Continuing our November 2014 bicycle ride on the Silver Comet Trail, we road 23.2 miles from Rambo Nursery to Grady Road. The route through Rockmart deviates from the still active railroad track and instead follows Simpson Creek through downtown, then turns northwest and climbs a hill before following a road in Rose Hill Cemetery. From there, the trail drops back down to skirt the edge of a major sports complex in town and then heads west through a wetland area. The trail then makes a steep ascent to follow US 278 for nearly three miles in an undulating profile that contains grades much steeper than a typical rail trail. The trail then follows the edge of a pasture back to the old railroad right of way and continues about 3.5 miles to Grady Road. We chose not to bike the section from Grady Road to the replica train station in Cedartown as the trail again deviates from the old right of way and heads directly west with a grade of about 8% before topping the first of three hills. After about 1.5 miles, the trail again follows the abandoned right of way, but there are no designated trail heads or parking areas for the 5.4 trail miles between Grady Road and the Cedartown depot.
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| Maple leaves in November |
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| The 750 feet long Pumpkinvine Creek trestle |
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| The trestle is 126 feet above Pumpkinvine Creek |
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| Another view of the trestle that was built in 1901 |
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| Trestle shadow on Pumpkinvine Creek |
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| Waves of clouds |
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| Autumn colors along the trail |
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| Brushy Mountain tunnel |
Although photographs show there were directional signs in the past, we did not find them as we approached Hutchins Mountain Road. The trail seems to rise up the road, but it does not continue on the other side. A turn to the left just before the fence will keep you on the trail and provide nice views of the confluence of Thompson and Simpson Creeks. This is where the trail veers away from the still active section of the railroad and follows Simpson Creek through Rockmart.
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| Approaching Hutchins Mountain Road |
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| Confluence of Thompson and Simpson Creeks |
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| Simpson Creek and the trail pass under Hutchins Mountain Road (South Marble Street) |
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| Trees in Rockmart |
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| Creekside in Rockmart |
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| Trail bridge over Simpson Creek in Rockmart |
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| Looking back at the climb up to highway 278 |
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| It wasn't this steep, but it felt like it was |
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| The trail follows along US 278 for a bit before it descends to pass under Cedartown Highway |
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| Steep descent on one side and steep climb on the other |
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| Looking back at Cedertown Highway |
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| The trail is sandwiched between the highway and the railroad, but doesn't follow the grade of either |
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| The trail seems to follow the lay of the land in this section |
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| A twisting boardwalk crosses a wetland area on a feeder to Fish Creek |
The trail website is http://www.silvercometga.com/.
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