At the base of Woody Gap, Final climb of the day.
Credit: Christian Parrett | ©Christian Parrett
Six Gap: Riding North Georgia's Most Popular and Difficult Cycling Route
The famed Six Gap loop in North Georgia is one of the State's most popular and difficult routes for cyclists. For years, the infamous Six Gap Century has posed thousands of cyclists with an incredibly difficult challenge in a 100 mile loop starting and finishing in Dahlonega, Georgia. More recently, the Tour de Georgia introduced World-Class cyclists to North Georgia's difficult but beautiful roads as no less than Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer and more of the World's best raced up the gaps. But whether you're a pro cyclist or just a fit enthusiast, the six gap route has something for everyone.
After pedaling out of Dahlonega on Highway 19 and taking a right turn at the "Stone Pile" at the base of Woody Gap, you'll take a left turn onto highway 129 and hit the first climb of the day, Neel's gap. Neel's is a long drag, about seven miles, albeit with one downhill respite only a mile or two into the climb. After that it's a tough but steady drag to the top of the Gap. At the top there's a store where you can refill bottles, buy food, or even pump up your tires. Then get ready for a fast descent which takes you to the right turn heading towards Jack's Gap.
State Road 180 kicks off with some tough rollers through beautiful farm country for a few miles before Jack's gap begins. Jack's itself is almost like a series of rollers, but the downhill bits are far too short and the uphill sections far too steep to convince yourself it's an easy climb. To make it even tougher, the road surface is rough and saps your energy. But overall, it's one of the more forgettable climbs of the loop.
After an equally forgettable descent, you reach a dead end and take a right onto Unicoi Gap, heading towards Helen. Unicoi is the 2nd-easiest of the six climbs, but also one of the prettiest. For a bit over two miles it churns steadily upwards at a civil gradient while gently curving back and forth. Although short, I enjoy this climb tremendously. And if it disappoints you, the descent will change your mind: fast, swoopy and beautifully paved, it's a rollercoaster for bikes.
After pedaling out of Dahlonega on Highway 19 and taking a right turn at the "Stone Pile" at the base of Woody Gap, you'll take a left turn onto highway 129 and hit the first climb of the day, Neel's gap. Neel's is a long drag, about seven miles, albeit with one downhill respite only a mile or two into the climb. After that it's a tough but steady drag to the top of the Gap. At the top there's a store where you can refill bottles, buy food, or even pump up your tires. Then get ready for a fast descent which takes you to the right turn heading towards Jack's Gap.
State Road 180 kicks off with some tough rollers through beautiful farm country for a few miles before Jack's gap begins. Jack's itself is almost like a series of rollers, but the downhill bits are far too short and the uphill sections far too steep to convince yourself it's an easy climb. To make it even tougher, the road surface is rough and saps your energy. But overall, it's one of the more forgettable climbs of the loop.
After an equally forgettable descent, you reach a dead end and take a right onto Unicoi Gap, heading towards Helen. Unicoi is the 2nd-easiest of the six climbs, but also one of the prettiest. For a bit over two miles it churns steadily upwards at a civil gradient while gently curving back and forth. Although short, I enjoy this climb tremendously. And if it disappoints you, the descent will change your mind: fast, swoopy and beautifully paved, it's a rollercoaster for bikes.
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