The U.S. Forest Service’s (USFS) Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest Blue Ridge Ranger District recently approved a 9.5-mile Aska (Fruitkof portion) New Trail Project on Blue Ridge Lake that will cost $476,650 in total.
“As part of the ongoing plan to upgrade and enhance the 17-mile Aska Trail System, the portion of Aska Trail (also known specifically as the Fruitkof Trail Project) will create 9.5 miles of new trail experiences for hikers, mountain bikers and trail runners,” North Georgia Mountain Bike Association member DJ Carder said. “The experiences will range from beginner and family-friendly to expert bike-optimized trail with fabulous views and pedestrian access to Lake Blue Ridge.”
According to Carder, the North Georgia Mountain Bike Association, which is a chapter of the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association (SORBA) and International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) Local Program, has been working with USFS for a number of years to bring this project to the construction phase.
“The total project costs are estimated to be $476,650 which includes: 9.5 miles of new trail, restroom facility and parking,” Carder said.
“The first phase will be to build three miles of the beginner trail, parking area and a restroom facility. The cost for this phase is estimated to be $255,000,” Carder said.
Work on the project will begin as soon as the funds are in place.
Planners intend for the trail to be built by a professional trail-building company with expertise in creating a “fun experience for beginner mountain bikers, hikers and trail runners,” Carder said.
“It is critical to build the trails correctly from the start to minimize environmental impacts and attract outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and abilities for years to come,” Carder said.