The Cove Crawl

Route Information

Birds Eye View of the Flint River/The Cove Crawl

Description

Experience the famous “Cove” along the western banks of the Flint River in Meriwether County. Often considered the impact site of a 20-mile wide meteorite millions of years ago, The Cove is a unique topographic anomaly for the surrounding area, which helps explain The Cove’s interesting  human history.

Historically, access to and from The Cove was difficult due to the steep hillsides and Flint River, making it the prime site for illegal bootlegging during the prohibition era.

The Cove was also one of former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s favorite places to visit during his time at the Little White House, and many of his successful policies and social programs as president are attributed to his personal relationships with rural Americans in settings such as The Cove. 

This route is beginner-friendly and entirely paved, though do not underestimate the two climbs present at mile 3 and 9.

Take note of the ginormous satellites present at mile 8, which were initially constructed in the 1970s and have had numerous purposes- included attempts to communicate with extraterrestrial life, filming for the Walking Dead, and everything in between.

Points of Interest

Here are three points of interest to visit or look out for on The Cove Crawl gravel trail in Meriwether County, GA:

Flint River

Learn more about this beautiful river, its history, and opportunities to canoe it on our Flint River Water Trail website!

Woodbury Earth Station

Sometime in 1976, AT&T constructed a pair of mammoth satellite dishes in a basin along the Flint River known as “The Cove.”

These dishes were part of a telecommunications installation once known as the Woodbury Earth Station – at 30 meters in diameter, they’re as long as a Boeing 737.

You can learn more about these interesting satellites and the history behind them here.

The Riverside County Store

Enjoy a bite to eat and a cold beverage after your ride. Located at the start/finish area, it is the perfect place for a post-ride snack.

You can visit the Riverside County Store website here or find them on Facebook.