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Fat Tire Fall Foliage Fun at Santos
October 25, 2009
It feels like a celebration.

Fall in Florida. It means it’s time to throw open the windows at night and let the cool air rush inside; time to bike and hike and get outside; time to marvel at the hues of autumn.

One of my favorite places to admire the fall foliage and my favorite mountain biking destination to boot is the Santos Trailhead, near Ocala. Limestone ledges, ferns and ivy, a carpet of pine needles and a forest that seems endless are just a few of the reasons you ought to pedal on over to it.

Not convinced? Here are even more reasons:

•    If you can ride a bike, no matter what your age is, you can join in the fun at Santos.
•    The trails are clearly color-coded according to difficulty, and range from tame to death-defying.
•    Santos offers hiking and equestrian trails, too, but they are separate from the biking trails.
•    Bathrooms and pavilions.
•    A “skills area” with obstacles that include a series of dirt mounds, logs and a narrow wooden bridge perched a couple of feet off of the ground.
•    More than 60 miles of trails.
•    The “free ride area,” which offers a challenging series of dirt jumps and fearsome obstacles for skilled daredevils, is playground for cyclists where competitions are often held.
•    You can rent equipment (or buy some hot new gear) at the Santos Trailhead Bike Shop – so if you couldn’t fit your bike in your suitcase, no worries.
•    It doesn’t cost anything. However, you can (and should) leave a donation for the Ocala Mountain Bike Association, the good Samaritans who maintain the trails.

Looking for competition or organized rides? Check out the Gone Riding website. Here’s an article I wrote titled “Mountain Bike Mania” that has lots more information about Santos.
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You can rent a bike at the Santos Trailhead Bike Shop.
Credit: Lauren Tjaden, VISIT FLORIDA Beaches & Adventure Insider
Comments
Highmoon
Are there any paved trails up there for non-mountain bikes as well? If not in the park, then around the area.
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Lauren's Response:
Hi, High Moon! Just follow this link for lots of suggestions, from none other than the Santos Bike Shop (which is awesome):http://www.santosbikeshop.com/wheretoride.asp . Lauren
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