The Long Branch Loop

Mountain Biking
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Long Branch Loop is part of a hiking-mountain bicycling trail system 17.0 miles in length that has been developed on National Forest lands near Deep Gap on the Aska Road in south central Fannin County, Georgia. Trails range in length from 1-5.5 miles and are open to the recreational public year-round. Trails ascend to nearly 3200 feet, providing vistas of mountain ridges, and descend to the shores of beautiful Lake Blue Ridge. They also pass through coves of mature hardwoods as well as traversing thickets of laurel and rhododendron. Long Branch Loop is one of those trails that crosses or travels along mountain streams and provides a range of forested settings for the visitor.

This trail begins at the northeast corner of the parking lot. It is marked with dark green blazes. The trail leaves the parking area and enters onto an old logging road. Within 300 yards, you will come to a fork in the road. Take the right-hand fork and go gradually downhill onto a roadbed. You will cross a creek and ascend gently onto a grassy road. At 0.75 miles, note white and dark green blazed side trails to the right. This leads to the Green Mountain Trail. Continue ahead on the road, bearing down to the left. Descend to branch, cross, and immediately ascend onto old skidding road. Go to ridge top, turn left, and follow alongside the recent timber harvest on the old road. After an additional mile, you will be back at the original fork in the trail. Turn right and proceed 300 yards to the parking lot.

Trail Statistics & Information:
Length: 2.3 total miles
Elevation Gain: Minimal
Duration: 0.5 hour
Trailhead Elevation: 2,000 feet
Top Elevation: 2,100 feet

Directions:

  • From Blue Ridge, take Aska Road south for 5.9 miles to Shady Falls Road on your left
  • Turn left onto Shady Falls Road and go .2 miles, parking lot is on your left