Windy Gap Shuttle (Windy Gap Trail Cohutta Ellijay Mulberry Gap)
Mountain Biking Trail
Moderate
3.9 mi
179 ft
An epic descent on a gnarly moto trail.
The Windy Gap Trail is a motorized route that’s split into two halves: 50% technical singletrack and 50% flowy doubletrack.
"The first half of the trail dropping down off of Windy Gap is a continuous technical assault on your senses and [your] bike's suspension,” according to "You will be bombarded by rock-after-boulder-after-rock.” As the trail continues to drop, "it slowly transitions from narrow singletrack rock gardens to a steep section of rocky doubletrack switchbacks.”
While you might be disappointed to hear that the lower section is wider doubletrack, that wide doubletrack is paired with incredible flow! Thanks to a never-ending stream of water bars, the lower section essentially functions as a smooth jump run until the trail ends at the lower Windy Gap trailhead.
To keep the flow up, the motos have burned in some natural berms “of about 8-10 feet in height that were perfect for railing at high speeds!”
While shuttling this trail is the best way to have maximum fun for minimal pain, it’s a long drive around on dirt roads to make a shuttle happen. Consequently, many people choose to ride it as a pedal-driven loop… but that’s almost just as long and even more painful. Thanks to the seclusion, you will probably only encounter motorized users on this trail… if you see anybody at all.
Sources:
Written by Greg Heil
The Windy Gap Trail is a motorized route that’s split into two halves: 50% technical singletrack and 50% flowy doubletrack.
"The first half of the trail dropping down off of Windy Gap is a continuous technical assault on your senses and [your] bike's suspension,” according to "You will be bombarded by rock-after-boulder-after-rock.” As the trail continues to drop, "it slowly transitions from narrow singletrack rock gardens to a steep section of rocky doubletrack switchbacks.”
While you might be disappointed to hear that the lower section is wider doubletrack, that wide doubletrack is paired with incredible flow! Thanks to a never-ending stream of water bars, the lower section essentially functions as a smooth jump run until the trail ends at the lower Windy Gap trailhead.
To keep the flow up, the motos have burned in some natural berms “of about 8-10 feet in height that were perfect for railing at high speeds!”
While shuttling this trail is the best way to have maximum fun for minimal pain, it’s a long drive around on dirt roads to make a shuttle happen. Consequently, many people choose to ride it as a pedal-driven loop… but that’s almost just as long and even more painful. Thanks to the seclusion, you will probably only encounter motorized users on this trail… if you see anybody at all.
Sources:
Written by Greg Heil
Created By
Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windy Gap to Milma | 2.84 mi | -1,224 ft | -7.6% |
| Full Windy Gap | 3.79 mi | -1,962 ft | -9.5% |
| Windy Gap Nasty | 1.47 mi | -604 ft | -6.8% |
| Windy Gap Full - from trailhead to parking lot | 3.68 mi | -1,824 ft | -9.0% |
| was that fun? windy no milmc | 0.95 mi | -390 ft | -7.8% |
| *NEW*WINDY GAP DH ONLY | 3.77 mi | -1,942 ft | -9.7% |
| Windy Gap DOWNHILL ONLY with good start/end points!! | 2.71 mi | -1,765 ft | -12.3% |
| TEAM SENDICATE WG DH | 2.51 mi | -1,634 ft | -12.3% |
| Lower Windy Gap - Downhill | 1.38 mi | -732 ft | -9.8% |