Just off Sixes Road, a few miles from I-575, the Georgia forest opens into something that mountain bikers from Florida, North Carolina, and beyond seek out by name. Blankets Creek Mountain Bike Trail System in Cherokee County has quietly earned a reputation as one of the top-rated singletrack destinations in the entire Southeast. More than 150,000 riders roll through its gates each year, chasing 15 miles of winding red clay, roots, and ridgeline views. Behind every inch of it stands a small, passionate, all-volunteer group that built these trails from scratch and keeps them alive.
It started with a chainsaw and a dream. In the fall of 1999, a determined group of mountain bikers walked into the woods along Blankets Creek and began cutting trails by hand, in the pouring rain, and not a single one of them turned back. That original spirit is still the heartbeat of SORBA Woodstock, the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association's local chapter, which has been building, maintaining, and expanding Cherokee County's trail network for 25 years. Today, Blankets Creek alone draws more than 150,000 riders per year, ranking it among the most visited singletrack systems in the Southeast.
SORBA Woodstock is a 100% volunteer-run nonprofit. That detail surprises most people. Many assume the trails are funded by the city or the county. They are not. While Cherokee County Parks and Recreation and the City of Woodstock manage the parking lots and restroom facilities, every dollar that goes toward actual trail maintenance comes from memberships, donations, and community fundraising. "We don't get anything from state or local government to operate the trails," says Nikki Adams, SORBA Woodstock's current president. "It's 100% on donations."
That reality hits differently when you consider the numbers. SORBA Woodstock brings in roughly $40,000 per year. This year, the organization has already spent nearly $30,000 resurfacing the Dwelling Trail, one of Blankets Creek's most beloved and most-ridden tracks. Last year, a comparable investment was made in the Explorer Trail at Taylor Randahl Memorial Park (formerly Rope Mill). Professional trail builders were hired for both, keeping the systems up to standard and protecting against erosion.
With 30 miles of trail under their care, SORBA is also preparing to welcome a third system: Yellow Creek in Ball Ground, a Cherokee County Parks-supported project expected to add another 7 to 10 miles of singletrack when it opens.
The community's role in all of this cannot be overstated. On the third Saturday of most months, SORBA holds a volunteer work day, welcoming school groups, church congregations, families, and newcomers. July's work day is tentatively set for July 18. "We can put anyone to work," Nikki says. "Even if it's just picking up trash or clipping back trees, the trail crew leaders know how to match the job to the person."
The trails are open, the forest is waiting and Cherokee County has something rare: 30 miles of world-class trail maintained entirely by the people who love riding them. That is worth exploring and protecting, and it starts with showing up. Join as a member, make a donation, or volunteer on the third Saturday of the month. The trails will still be here for the next generation because of what this community does today.
Explore more at SorbaWoodstock.org