Paynes Creek is a 6.4 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Hartwell, Georgia that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, trail running, and mountain biking and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
dogs on leash
kid friendly
hiking
mountain biking
trail running
lake
Good hike
Nice trail, well maintained. Do both this trail and Heartbreak Ridge to get a Boy Scout 10mi. Follow the "traffic" signs and watch out for bikers.
Good trail, a lot of exposed roots.
This is my favorite place to bike.
The reason why I gave this trail five stars is because it is a true diamond in the rough, relative to the area (set your expectations as this is not western North Carolina). There are very few true mountain bike trails in this area and I was expecting a lot less before visiting for the first time. This trail makes the best of the limits of the area. It's well-maintained, nice and flowy and plenty long - about 9 miles if you do both sections. It has views of the lake from multiple areas on the trail. Given that it's pretty far from major city centers like Atlanta, it gets moderate to light traffic. Since I found the trail, I use it for both mountain biking and trail running on a regular basis when I'm at my lake cabin which is nearby.
Fast clean well planned banks great campground
10 MILES OF FAST CLEAN TRAILS.
Gorgeous trail. Watch out for bikers! You can really make the trail as long as you want. Keep an eye out for the pieball whitetail deer!