A dirt trail fork surrounded by rocks, ferns, and sparse trees in a wooded area. The path diverges to the right and left, with patches of dried leaves on the ground and hints of greenery in the background. Rattlesnake Ridge mountain bike trail.
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Level: Intermediate
Length: 85 mi (136.8 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Network
Elevation: +510/ -504 ft
Total: 993 riders
 

Mountain Biking Santos

****   Add a review
#1 of 289 mountain bike trails in Florida
#6 in the world

81,290 acres of pure off-road riding bliss. Santos is the largest and best known mountain biking park in the Ocala, Florida area. Santos official designation is Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway.Greenwa**tretch many miles throughout the state of Florida.The greenway was born out of the failed Cross Florida Barge Canal which was terminated in the late 60s. Santos is named for the small town where the main trailhead is located. Standard trail markings are in place here - yellow trails ae beginner, blue intermediate and red markings for advanced. The majority of advanced riding is located around two abandonded mining pits. Trails range from flat and rolling to rocky and steep. The large network of trails can make it easy for the unintiated to get lost. Make sure to have a map and compass with you. Locals are always happy to help out with directions. The trail network is so extensive that you can spend a couple of days here and never tire of riding the evergrowing miles of singletrack.

First added by www.OutdoorTravels.com_-__Motor_Mouth on Aug 16, 2004. Last updated Dec 4, 2023. → add an update
Before you go
  • Drinking water: yes
  • Lift service: no
  • Night riding: no
  • Pump track: yes
  • Restrooms: yes
  • Fat bike grooming: yes
  • E-bikes allowed: yes
  • Fee required: no
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
Getting there
by Dana Farnsworth at www.outdoortravels.com Directions: From I-75 exit on Hwy. 484 (Belleview exit) and head about 2 miles west to Hwy. 475. Head north (left) on Hwy 475 about 4 to 5 miles to S.E. 80th Street. Head east (right) on S.E. 80th to just before it crosses SR 441. The entrance will be on your right about half a block from SR 441. It's marked with a sign that reads 'Santos Trailhead.'
System trails (25)
Intermediate difficulty12 Hours Of Santos Course*****8 mi
Expert difficultyAnthill****0 mi
Beginner difficultyBeyond***4 mi
Intermediate difficultyBunny****1 mi
Intermediate difficultyCanal Diggings****1 mi
Intermediate difficultyCanopy****1 mi
Beginner difficultyChristmas Section****3 mi
Intermediate difficultyCow Bone****2 mi
Beginner difficultyDog Bone****3 mi
Intermediate difficultyDr Ruth*****1 mi
Intermediate difficultyErn N Burn*****3 mi
Advanced difficultyImba Red*****2 mi
Advanced difficultyJohn Brown****1 mi
Intermediate difficultyMarshmallow****1 mi
Intermediate difficultyNayles Trail****10 mi
Beginner difficultyParadise Trail***2 mi
Beginner difficultyPine Tree Loop****3 mi
Advanced difficultyRattlesnake Ridge****1 mi
Intermediate difficultyRazorback Ridge*****2 mi
Advanced difficultySinkhole*****1 mi
Intermediate difficultySpeedway****1 mi
 difficultyThe Vortex0.5 mi
Beginner difficultyTricycle****8 mi
Advanced difficultyTroll*****1 mi
Intermediate difficultyTwister****3 mi
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Santos Trail map

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Local Info

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Trail conditions

Good (Nov 13, 2024)
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Camping & Lodging

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Santos videos

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12 Hours of Santos
 
2015 - 12 Hours of Santos
 
Florida Series Race #9 at Santos…
 
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More trail photos




Mountain Bike Trails Near Ocala, Florida

**
Intermediate | 1 mi
*****
Intermediate | 1 mi
****
Beginner | 3 mi
****
Advanced | 1 mi

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Reviews

  • Bdub26
    ****

    Road it a couple times this year and once in 2019 on visits into Florida. Cool place. Well marked. They make the best of the flat ground they have. You are going to peddle the whole time, but you are not going to climb so its not bad. Loads of twists and turns. the Vortex is not for beginners. Flat out on it and you will be airborne. Very fun. It was a bit wet and pretty dangerous the first time, but dry the next.

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  • bikeit420   ✓ supporter
    *****

    There's something for everyone here. Diamonds and jumps, wood berms for all levels. Parking lot has an awesome skills area. Pretty well marked. A map would be helpful Everything from beginner to double diamonds here. Name a feature, you might find it here. Miles and miles of awesome XC trails too. Not to be missed.

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  • Eric Foltz
    ***

    Good for the East Coast. Little to no elevation gain.

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  • curriston766
    *****

    Great trail system. Flow trails, pump track, tons of XC trails, a free ride area with dirt jumps, some pro level features at places. Will definitely be back to keep exploring

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  • malva
    *****

    Love this trail. It's well maintained/marked and easy to navigate. Has multiple options for a wide range of skills. Don't expect climbing like in other parts of the states. The advanced trails are the ones with the most elevation change.

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  • Rockin Ron
    *****

    First time here trails were in great shape,
    very fun

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  • Rockin Ron
    ****

    Finally got to ride here it was a great place I recommend it

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  • typingfool
    *****

    So many different types of trails here. Lots of options for everyone! Miles and miles of flow through beautiful woods!

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  • AlisonO
    ****

    Rode 20 miles in two days, March 2019. Weekend traffic was heavy and the trails would benefit from one-way restrictions to prevent head-on crashes. Otherwise, trails are flat, fast, and pretty easy.

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  • CaribMtb
    Reviewing Twister:
    ***

    Fun to do on my 27.5. Lots of twists & turns. Add it to the rest of Santos trails to fill your day. Stay away from Vortex unless you want plenty of air. All other trails can be done by most riders, even beginners. Rode with a newbie who managed all the other trails & this was only his 3rd mtb ride. Rented bike from Santos Bike shop.....trails start from their car park !

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  • Hap Proctor   ✓ supporter
    Reviewing Troll:
    *****

    An amazing amount of action packed into this half mile loop. Located just off the east end of the Ern N' Burn trail section, this is sure to become a "must" ride at Santos.

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  • 007pandas
    ****

    Great Florida single track with narrow trails and plenty of track options for every type of rider level.

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  • VECON Sports   ✓ supporter
    *****

    Mountain biking in Florida, isn't what most people might imagine. There is a lot of good stuff to ride. Santos Mountian bike trails are rated the #1 place to ride in Florida. I'd say Alafia is giving them a good run for their money, but to be fair - there's SO much to ride in Ocala, that we haven't even touched half of it. We rode the vortex a few years back and have been looking forward to a return visit during a cooler month. We hope you enjoy this review, and hope this and the last few rides we did will inspire you to go out and check out what florida has to offer!

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  • MtbChick85
    Reviewing Nayles Trail:
    ****

    Spending a week mountain biking around Ocala and rode this loop today. This is a pure cross-country loop of about 10 miles. Lots of ups and downs ranging from small to medium, some with roots that adds a challenge on the up. There are fast sections through open forest area and tight and twisty through the pine trees. We all felt the ride (though this was day 3) by the end.

    Main criticism is the signage is awful - in fact it barely exists. We started from Shangri-la and got lost finding the start of the trail. We rode South Nayles to 49th St and came back N Nayles where we got dumped out on the paved greenway with no signage which way to go to get back to the campground. We finally found the dirt road that took us back, but there were several times during the ride we stopped to check our GPS. It would have been nice to have some signage along the way to confirm we were on the right trail.

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  • Matthotchkiss
    *****

    Huge network of trails. Well maintained and marked. Only did a few sections. I'll be back often to ride em all

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  • [email protected]
    Reviewing Pine Tree Loop:

    Just what you expact for a 'green' trail. Just easy and fun, can be fast if you want it to. Great for beginners.

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  • mlombar17
    *****

    Hands down the best FL has to offer! Flow trails, tech, jump lines, drops of all sizes, XC mileage, skinnys and wood features, this system really does have it all. Next to impossible to do it all in a single day, great camping facilities with a pump track and skills area adjacent. I LOVE SANTOS!

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Rider questions

Q: guys I'm heading your end of the pond in July. would like to try some trails, anywhere close to the trails to rent decent spec'd bikes?
A: Santos Bike Shop (www.santosbikeshop.com) and Greenway Bicycles (www.retrocitycycles.com) Easy access to the trails from either shop.

Q: RVing in Apopka for September, looking for riders going to Santos. Will pay for expensive. Female. [email protected]