Beyond the Beltline: Where to bike in Atlanta's suburbs

Cycling is becoming more than a hobby in metro Atlanta. More and more of us are thinking of hitting a bike path.

A couple of reminders: Always wear your helmet and watch out for wildlife, especially snakes. Here are more safety rules from the International Mountain Biking Association.

Here are some suggestions for where to ride, beyond those familiar to many, such as the Atlanta Beltline and the Path.

Cobb

• Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Trail cycling is available at Cochran Shoals (Sope Creek / Columns Drive / Interstate North) and West Palisades (Paces Mill / Rottenwood Creek Trail).
• Powder Springs: Lewis Road between U.S. 278 and Marietta Street in the downtown district. This connects to two restaurants; Hand Me Ups consignment boutique and other specialty shops; and the city's new location for its Seven Springs Museum in the Historic Bodiford House. Also, the city has Linear Park on the Silver Comet Trail on Richard D. Sailors Parkway (across from the UCBI Bank). The park has restrooms, a concession stand, a soon-to-be expanding playground - all a short walk from several restaurants, both sit-down and fast-food. Connecting trails are the 1.5-mile Wildhorse Trail and the 1-mile Lucille Trail.
• Smyrna: The city's new bike share program is open 24 /7 with three stations for ages 18 and older. The stations are at the Smyrna Library, 2800 King St.; Taylor-Brawner Park, 3188 Atlanta Road; and Spring Road at Park Road. Pricing is free for up to four hours, then $5 per hour and up to $40 per ride. Four, seven-gear Fuji Breezer Uptown 26-inch bicycles are available At each station.

DeKalb

• Dunwoody: Dunwoody Cycling is a social club for cyclists. Riders under 18 must be accompanied by a parent. The group holds about 16 weekly rides, starting from various Dunwoody locations. They also hold one monthly ride at 2:45 p.m. on the first Sunday, starting from Village Burger, 1426 Dunwoody Village Parkway.
• Lithonia: Arabia Mountain Path, Self-Guided Bike Tour is accessed at 4158 Klondike Road. The 30 miles of trails connect to the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers and to Panola Mountain State Park in Stockbridge.
• Stone Mountain Park: A 5-mile loop around the mountain on Robert E. Lee Boulevard is open to bicyclists.

Gwinnett

• Dacula: Harbins Park has a 13-mile mountain biking trail and a 4.3-mile paved multi-use trail at 2995 Luke Edwards Road.
• Duluth: McDaniel Farm Park has 3 miles of paved multipurpose and soft-surface trails at 3251 McDaniel Road.
• Suwanee: Settles Bridge Park has a 1.6-mile paved multipurpose trail at 380 Johnson Road.

Northside (including North Fulton, Cherokee)

• Alpharetta: Big Creek Parkway, 3104-3122 Kimball Bridge Road, is an 8-mile, 12-foot-wide paved path for biking and multiple uses.
• Woodstock: Family Mountain Bike Trails consist of three easy main loops at Dupree Park, 513 Neese Road.

Southside