there are a couple nice little climbs between Cedartown and Rockmart. Won't be taking my fixed gear on that section.

The section from the GA/AL line west to Piedmont, AL is the prettiest in the system. It's rails-to-trails, so it's flat, but it cuts through the Appalachian Mountains so you have walls of cut rock on your sides.

As long as we are on the topic of food, I've been told Bar-L in Rockmart has very good barbecue.

since the drop was brought back from the dead. maybe we should schedule a group ride on the trail