The Silver Comet Trail isn’t the only game in town for residents who like to walk, run and ride mountain bicycles.

Paulding SORBA (Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association) will have grand-opening ceremonies from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday for a new 1.5-mile trail at Mt. Tabor Park at 1550 East Paulding Drive in Dallas. Ribbon-cutting is at 10 a.m., a skills clinic is scheduled for 11 a.m., and mountain bike group rides will leave from the park’s upper lot “trailhead” next to the playground throughout the event.

The grand opening continues into the evening with a social event from 6-8 p.m. at Stars and Strikes at 2400 Hiram Acworth Highway and a Club Care Workshop from 8-9:30 p.m. about caring for trails.

Paulding SORBA has been developing the new 1.5-mile loop for about a year, says Paulding SORBA Trail Director Scott Martin. The natural terrain trail is now complete and “ride, run and walk ready,” he said.

The trail is closed to equestrians, 4-wheelers and other motorized vehicles, he added.

“A 3-mile stacked loop is about 75 percent complete,” said Martin, and a 4-mile stacked loop is planned for the back side of the 3-mile loop, eventually giving bicyclists and pedestrians almost 9 miles of trail at Mt. Tabor. He said signage will warn trail-takers that “if you had trouble on this [1.5-mile] one, you don’t want to move on” to the longer loops. “Each loop is more difficult,” he said.

Current Paulding SORBA projects include the 8-mile Silver Comet Side Trail, 1-mile beginner loop at Sara Babb Park and the Threadmill Mountain Bike Park.

Paulding SORBA has about 40-45 members and a core group of 15-20, but about 100 cycling aficionados joined Comcast for a Keep Paulding Beautiful Day in April to work on the trail. The group also joined West Ridge Church in the community makeover, with about 105 turning out to help on a Saturday and 120 the next day.

Martin said the easiest way to communicate with fellow mountain bike riders these days is through the Paulding SORBA group page on Facebook.