Biking the Silver Comet Trail: Everything You Should Know
Want to take a leisurely bike ride in Atlanta? Bike along the Silver Comet Trail, a fully paved rail-trail built along abandoned railway lines.
Atlanta locals love biking the Silver Comet Trail (us included!). This extensive bike trail is 61.5 mile long and stretches from Atlanta to Alabama.
You can bike all of it, if you feel so inclined. We, however, opted for an 8-mile bike ride in Smyrna from the Floyd Road Trailhead to the Mavell Road Trailhead.
What is the Silver Comet Trail?
The Silver Comet Trail is a multi-use walking and biking trail that is paved over an abandoned railway line. It is a top bike trail in Atlanta and is one of the best bike trails in Georgia.
The Silver Comet was a Seaboard Air Line Railroad passenger train that ran along this route from 1947 until 1969. By 1989, the former Silver Comet route had been abandoned by the railway from Georgia’s Cobb County through Paulding and Polk counties.
In 1998, the PATH Foundation helped form a partnership between the Georgia Department of Transportation, Georgia State Parks, and all three counties. The project turned the railway into a multi-use trail.
The runs 61.5 miles from Atlanta to Alabama. At the Georgia/Alabama state line, the Silver Comet Trail connects to the 33-mile long Chief Ladiga Trail in Alabama, creating 94.5 miles of paved trail perfect for runners, walkers, bikers, and rollerbladers.
Biking the Silver Comet Trail
We rented bikes at Comet Trail Cycles by the Floyd Road Trailhead near mile marker 4 on the trail. Renting a bike here was really easy and pretty cheap. You can also bring your own bike and park at the Floyd Road Trailhead to start the trail.
From the Floyd Road Trailhead, we biked east for 4 miles and ended at the Mavell Road Trailhead, the official start of the Silver Comet Trail.
This is an easy bike ride through the back ends of neighborhoods, through the Cobb Covered Bridge Historic District, through a tunnel, and over bridges spanning the highway and creeks.
We also rode by Heritage Park, which has the ruins of the Concord Woolen Mill. You can access the ruins from a paved pathway off the Silver Comet Trail. You can also take a trail in the park to access the Concord Covered Bridge and the remains of Ruff’s Grist Mill for a short detour.
We then doubled back, returning to where we parked at the Floyd Road Trailhead for an 8 mile bike ride.
Important Trail Info
The Atlanta Silver Comet Trail is completely paved, so it is accessible for wheelchairs, strollers, bikes, and more.
Along the 61.5 miles of trail are 17 wheelchair-accessible access points, 15 restrooms, 10 water fountains, and a variety of trail-side services like bike rental and repair shops.
Camping is not allowed on the trail, but you can find some campsites nearby like the Paulding Forest Wildlife Management Area or Sheffield Wildlife Management Area in Paulding County, the Rock Campground RV Music Park in Polk County, and Camp Comet in Polk County.
This Atlanta rail trail is one of a few of these types of bike trails in the city. The most popular is the Atlanta BeltLine (check out the Eastside Trail and the Northside Trail) and the Chamblee Rail Trail. If you like these types of rail trails, then you should also check out the Longleaf Trace in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Silver Comet Bike Trail FAQ
How long is the Silver Comet Trail?
The Silver Comet Trail is 61.5 miles long.
Where does the Silver Comet Trail start and end?
The Silver Comet Trail starts at Mavell Road Trailhead in Smyrna, Georgia and ends at the Esom Hill Trailhead in Cedartown Georgia at the Georgia/Alabama border. Here, it connects to Alabama’s Chief Ladiga Trail.
Is there a bike shop on the Silver Comet Trail?
There are 4 bike rental and repair shops along or near the Silver Comet Trail. There is Smyrna Bicycles at the Cumberland Connector in Cobb County, Comet Trail Cycles at the Floyd Road Trailhead in Cobb County, Boneshaker Bicycles close to the Florence Road Trailhead in Cobb County, and Cycology Bike Shop 0.5 miles from the Hiram Trailhead in Paulding County.
Top Atlanta Tours
A guided tour is always a good way to get to know a city! Check out these top Atlanta tours.
- 90-Minute Guided Sightseeing Tour by E-Car
- Atlanta’s Black History and Civil Rights Tour
- Midtown Atlanta Food & Cocktail Tour
Where to Stay in Smyrna, Georgia
- Great Value: Country Inn & Suites Smyrna
- Top Hotel: Hyatt Place Atlanta/Cobb Galleria
- Unique Stay: Peaceful Log Cabin
More Things to Do in Smyrna, Georgia
- 10 Fantastic Bike Paths in Atlanta, Georgia
- Georgia Hikes: Heritage Park Trail
- A Guide to the Smyrna Jonquil Festivals
- My Favorite Pumpkin Patch in Atlanta, Georgia
Ready to visit Atlanta, Georgia? Plan your trip with these tips.
- Get Familiar With the City: Check out my Ultimate Guide to Atlanta to help plan your trip!
- Book Your Flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
- Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Atlanta using Booking.com.
- Save on Attractions: Save 46% on admission to Atlanta’s top attractions using the Atlanta CityPASS.
Cheers!
Paige
Have you experienced the Silver Comet Trail, a bike trail from Atlanta to Alabama? Let me know about your adventure in the comment section below!