Five Points Recreation Area
Lookout Mountain’s Singletrack Hub
Dirt Deets
Total Miles: 38
Trail Breakdown: 13 Green, 13 Blue, 3 Black
Difficulty: Beginner to Advanced
Land Manager: Georgia State Parks | Department of Natural Resources
Primary Trailhead(s): Hwy 157 (Five Points) or Ascalon Rd Trailhead
Parking: $10/vehicle GA State Parks - Privy on site
Special Notes: Shared with hikers and equestrians — always yield to horses
Amenities: Nearby camping + cabins + yurts at Cloudland Canyon State Park
Thirty minutes south of downtown Chattanooga, Five Points is the largest mountain bike trail system in the region. This Lookout Mountain trail network offers 38 miles of interconnected singletrack across former coal-mining terrain that ranges from rolling green trails to technical black diamond trails. The whole system is big enough for full-day endurance rides and mild enough for beginner riders.
At the heart of the system is a massive multi-trail junction where nine trails radiate outward like petals of a flower, turning every ride into a choose-your-own-adventure. Chase the flowing feel of Slickenside, take in the views from Hanging Wall, or test your precision on the stacked-boulder tech of Caprock. Deep in the woods, a discarded Torino has become one of the most iconic photo spots in the Chattanooga trail network. Five Points also connects to the Cloudland Connector Trail (CCT), linking Cloudland Canyon State Park to Chattanooga as part of the River to Clouds Route.
Five Points sits atop the former Round Mountain coal mining district, active from 1858 to 1947. After the mines closed and the land changed hands, SORBA Chattanooga and Lula Lake Land Trust built the trail system now known as Five Points, on land managed today by Georgia Department of Natural Resources as part of Cloudland Canyon State Park. Every October, Lula Lake Land Trust's Five Points 50 Endurance Race brings hundreds of riders to the mountain to take on the 50-mile and 25-mile course.
Three trailheads — Five Points, Ascalon, and Nickajack — each offer a privy and gravel parking for a $10/vehicle fee, which also covers same-day access to Cloudland Canyon State Park's visitor center, flush restrooms, disc golf course, camping, cabins, and yurts. The system is shared with hikers and equestrians. Bikers always yield to horses. Some of the trails in this network at Adaptive bike friendly. Check Trailforks.
Recommended Routes
Beginner Route: Green Sampler Loop
Distance: 5 miles
Elevation Gain: 231 ft
Difficulty: Beginner
Start/End: Five Points Trailhead
A welcoming introduction to Five Points’ cross-country flow. Start from the main parking area and cruise Peace Can before joining the wide, multi-use Cloudland Connector Trail. Shale Flats delivers smooth singletrack with gentle terrain, and Bankhead brings you back with playful, confidence-building flow. A great option for beginners or anyone looking for a relaxed, scenic spin through this historic coal country landscape.
Why ride it: Great sample of Five Points Network for new riders.
Intermediate Route: Five Points Flow
Distance: 8 miles
Elevation Gain: 572 ft
Difficulty: Intermediate
Start/End: Five Points Trailhead
This intermediate loop showcases the depth and variety that make Five Points one of Chattanooga’s best backcountry trail systems. After warming up on Peace Can and CCT, Kettle Bottom and Micks introduce tighter turns and more elevation. Torino is the trail with the best photo opp moment as you literally pass an old abandoned Torino while Crosscut offers some speed and rhythm before finishing down Bankhead with fast, satisfying flow. Expect well-groomed singletrack, punchy efforts, and a true cross-country feel from start to finish.
Why ride it: A balanced mix of flow, tech, and scenery that’s challenging yet approachable.
Advanced Route: Five Points Advanced
Distance: 8 miles
Elevation Gain: 785 ft
Difficulty: Intermediate/advanced
Start/End: Five Points Trailhead
This advanced loop puts you on the most demanding trails Five Points has to offer. You'll climb from the parking lot to a high point on Crosscut before dropping into Caprock, the most technical trail in the system. Rocky sections and chunky rock gardens will test your slow-speed bike handling as you pick your way through. South Hogsback winds tight through old coal mining tailing piles, one of many reminders of Lookout Mountain's rich mining past. After regrouping at the main intersection, Windy Shot sends you climbing again to another of the system's high points before descending Hanging Wall's tight turns back down. Foot Wall and Bankhead bring you back to the car. Expect two solid climbs, technically demanding singletrack, and narrow trails that earn their black rating through the combination of both.
Why ride it: Preview some of the most technical terrain Five Points has to offer.