The Extended Suches Loop

Motorcycle Roads & Rides > Routes > United States > Georgia

Average Rating - This road has been rated by 10 visitors

State: Georgia

Date Submitted: December 1, 2000
Submitted by: SavdnStaind
Motorcycle Road Length: 106 Miles

Written Directions

Head N on GA-60, out of Dahlonega, which will merge with GA-19 as it splits off to the LF towards Suches (big rock pile in the road fork here). Follow (carefully) up to Suches. In Suches, Two Wheels Only is on the LF. Just past TWO, hang a RT on GA-180/Wolfpen Gap Road. Continue on to dead end @ US-129/19 (11 miles). LF on GA-129 to GA-180. RT on GA-180 and follow around the N edge of the Chattahoochee National Forest. Turn LF on Owl Creek Rd and follow about 4 miles. LF @ intersection of Unicoi Turnpike (3.5 miles). Turn right at GA-17/GA-2/GA-75/GA-76 (12.8 miles). Turn RT at GA-197. LaPrades is down on the LF. Continue on and take slight RT @ GA-255 for 3 miles. Turn LF on Ben T Huiet Hwy. Turn RT @ GA-17/255. Turn LF on GA-75 to Cleveland. Cross intersection and continue on GA-115 for 12 miles, then follow GA-52 for 6 miles back to GA-60. Turn LF @ GA-60 to head back to downtown Dahlonega.

Scenery

Plenty of picture opportunities on this trip! The first half of the trip allows for National Parks and 'Gaps' to pull off and see the mountains. This makes for a great Fall ride during late Oct or early Nov. Lake Burton is a beautiful cabin lodge looking place that will get you taking group photos with the lake in the background. The water is clear and fish are usually feeding right off the dock. The second part of the trip is more flat lands and a chance to wind down from the excitement of the ride and a full belly at Lakeside Grill.

Some of the wonderful scenery you'll see

Road Quality

Your driving in the mountains here so be prepared for tons of slopes, turns, and a few switchbacks. Traffic exists, but doesn't usually overwhelm you. There are a lot of places along the way that you won't see anyone else (other than bikes) on the road. This is a 'ride like you ride' route. Don't try and test the curves at higher speeds than your comfortable with. Some curves get sharper half way through. Ride safe and enjoys the scenery/foliage. If you want to ride fast, find a track. Most roads are State roads, so they are kept up pretty well.

Rock pile - stay left!

One of the fun 180 degree turns!

Roadside Amenities

This route begins and ends in downtown Dahlonega. Dahlonega is a perfect place to begin and get a cup of coffee or hot cocoa before heading out. There is a motorcycle stop in Suches, on the left, called Two Wheels Only (great place to stop). Many bikers gather here to drain the pipes, bs, and maybe get a bite to eat and fuel up on caffeine. Just past TWO, is a gas station on the right (corner of GA-180/Wolfpen Gap Road) called Dale's. Very biker friendly! After Dale's, all you'll have are picture opportunities and National Park stops until you get to LaPrade's on Lake Burton. There is a great restaurant around back called Lakeside Grill. Stop for lunch & drain the pipes again before finishing the route. Next, when you come to Sautee, there are some nice shops to stop at and look around. At Ga-75, if you turn RT, you'll come in the E side of Helen which is a neat little town. Once you get back to Dahlonega, there are plenty of places to get a bite to eat if you skipped Lakeside Grill.

Biker friendly "Two Wheels Only"

Additional Info

- View the weather forecast for this area from Yahoo weather .

Nickname (optional) SavdnStaind

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Reviewed by Guest on April 27, 2011 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Justin
motorcycle_year: 2000
motorcycle_make: Yamaha
motorcycle_type: Touring
Comment: My wife and I rode up there this past weekend 4/22/11. We rode from Cleveland, GA to Suches up to Hiawassee and sayed in Helen. This was a beautiful trip and fantastic on the bike. We also spotted at the Brasstown Bald Moutain peak (very steap climb). Thanks to this write up we wouldn't have tried the ride to Suches. Very nice if you haven't done it, give it a shot. Can't wait to get back up there and ride more. :-) Loved it!!
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Reviewed by Guest on January 17, 2011 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Bill F.
motorcycle_year: 2009
motorcycle_make: Kawasaki
motorcycle_type: Cruiser
Comment: My brother & I ride up to the Smokies every year and always take a side trip thru the Suches area. There are some great backroads that always make for some interesting riding. Definitely well worth the time to spend just riding around. And the folks in the area seem to love spending some time jawing with a couple of riders about where a cool piece of road is.
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Reviewed by Guest on June 18, 2010 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Doug J.
Comment: All roads around Helen are nice and the food is great. We stayed at Cabin Rentals of Helen and Sautee AND I DO NOT RECOMMEND LODGING WITH THEM. They do not honor their cancellation policy. There are lots of other nice places that we have stayed
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Reviewed by Guest on March 18, 2010 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Mitch
motorcycle_year: 2006
motorcycle_make: Harley-Davidson
motorcycle_type: Touring
Comment: The wife and I live just north of Atlanta and we love the North Georgia Mtn's for riding. We have traveled all over N. GA, Tenn, N. Car. and it's some of the best riding anywhere!
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Reviewed by Guest on October 3, 2009 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Brian & Tina
motorcycle_year: 2009
motorcycle_make: Harley-Davidson
motorcycle_type: Sport-Touring
Comment: My wife and I rode this route today on our 09 Heritage softail classic and we loved it. The weather was perfect early fall weather and not a cloud in the sky.Be sure to go to the top of Brasstown Bald and ride the shuttle to the look out tower.There's nothing like it.Ride safe everyone
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Reviewed by Guest on July 29, 2009 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Big Pond GA
Comment: We live in Buford, Ga and are only an hour's ride from the N. Ga. Mtns. Once a year we gather a group of friends from all over the US and Canada at TWO and ride the roads of N. Ga. for three days... it's not enough time if you are traveling from afar. It would take someone 7 to 9 days of riding to enjoy all of what N. Ga. has to offer in riding and sights to see and visit.
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Reviewed by Guest on July 26, 2009 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Bruce Silverman
motorcycle_year: 2005
motorcycle_make: Harley-Davidson
motorcycle_type: Touring
Comment: When I moved back to Georgia I bought a house in the foothills of the Appalachians. I ride in N. Georgia just about every weekend on my Ultra or my 2006 Dyna LowRider. I spend a lot of time on these roads and it is some of the best riding in Georgia. My only comments are that the section on 60 going from Dahlonaga to Suches has two seperate and distinct hazards. One is the "tar snakes." As evidenced in the photos they are quite numerous and especially trecherous in summer. The second is that the GSP sometimes stakes out this section, especially on weekends. The section of 180 running from the top of the mountain, back down to 129, is a great ride but very narrow and twisty at times so be careful. My favorite part of the Suches ride is the section of 60 running from TWO back up to the NW to 5/515. It is just a spectacular ride, with a little bit of everything, and is by FAR in the best condition of the three.
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Reviewed by Guest on March 27, 2009 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Matt
motorcycle_year: 1999
motorcycle_make: Suzuki
motorcycle_type: Cruiser
Comment: My Wife and I rode the majority of this last weekend and it was a blast, If you get a chance and have the time take a trip up 60 all the way to blueridge via Morganton it was a great twistie.
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Reviewed by Guest on February 11, 2009 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Ryan J.
motorcycle_year: 2005
motorcycle_make: Honda
motorcycle_type: Sport
Comment: This ride is a 10!!! Nothing better in the state of Georgia! I live about 6 hours away yet I get down to the Suches Loop about 3 times each summer and typically with a couple of riders that are new to the ride and they all love it. The pictures are good to because I seem to never take the time to take my own and regret it later. Ryan
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Reviewed by Guest on January 4, 2009 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: greg
motorcycle_year: 2004
motorcycle_make: Harley-Davidson
motorcycle_type: Sport
Comment: i have rode this many times, alway's a great ride
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