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By the Cedar Creek RV & Outdoor Center team

Throughout the summer, the same question shows up at our front desk in Cave Spring: “How far is the Silver Comet Trail from here, really?” The honest answer is closer than most guests expect. From Cedar Creek RV & Outdoor Center, the Cedartown trailhead is 9 miles up the road, about 15 minutes if you catch the lights right. If you brought bikes and you’re thinking about a ride, here’s what we tell everyone before they load up.

What the Silver Comet Trail actually is

The Silver Comet Trail is a 61.5-mile paved rail-trail that runs from Smyrna, Georgia to the Alabama state line, where it connects to the Chief Ladiga Trail and continues another 33 miles into Anniston. That means from the Cedartown trailhead, you can ride east toward Atlanta or west into Alabama on continuous pavement, no cars, no gravel, no surprises. It’s one of the longest paved trails in the country, and Polk County’s stretch is the quiet end.

The trail follows an old CSX railroad grade, so the gradient stays gentle. You’re rarely climbing more than 1 or 2 percent. It’s suitable for road bikes, hybrids, gravel bikes, cruisers, and just about anything with two wheels and a working chain.

Where to start from Cedar Creek RV & Outdoor Center

The two closest trailheads to Cedar Creek are Cedartown and Rockmart.

  • Cedartown Depot Trailhead — about 9 miles from Cedar Creek. Restored 1907 depot, restrooms, parking, water fountain. This is where most of our guests start.
  • Rockmart Trailhead — about 20 miles from Cedar Creek. Restrooms, parking, and Rockmart’s Riverwalk Park right at mile marker 37.6, which is a nice halfway lunch stop.

If you want to ride toward Alabama, park in Cedartown and head west. If you want a proper out-and-back day with a lunch stop, park in Cedartown and ride east toward Rockmart. That segment is 12 miles one way, so 24 round trip, which is a comfortable morning if you leave camp early.

The Cedartown depot is the closest Silver Comet trailhead to Cedar Creek, about 15 minutes by car.

The Cedartown depot is the closest Silver Comet trailhead to Cedar Creek, about 15 minutes by car.

What the ride actually looks like

The stretch from Cedartown to Rockmart is our favorite because it’s the shadiest and the least crowded. Long stretches of tree tunnel, a couple of restored railroad trestles, and one bridge over the Etowah River area that will make you slow down. In July and August, shade is not a luxury out here, it’s the whole plan. Riders coming from the Atlanta end tell us the Polk County miles feel like a different trail entirely, less bike traffic, more wildlife, quieter.

Most of the Cedartown-to-Rockmart segment runs under shade, which is the difference between a July ride and a July mistake.

Most of the Cedartown-to-Rockmart segment runs under shade, which is the difference between a July ride and a July mistake.

If you’re a first-time rider, budget about an hour to cover 10 miles at a relaxed pace. If you’re stronger, the full Cedartown-to-Rockmart round trip runs 2 to 3 hours moving, plus whatever time you spend at the lunch stop.

What to bring in July

Georgia summer riding has a formula, and we’ve watched enough guests learn it the hard way to save you the trouble.

  • Leave early. On the trail by 7:30 AM if you can. By 11 AM the heat starts to work on you even under the tree cover.
  • Two bottles minimum. Water fountains exist at the trailheads, but they’re not reliable every day of the year. Assume you’re carrying your own.
  • Bug spray. The tree tunnel is generous with mosquitoes at dusk. Pre-treat before you start.
  • Helmet, phone, ID, small cash. Cell service is spotty in a few dips between towns.
  • A patch kit or spare tube. Nearest bike shop is a drive. A flat 8 miles in with no repair kit is a long walk back.

Where to eat

Rockmart has been steadily building out its downtown, and the ride now has real reward at the turnaround. Seaborn’s Grill and a handful of local cafés sit within a short walk of the Riverwalk Park trailhead. On the Cedartown end, the depot area has restaurants and coffee within a couple of blocks. If you’re the type who plans a ride around the food stop, aim for Rockmart at mile 12 and give yourself an hour.

Combining the trail with everything else at Cedar Creek

The reason we love this ride as a Cedar Creek activity is that it fits into a full day without dominating one. Morning: bike ride. Midday: back at camp, rinse off in the bathhouse, grab lunch. Afternoon: kayak or tube on Big Cedar Creek, or head five minutes into Cave Spring for the historic springs and downtown. Cedartown, Rockmart, Cave Spring, and Rome are all within 30 minutes, so a guest with two full days here can easily string together the Silver Comet, a paddle on Big Cedar Creek, and a poke around Cave Spring’s springs and antique shops.

Back at camp, cool off with a sunset dip in the creek.

Back at camp, cool off with a sunset dip in the creek.

If you didn’t bring bikes

You have two options. The first is a drive into Rome, where there are bike shops that will rent. The second is what most of our guests actually do, which is to plan the trail into next summer’s trip and bring their own gear. If you’re new to rail-trail riding and want to try before you invest, hybrid rentals are cheap and forgiving. You do not need a road bike for this trail.

The short version

Nine miles from your RV site, one of the best paved rail-trails in the Southeast is waiting with 61 miles of quiet asphalt and shade. Bring water, leave early, aim for Rockmart, and be back to camp before lunch. Then let Big Cedar Creek take the afternoon.

Ready to ride from Cedar Creek this summer? Book your stay here and we’ll have the trailhead directions and a couple of local coffee recommendations waiting at check-in.

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