Discover scenic walking, biking, paddling trails just 35 minutes from Atlanta
WOODSTOCK, GEORGIA—NOVEMBER 2026—Woodstock, Georgia, is only a short drive from the hustle and bustle of Atlanta but the town located at the base of the North Georgia Mountains offers unlimited fun and, for outdoor enthusiasts, it’s a dream destination.
Woodstock is home to more than 20 miles of walking trails and 14 miles of single-track mountain bike trails throughout the city. The Noonday Creek Trail, for instance, begins in downtown Woodstock and runs southward along Noonday Creek toward Highway 92. A highlight of the trail is the Woofstock Dog Park at the Towne Lake Pass Bridge, where visitors may spot wildlife besides the canine variety. The trail is being extended and will connect Woodstock and Cherokee County’s trail systems to neighboring Cobb County’s trail network. Officials hope to eventually connect the Noonday Creek Trail to Cobb’s entrance to the Silver Comet Trail, a 61.5-mile popular bike and hiking trail that extends all the way to Alabama.
Woodstock offers several other parks with trails, including the Rubes Creek multi-use trail and the bike skills trail at Dupree Park. It’s all part of the city’s Greenprints Project master plan, which calls for 60-plus miles of trail and open space network throughout the city. The newest addition is the 110-acre Little River Park, which will become a regional destination along the Little River corridor. The park was fully funded by a parks bond referendum passed by Woodstock voters, part of a broader parks and trails investment in the city. The park will feature more than two miles of multi-use trails, both paved and natural, including a pedestrian bridge and a concrete and boardwalk trail that runs the length of the Little River corridor. There is water access to a pond that accommodates both fishing and a launch for kayaks and canoes. The Little River paddle water trail will connect to Olde Rope Mill Park, one of Woodstock’s most beloved parks.
The organizers of Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association-Woodstock (SORBA) formed relationships with local land managers to design and create trails for mountain bikers and the all-volunteer, nonprofit works to maintain these trails at Blankets Creek (2261 Sixes Road, Canton Georgia 30114) and the Taylor Randahl Memorial Mountain Bike Trails at Olde Rope Mill Creek Park. Blankets Creek has six mountain bike trails: Mosquito Flats and Mosquito Bite for beginners, Dwelling Loop for intermediate, South Loop and Van Michael Trail for advanced and Quehl Holler for expert downhill.
At Olde Rope Mill Creek Park (690 Olde Rope Mill Road, Woodstock Georgia 30188; 770-517-6788) on the Little River, adventurers can take paved and dirt trails around the cotton mill ruins, over a bridge across the river and read the historical markers highlighting the area’s history. A large wooden platform and multiple trails offer great river views. The Taylor Randahl Memorial Mountain Bike Trail is comprised of three trails: Explorer and Avalanche for intermediate and The Mill Trails for all skills. These mountain bike trails are consistently rated in the top 10 trails in Georgia by Singletracks.com. Many trails here are shared by those on foot and are directional by day of the week, posted on the trails.
Ten minutes from Woodstock are the southeast shores of Lake Allatoona, a 12,000-acre water-sports and fishing paradise encompassing 270 miles of shoreline and one of the country’s most frequently visited Army Corps of Engineers lakes (nearly seven million yearly visitors). It is a year-round destination for boaters and campers, as well as peaceful and serene shoreline trails. Visitors can hike to a hidden battlefield or climb a ridge to an 1860s ironworks with a fascinating history. With its setting on Allatoona, Red Top Mountain State Park (50 Lodge Road SE, Acworth, Georgia 30102; 770-975-0055) is a biking and hiker’s haven with its own unique recreation and programming. More than 15 miles of trails wind through the forested park, providing opportunities for exercise and nature photography. The gravel-topped, four-mile Iron Hill Trail is open to both hikers and bikers, offering pretty views of the lake’s shoreline.
Murph’s Surf (678-672-9917), a bike sales and kayak/paddleboard outfitter, offers more than nine locations where you can reserve your kayak or paddleboard. A popular offering is a three-hour trip to the Little River Marina and back. Call ahead, then pay online and Murph’s Surf brings your paddle gear to you and arranges a pick-up time. Sixes Pit Bicycle Shop (10511 Bells Ferry Road Canton, Georgia 30114; 470-765-6748) offers bike rentals, repairs and adjustments and is located just five minutes from Blankets Creek and 15 minutes away from Rope Mill mountain bike trails.
For those who want to hit the links, Woodstock has plenty options for a stellar round of golf including:
The Golf Club at Bradshaw Farm (3030 Bradshaw Club Drive, Woodstock, Georgia 30188-2300; 770-592-2222), built on historic farm property with views of the North Georgia mountains, offers 27 holes of challenging golf.
Towne Lake Hills Golf Club (1003 Towne Lake Hills East, Woodstock, Georgia 30189-2501; 770-592-9969), designed by Arthur Hills and set among rolling green hills and lovely wooded countryside, receives rave reviews from golfers of all levels.
If you go
Between adventures, rest and recharge at one of seven name brand hotels. For more on what to do and where to eat, go to VisitWoodstockGA.com.