Silver Comet Trail, GA

South Cobb Drive to Mavell Road (1.0 mile)

The Trail officially starts at the Southeast corner of the Publix supermarket shopping center, at the corner of South Cobb Drive and the East-West Connector.  This section is concrete. From it’s start, you travel West for about.25 mile, where it crosses Gaylor Street, a very busy shopping center access road. Extreme caution is necessary here. There is a Trailhead just west of Gaylor Street and this is the best place to park to access the Trail.

From there, you travel on West, downhill  and then leveling out for about 1 mile to the Mavell Road Trailhead.   Along the way, you’ll pass new houses and townhouses, giving way to forested land.

This is considered the Silver Comet Trail Extension and is not technically considered part of the Silver Comet Trail. As such, its mileage markers are unique to the Extension, and the mileage markers on the Silver Comet Trail are unique to it.

Mavell Road to Fontaine Road (1.20 miles)
The Mavell Road Trailhead is the official start of the Silver Comet Trail. It is a very busy Trailhead and the parking lot often fills up on the weekend, with overflow parking around the corner at Nickajack Elementary School.

This is perhaps the most crowded section of the entire Trail

Start Westward on the Trail where Mavell Road crosses the Trail; it is a dead-end road to the left, so there is no traffic there. The Trail is asphalt from here to the Cobb County line. Ride through wooded land. There are subdivisions on the right, and a highway on the left, but you may hear signs of them but not see them due to the wooded barrier on both sides. At 1.2 mile down the Trail, the access path to the Fontaine Road parking areas is on your left.

Fontaine Road to Concord Road (1.4 miles)
From the Fontaine Road Access Point, the Trail continues nearly level through forested land. As you near the Concord Road Trailhead, you’ll cross the dramatic bridge over the East-West Connector.

Concord to Floyd Road (1.6 miles)
From Concord Road travel on to the Floyd Road Trailhead. This passes through wooded areas giving way to sparsely settled housing. You’ll pass through a 50 meter tunnel. It is often wet and muddy after rainy periods.

You’ll cross Hicks Road, with traffic signal, at 3.8 Miles, then come to Floyd Road , 4/10 of a mile past Hicks. Cross at the traffic signal. Floyd Road is a heavily traveled road, so use caution, even when crossing with the light.

The Floyd Road Trailhead is the largest Trailhead on the Silver Comet Trail. It is also the location of the Silver Comet Depot, that serves Trail users with refreshments, services and merchandise. The Silver Comet Depot is located in a historic brick building built in about 1905 and used originally as a freight depot for the railroad.

The parking lot holds about 200 vehicles. Since this is large parking lot, many people access the Trail here, and so please be cautious in this area.

Floyd Road to Carter Road (4.4 miles)
Travel West from Floyd Road on the Trail. At 4/10 mile, it crosses Brookwood Avenue, at the traffic light. Travel on 1 mile and cross Anderson Mill Road, also at a traffic light.

Just before Carter Road is the Wild Horse Creek Trail with entrance on the left. It is a very scenic trail that winds through wetlands for 1 mile. It ends at Wild Horse Park, a Cobb County Park. Do not enter this Trail after heavy rains; it could be wet or flooded.

The Carter Road Trailhead is on your left, just before Carter Road.

Carter Road to Sailor’s Parkway (.8 Miles)
This section continues through housing subdivisions, but gives way to forested sides, with some industrial businesses along each side.

At approximately mile point 9.0, there will be an unpaved trail on your left. There is a barrier across the middle of that side trail, but if you go around it, it becomes a Powder Springs street and leads to fast food and other restaurants.

At mile 9.40, there will be a trail on your right that leads to the Sailor’s Parkway parking area.

Sailor’s Parkway to Florence Road (2.2 miles)
The Sailor’s Parkway is an unpaved parking area directly off Richard D. Sailor’s Parkway. There are no amenities at this access point. Across Sailor’s Parkway, a very busy 4-lane road, there are some fast food and other restaurants.

From the access point to Sailor’s Parkway, you continue West on the Silver Comet Trail. To the left, although hidden by trees, is the city of Powder Springs. There are two dedicated access points to downtown Powder Springs, indicated by the distinctive Powder Springs green and yellow pump signs. Take either of the access roads to the historic downtown area. There are restaurants and some historic buildings . Other attractions include the Powder Springs Park and the Seven Springs Country Store.

As you continue West on the Silver Comet Trail, you will cross Old Lost Mountain Road, at a curb cut, and traffic light. Continuing on, you will come to the impressive flyover steel bridge over U.S. Highway 278. Just before the bridge, however, on the left, is the Lucille Creek Trail. It is a concrete trail that covers one mile and goes to downtown Powder Springs.

Continuing over the bridge, after another mile, you come to the Florence Road Trailhead. This is the last trailhead in Cobb County.

Horses are allowed along the Trail from this point West to the Van Wert Trailhead in Polk County.

Florence Road to Hiram (3.06 miles)
Shortly after you leave Florence Road, the Trail changes from asphalt to concrete. It is asphalt in Cobb County and concrete in Paulding and Polk County. This stretch crosses a couple of roads and a concrete bridge. Note interesting kudzu formations in Summer months.

At mile point 13.3, note the first foot of Silver Comet Trail. It is noted by a marble slab in the Trail, noting the date. This was the beginning of the Silver Comet Trail.

The next major stop is the Hiram Trailhead. It is on both sides of the Trail, where the Trail intersects with Seaboard Drive. This is a good place to fill up on water, as there is no other source directly on the Trail until you get to Van Wert or Rockmart

Side Trip – If you turn right on Seaboard Avenue, and go 1/ 2 mile, you will come to the beehive of retail activity in Hiram, on U.S. Highway 278. There are many fast food and other restaurants (as well as a Home Depot, Sam’s Club, Target, etc.). The traffic is light on Seaboard Avenue, but is extremely busy when you get to the shopping area.

Hiram to Paulding Chamber (4.77 miles)
In this section, the Trail becomes more wooded and scenic. It is a great section for a walk or ride.

Paulding Chamber to Tara Drummond Trailhead (.8 miles)
The Paulding Chamber of Commerce is a great place to start a trip on the Silver Comet Trail, or to stop and rest. There is water available via an outside faucet. There are several restaurants about 1/4 mile from the Paulding Chamber Trailhead; see Restaurant Listing for type and directions.  This is great place to stock up on water. There is no water close to the Trail until you get to Van Wert or Rockmart.

Tara Drummond to Rambo (1.99 miles)
The Tara Drummond Trailhead is on the left just before you get to the bridge across Seaboard Drive. There are no restaurants or services near the Trailhead.

Rambo to Coot’s Lake (11.27 miles)
The Rambo Trailhead is named after the private plant nursery on the left of the Trailhead. This is the closest access point to the spectacular Pumpkinvine Creek Trestle. Pumpkinvine Creek Trestle is 8/10 of a mile West of the Rambo Trailhead. It is a restored train trestle that soars about 100 feet above Pumpkinvine Creek. below.

The trip from Rambo to Coot’s Lake is the longest stretch of the Trail between Trailheads. From Pumpkinvine Creek, the Travel goes through two tunnels, U.S.Hwy 278 and Mt. Olivet Road, then starts a gentle ascent to the Brushy Mountain Tunnel. Most of this section is through the Paulding Wildlife Management Area (WMA), a national-park like wooded area. At mile 27.46 you’ll pass the massive Castle Rock. Then, at mile 30.79 you’ll pass through Brushy Mountain Tunnel, a 500 foot long, 5 story high train tunnel.

From the Tunnel, you start a gentle descent to the Coot’s Lake Trailhead, on the left. During this section, you cross from Paulding County into Polk County.

To the left of the Trailhead, is Coot’s Lake, a private recreational area. It is available (fee charged) for swimming, grilling out, picnics and with concessions, from Memorial Day until Labor Day each year.

Coot’s Lake to Van Wert (2.57 miles)
From Coot’s Lake you travel through another tunnel under U.S. Hwy 278, then begin a slight incline to the Van Wert Trailhead on the right.

This is the end of horse travel access to the Trail.

Van Wert is a historic, unincorporated town that was once the County Seat of Polk County.

Side Trip: If you cross the Trailhead parking lot and turn left on Braswell Mountain Road, there is a convenience store approximately 250 feet on the right. There are no other restaurants or amenities in the immediate area.

Van Wert to Rockmart (1.6 miles)
om Van Wert you travel through some spectacular farm land. At the 36.42 mile mark, you’ll see on the left ‘Ma White’s Bottom Land.’ There is a plaque describing it’s history and benches for viewing.

From there, you pass through high banks and forest land, and then between the rushing Euharlee Creek on the left and the Rockmart Slate Quarry on the right.

At the 37 mile mark, the Trail splits, with an incline ramp up to the road on the right and a paved trail on the left. The incline will take you to Marble Street. If you turn right there it will take you to downtown Rockmart.

To continue on the Silver Comet Trail, take the paved trail to the left. It will take you along the gorgeous Euharlee Creek to the Riverwalk Area and the Rockmart Trailhead.

At the Riverwalk area, there is a charming wooden bridge and park, Seaborn Jones Park, named after one of the founders of Rockmart. This is a great Trailhead to use as a starting point for a trip on the Trail, or as a turnaround point.

Side Trip: From the Riverwalk Area, turn right on East Church Street. There is a restaurant approximately 400 feet on the left. For other restaurants, turn left at the alley after FNB-Polk bank and go over to Elm Street and turn left. There are several restaurants approximately ¼ mile on the right.

Rockmart to Nathan Dean (1.1 miles)
From the Riverwalk area, the Trail goes under Elm Street and crosses a Trail bridge over Euharlee Creek. Just past that point on the left, is the Rockmart Visitor’s Center.

The Trail continues up the hill and crosses along the back of Rose Hill Cemetery. The Trail and the back access road are one and the same for about ¼ mile. From there, you descend down an incline to the Nathan Dean Sports Complex, named after the famed (and strong Trail supporter) State Senator, Nathan Dean, from that area.

Nathan Dean to Don Williams Trailhead (6.2 miles)
From the Nathan Dean Sports complex the Trail travels on a new surface – a boardwalk. The wooden boardwalk was constructed to accommodate the Trail, but protect wetlands that it goes through.

Approximately one mile from Nathan Dean Sports Complex, the Trail comes up to U.S. Highway 278 and runs along the highway for about 4 miles. At that point, it turns Southwestward and back into forested land and on to the Grady Road Trailhead.

Don Williams Trailhead to Grady Road Trailhead (.9 miles)
The trail continues through mostly fields and farms, going very slightly uphill.

Grady Road to Cedartown Depot (5.5 miles)
The Trail goes by some houses and forest and through the tunnel under the U.S. Highway 27 Bypass, and into the town of Cedartown.

Cedartown Depot to Martin Trailhead (1.5 miles)
This section winds through downtown Cedartown and along a creek. It is an interesting section.

Martin Trailhead to Esom Hill (8.25 miles)
The access to the Silver Comet Trail is at the Martin Trailhead, at the West end of Canal Street, near U.S. Highway 278.

From the Martin Trailhead, the Trail travels West through farmland for 8 miles. This is a scenic, but remote area. At approximately 8 miles, the trail crosses unmarked Hardin Road and goes by the Esom Hill Trailhead, on the right.

Esom Hill to Stateline Gateway (Georgia-Alabama State Line)(.25 mile)
Esom Hill is the Western-most Silver Comet Trailhead. It is an unpaved parking lot. There are no restaurants or amenities in the area.

The Silver Comet Trail ends at the Georgia-Alabama State Line. At this point, it meets the Chief Ladiga Trail, the Alabama portion of the former rail line. See the Chief Ladiga Trail for information on travel beyond this point.