| Page Title |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Cohutta 100 |
 | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  |
| NGOF North Georgia Outdoors & Fitness Magazine |
Course Information:
Big Frog 65
Maps/Profiles
65 Map
65 Profile
There is no one map that has all of this on it. If you are unfamiliar
with the area I suggest you get a map of the Tanasi trails (WWC) and
a FS map of the Cherokee National Forest. Be careful on some of the
FS roads. Most are straightforward but there are a few places
where to stay on what appears to be a straight road on the map, in
reality, there are turns. If you blindly continue on at some
intersections, you might end up on the wrong road. Just pay
attention to where you are.
Race will start at White Water Center (WWC). It will proceed up Hwy
64 by lead vehicle to just past the Brush Creek trail overflow parking
lot (on right) to an alternate entrance of Brush Creek trail (gated
road on right just past parking lot but not yet to trail head of Brush
Creek on left). Go past gate and down hill (about 100 meters) to
Brush Creek trail and turn left onto trail. (If you have trouble finding
this in training, just start at Brush Creed trail head on left.)
Brush Creek trail will take you to Boyd Gap.
Trail will come out on northeast corner of Boyd gap parking lot (cell
tower on summit). The race will ride around the parking circle and
nice views of the Ocoee valley and the terrain to come can be seen
here. Re-enter trail at south east corner of parking area. The trail
then goes down a rough and rocky hill for less than a mile. This will
come out on paved road that is access to the raft put in.
Go left on paved road downhill to near the river and turn right onto
Old Copper Rd. This is a somewhat groomed trail that starts just
behind the restroom on right of access road.
Follow this back to WWC and Cross Bridge. Left onto Bear Paw (stay
left on Bear Paw loop) up to Chestnut.
Continue uphill on Chestnut (don’t turn right after end of Bear Paw)
to 1st River View entrance. River View trail entrance will go straight
as Chestnut curves right.
Riverview trail clockwise back to Chestnut.
Left turn at end of River View back onto Chestnut.
This will continue uphill where trail T’s at FS road 221. Right turn
onto FS 221 (100 will turn left). About 1/2 mile will be FS45 on right.
Here the 65 will go straight and the 35 will turn right.
The FS45 and FS221 intersection starts an out and back, key hole
loop, section on FS221. Continue west on 221 to left on FS 62 to start
the Big Frog loop. There will be an aid station half way thru this
section at the top of the climb. FS62 will bring you back to 221 and
will merge at high speed with 221 (watch for traffic). Here the
remainder of the course is contiguous with the 100. (For some of the
slower rides, aid station #5 of the 100 course may be manned and
available by the time you arrive at this location. The lead riders will
be too far ahead and shouldn't depend on this as an aid.)
FS221 makes a right turn near Sylco campground to return back to
the WWC (apporox. 15 miles)
FS221 will take you back to the WWC where you will go left off of 221
onto FS45 downhill to the West Fork trail (about 1.5 miles) and the
last aid station. Watch closely for this on the right as it is easy to
miss and you are screaming downhill at this point (will be well
marked in race).
If you want to do the remainder of racecourse, go right on West Fork
up to Chestnut.
Right onto Chestnut to Quartz.
Do the Quartz loop (clockwise).
Bypass trail back the Chestnut and go left.
Downhill to left turn (still Chestnut) just before the Bear Paw loop.
Chestnut to Thunder Rock Express
Thunder Rock Express to Thunder Rock Campground.
Cross bridge just past powerhouse to Rhododendron on right at
edge of sub-station and back to start at WWC. (The race will not be
able to use Rhododendron trail that connects Thunder Rock camp
ground and the Start/Finish area and will have to return on the paved
trail next to highway 64).
Course description:
The start is on the highway for nearly 3 miles. Good climb to spread
it out. First trail section is Brush Creek which is the only true
beginner trail in area. Flat, fast and fun. Small climb to Boyd Gap .
Here is a nice visa of the valley with the Ocoee river and a look at
what is to come on the other side of the valley. Exit the overlook
down a fairly technical down hill to a small stretch of pavement to
Old Copper Road. Old Copper Road is a flat wide trail next to the
river that is punctuated with some technical sections from washout
(see photos). Back to the WWC.
Crossing the bridge over the river starts a nice climb up Bear Paw.
Next trail is River View. Fast and fun, roller coaster like. Exiting River
View, the trail opens up and climbs to the FS road section and aid
station 1. This will be a key-hole loop mostly on FS 221. The Forest
Service roads on this section are fairly good condition and fast but
very hilly. Many blind turns. The Big Frog climb is reasonable long but
there is a nice decent once at the top. The Big Fog loop has a
rougher, trail-like road up to the top, then smoother on the way down.
Re-entering FS221 is a false flat of about 3 miles that is tough on the
mind but does give you a chance to eat and drink before the climbing
starts again.
Just before Sylco campground, the climbing starts again, getting
back up to the northern ridge of Big Frog Wilderness. This takes you
back to the WWC and a fast down hill to the West fork trail head.
West fork is a long gradual climb back up to the ridge where you will
do the Quartz loop and Bypass trails. Some of these sections are
fast and fun with a few technical areas to keep you awake. Out of
Bypass to Chestnut. This is a great trail with some technical
sections. Not too hilly. Chestnut leads into the perhaps the most fun
trail of the WWC, the aptly named Thunder Rock Express, (as in
express down). Last 5k's or so are fast and somewhat technical.
Technical in the sense that there are several hard turns that have
long drop offs on the outside. Miss the turn and we may find you by
next year's race. Exiting the trail, will take you by the power house
and onto the last 1+ miles is on flat pavement next to the highway.
In general, the WWC trails are not overly technical but are good solid
mountain bike trails that are just plain fun. The course is very
ridable and a expert level rider should be able to do the whole
course without using the small (22) ring. One should be able to get
into a good rhythm and some sections are quit fast and fun. Enjoy!
Big Frog 65
Maps/Profiles
65 Map
65 Profile
There is no one map that has all of this on it. If you are unfamiliar
with the area I suggest you get a map of the Tanasi trails (WWC) and
a FS map of the Cherokee National Forest. Be careful on some of the
FS roads. Most are straightforward but there are a few places
where to stay on what appears to be a straight road on the map, in
reality, there are turns. If you blindly continue on at some
intersections, you might end up on the wrong road. Just pay
attention to where you are.
Race will start at White Water Center (WWC). It will proceed up Hwy
64 by lead vehicle to just past the Brush Creek trail overflow parking
lot (on right) to an alternate entrance of Brush Creek trail (gated
road on right just past parking lot but not yet to trail head of Brush
Creek on left). Go past gate and down hill (about 100 meters) to
Brush Creek trail and turn left onto trail. (If you have trouble finding
this in training, just start at Brush Creed trail head on left.)
Brush Creek trail will take you to Boyd Gap.
Trail will come out on northeast corner of Boyd gap parking lot (cell
tower on summit). The race will ride around the parking circle and
nice views of the Ocoee valley and the terrain to come can be seen
here. Re-enter trail at south east corner of parking area. The trail
then goes down a rough and rocky hill for less than a mile. This will
come out on paved road that is access to the raft put in.
Go left on paved road downhill to near the river and turn right onto
Old Copper Rd. This is a somewhat groomed trail that starts just
behind the restroom on right of access road.
Follow this back to WWC and Cross Bridge. Left onto Bear Paw (stay
left on Bear Paw loop) up to Chestnut.
Continue uphill on Chestnut (don’t turn right after end of Bear Paw)
to 1st River View entrance. River View trail entrance will go straight
as Chestnut curves right.
Riverview trail clockwise back to Chestnut.
Left turn at end of River View back onto Chestnut.
This will continue uphill where trail T’s at FS road 221. Right turn
onto FS 221 (100 will turn left). About 1/2 mile will be FS45 on right.
Here the 65 will go straight and the 35 will turn right.
The FS45 and FS221 intersection starts an out and back, key hole
loop, section on FS221. Continue west on 221 to left on FS 62 to start
the Big Frog loop. There will be an aid station half way thru this
section at the top of the climb. FS62 will bring you back to 221 and
will merge at high speed with 221 (watch for traffic). Here the
remainder of the course is contiguous with the 100. (For some of the
slower rides, aid station #5 of the 100 course may be manned and
available by the time you arrive at this location. The lead riders will
be too far ahead and shouldn't depend on this as an aid.)
FS221 makes a right turn near Sylco campground to return back to
the WWC (apporox. 15 miles)
FS221 will take you back to the WWC where you will go left off of 221
onto FS45 downhill to the West Fork trail (about 1.5 miles) and the
last aid station. Watch closely for this on the right as it is easy to
miss and you are screaming downhill at this point (will be well
marked in race).
If you want to do the remainder of racecourse, go right on West Fork
up to Chestnut.
Right onto Chestnut to Quartz.
Do the Quartz loop (clockwise).
Bypass trail back the Chestnut and go left.
Downhill to left turn (still Chestnut) just before the Bear Paw loop.
Chestnut to Thunder Rock Express
Thunder Rock Express to Thunder Rock Campground.
Cross bridge just past powerhouse to Rhododendron on right at
edge of sub-station and back to start at WWC. (The race will not be
able to use Rhododendron trail that connects Thunder Rock camp
ground and the Start/Finish area and will have to return on the paved
trail next to highway 64).
Course description:
The start is on the highway for nearly 3 miles. Good climb to spread
it out. First trail section is Brush Creek which is the only true
beginner trail in area. Flat, fast and fun. Small climb to Boyd Gap .
Here is a nice visa of the valley with the Ocoee river and a look at
what is to come on the other side of the valley. Exit the overlook
down a fairly technical down hill to a small stretch of pavement to
Old Copper Road. Old Copper Road is a flat wide trail next to the
river that is punctuated with some technical sections from washout
(see photos). Back to the WWC.
Crossing the bridge over the river starts a nice climb up Bear Paw.
Next trail is River View. Fast and fun, roller coaster like. Exiting River
View, the trail opens up and climbs to the FS road section and aid
station 1. This will be a key-hole loop mostly on FS 221. The Forest
Service roads on this section are fairly good condition and fast but
very hilly. Many blind turns. The Big Frog climb is reasonable long but
there is a nice decent once at the top. The Big Fog loop has a
rougher, trail-like road up to the top, then smoother on the way down.
Re-entering FS221 is a false flat of about 3 miles that is tough on the
mind but does give you a chance to eat and drink before the climbing
starts again.
Just before Sylco campground, the climbing starts again, getting
back up to the northern ridge of Big Frog Wilderness. This takes you
back to the WWC and a fast down hill to the West fork trail head.
West fork is a long gradual climb back up to the ridge where you will
do the Quartz loop and Bypass trails. Some of these sections are
fast and fun with a few technical areas to keep you awake. Out of
Bypass to Chestnut. This is a great trail with some technical
sections. Not too hilly. Chestnut leads into the perhaps the most fun
trail of the WWC, the aptly named Thunder Rock Express, (as in
express down). Last 5k's or so are fast and somewhat technical.
Technical in the sense that there are several hard turns that have
long drop offs on the outside. Miss the turn and we may find you by
next year's race. Exiting the trail, will take you by the power house
and onto the last 1+ miles is on flat pavement next to the highway.
In general, the WWC trails are not overly technical but are good solid
mountain bike trails that are just plain fun. The course is very
ridable and a expert level rider should be able to do the whole
course without using the small (22) ring. One should be able to get
into a good rhythm and some sections are quit fast and fun. Enjoy!
