Whissenhunt OHV Trail System
The Whissenhunt OHV Trail System is an 11.2-mile mountain OHV corridor in the Chattahoochee National Forest, approximately 6 miles north of the historic gold rush town of Dahlonega in Lumpkin County, Georgia. The system sits in the Blue Ridge foothills at a significant enough elevation to produce genuine mountain riding character: hard-packed red clay trails with sections of loose rock, moderate to intermediate difficulty, and dense second-growth forest canopy that provides shade through the summer heat. Trail design is scenic rather than extreme: the routing passes through varied forest terrain with enough elevation change to reward riders with ridge views while keeping technical demands within reach of intermediate skill levels. Motorcycles and ATVs up to 50 inches wide are permitted; UTVs and Jeeps are not permitted on this system, the 50-inch limit is strictly enforced. All machines must carry spark arrestors as required by Georgia DNF regulations for riding in national forest. Day passes are $5/operator ($50 annual), payable at the trailhead kiosk. The system is open from mid-March through December 31, sunrise to sunset, the winter closure allows the red-clay trails to recover from the wet season. The Dahlonega area provides fuel, food, lodging, and historic character (the first major US gold rush in 1828) for multi-day riding trips. Contact the Blue Ridge Ranger District with condition questions (706-745-6928).