San Felasco Hammock State Park

San Felasco Hammock State Park

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	San Felasco Hammock State Park
Location:	Florida
Nearest Town:	Alachua
Directions to Trailhead:	From I-75 to Exit 78. Go South on 441, 2.7 miles. Turn Right on Progress Blvd. Proceed 0.6 miles. From Gainesville, NW 43rd St and 441. Proceed north on 441, 6.0 miles. Turn left on Progress Blvd. Proceed 0.6 miles.
Trail Description:	Cotton Tail Trail is a 1 mile loop suitable for beginners. Cellon Creek Loop is a 4.2 mile loop requiring intermediate skills and fitness. Tung Nut Loop is 8 miles of strenuous hill climbs that take off from the eastern side of Cellon Creek Loop. Do not attempt Tung Nut Loop without carrying plenty of water.
Trail Length:	13.2 miles, 3 trails total
Trail Type:	Singletrack
Skill Level:	Beginner
Web Link:	http://rogersunderland.com/mountain_biking/mtb_trails/san_felasco/trail_review.html
Submitted By:	Roger Sunderland

Brother Gene from Jax FL Date: June 28, 2003 Trail Ridden: Every few months
Recommended Route: Go to the trail head and read the maps. Take the long route not the small loops, you can connect the trails together and get about 14 miles Other recommended trails in the same area: Reddick, Hardrock, Santos
Review: Real neat ride, not technical. My 10 year old son does the 14 mile ride. There are some climbs and stuff, a few logs to cross, but mostly just smooth curvey single track. You can really get a fast spin going on the track and fall into a groove whch will make it a tad more of a challange, a good work out, and allow you to enjoy the florida woods. There are a few small climbs and descents but dont go looking for mountains, or though challanges.	Overall Rating:

Javelin from Sugar Hill, GA Date: June 23, 2003 Trail Ridden: Please Select
Recommended Route: Just jump in! Other recommended trails in the same area: White Springs if you really wanna get lost in the woods. Olena for a non-tech, lung buster or family ride.
Review: I road this trail back in the Spring and it is very nice. I took Celon Creek into Tung Nut. I don't know if I went into the Hammock Hub but I must have. I'm convinced I did more than 8mi and since I added the last 4 from Celon, it was a long ride. I didn't take enough water for the ride. My little Camelback has been replaced. You'll need lots of water in the hot months. The Tung Nut loop takes you across some open areas. Even in late April it was pushing some 90 degrees out in the sun. It's worth the trip and you can get some long riding by combining the loops. Again, bring your long lung and lots of water and enjoy! Lots of roots and swoops and a few log jams (with by-passes) for you jumpers. Hats off to whoever is maintaining this. I met up with a cop who was biking it and he said they are planning to add more trail. Hey, it can only get better. >	Overall Rating:

M.O.D. from Jacksonville, FL Date: April 29, 2003 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Other recommended trails in the same area: Not trails, but a great end to a day of riding...when you finish riding San Felasco - head just 15 minutes N to High Springs, FL and follow the signs to Ginnie Springs. You can relax in the crystal clear springs, tube down the Santa Fe river, and they have hot showers there to get cleaned up for the ride home. Overnight camping is also available. Here's the website... http://www.ginniespringsoutdoors.com/gethere.html
Review: My first time there was just two weeks ago, but I'll be back! Entrance fee is $2 per CAR (not person!) - beats the poo out of Razorback and Hardrock fees! You would not believe how sweet the trails are from your initial drive through a field to the parking area - but once out there, hang on for one of your best Florida rides! The terrain is phenomenal and ever changing...as little as a 1+ mile beginner trail, good for warm-up, all the way to an approx 16 miles with all loops. The trail is hard packed with little to no loose sand. Which makes the ride fast...there were several times that I noticed that I was maintaining speed without even pedaling(especially on the Cellon Creek Trail). I also made the observation that the surroundings are more of what one would see at points north such as GA, AL, NC, VA, etc. The two traits that San Felasco has most in common with these locations above is 1) Rolling hills of noticeable elevation 2) Most of the ride is swamp-free! The pace of the trail has been well thought out - especially on "Tung Nut" Loop terrain is first an open prairie that goes into a cleared pine forest. This has the most of the rolling hills where the pathfinders have made excellent use of the terrain changes by running the course of the trail down the hill and back up again. Makes for a nice contrast between getting some true downhill speed(clocked 23mph on one portion of the return trail!) combined with some decent concentration climbs. Much more exhilarating than the monotony of flat, sandy trails that just have turns. This trail truly adds the third dimension to your ride! Take a look at the "GPS-360-Rotation" link on the page below to get a visual of the terrain with an overlay of the trail. For those that have ridden or heard about the technical spots at Razorback and Hardrock - we have not seen those at San Felasco. This is just a great all-around XC ride. Almost forgot, the trail designers have also put in some fun "log-jam" obstacles (with opt outs) through-out the trail system to keep it interesting. So, that I am not over-writing Roger's info page - Here is a great link with more info on San Felasco: http://rogersunderland.com/mountain_biking/mtb_trails/san_felasco/trail_review.html	Overall Rating:

Roger Sunderland from Gainesville, Florida. USA Date: February 11, 2003 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: See above: Other recommended trails in the same area: Come to RogerSunderland.com for 129 trails in Florida... The park's Citizen Support Organization now has an official website for the trails: www.sanfelasco.net. Check it out for info about volunteer trail repair days and the monthly night ride. I advertize for them on my website... Thank them for making this trail possible.. and help if you can. Go to thier website for more info.
Review: The Park Service has opened the 2 New Trails but as not yet GPS the Trails on any maps given out at the TrailHead. If you want a Map of the New Trails.. Go to http://rogersunderland.com or click on the link above. The Hammock Hub has been opened off the "Itchy Bottom Lake" section of the Tung Nut Loop. The Sweet Gum Loop is now connected to the Hub; look for the connector about a quarter into the Hub as you travel clockwise. Please note that the Sweet Gum connector crosses a double-track horse trail-- respect the horse riders and keep off the double-track. The park's Citizen Support Organization now has an official website for the trails: www.sanfelasco.net. Check it out for info about volunteer trail repair days and the monthly night ride. For all my Triahlon buddies... This is a great place to train...swimming is a problem.. CAN'T! But cycling and running in the Hammock is great training.	Overall Rating:

cycoc from J-Ville Date: December 2, 2002 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: from the parking area-counterclockwise Other recommended trails in the same area: Razorback in Reddick, Santos in Belleview
Review: This is a great trail for true XC riders. It has a lot of lung-busting, leg-burning climbs with only a few downs that aren't long enough. I prefer more technical riding thrown in the mix just to give it better balance. The scenery is great though. Lots of very friendly people, Mtb'ers and non-mtb'ers. I thought about trashing this trail in my review but I thought that wouldn't be fair to riders that may be looking for a true XC trail to ride. If that's what you are looking for then this is the trail for you. It's just not for me. Happy riding!	Overall Rating:

true from Gainesville Date: November 15, 2002 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: Enter from 441, just south of Alachua, through the Progress Center. The entrance is now marked with state park road signs on 441. Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: The trail system at San Felasco continues to grow! The Hammock Hub has been open through the summer of 2002, off the "Itchy Bottom Lake" section of the Tung Nut Loop. The Sweet Gum Loop is now connected to the Hub; look for the connector about a quarter into the Hub as you travel clockwise. Please note that the Sweet Gum connector crosses a double-track horse trail-- respect the horse riders and keep off the double-track. The park's Citizen Support Organization now has an official website for the trails: www.sanfelasco.net. Check it out for info about volunteer trail repair days and the monthly night ride. We're also hosting a 50 mile "Tour De Felasco" mountain bike ride on Jan. 11, 2003...	Overall Rating:

Rob from Jacksonville Date: November 3, 2002 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: http://rogersunderland.com (great site, clear directions) Other recommended trails in the same area: Ocala and Lakeland rock. Oh yes, and with Jesus as your guide- you'll be riding in heaven one day!
Review: These well maintained, well marked trails were awesome! You won't find red trail drops like at Hardrock, Razorback, or the TOE. You will find a really fast XC course through a beautiful forest with lots of wildlife. There's good climbs and good downhills- especially tung nut loop. It was nice getting in 14 miles without having to do multiple laps. Next trip out there, the plan is to do the 14 like today then do the trails in reverse and add Turkey Creek loop in for a total of 32+ fast miles. Feel the burn! Jacksonville BOMB group (www.ridedirt.com) will definitely be hitting these trails again soon.	Overall Rating:

Joe from Boca Date: September 29, 2002 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: This was the first official state park trail i have ridden up here. The first mile was somewhat fun but after that it got a lil boring. This trail is diffinitly not "technical." the up-hill climbs are very strenuous. we tryed taking some off course trails that appeared to be heading somewhere but never did. make sure to stick to the bike trail signs. it was pretty easy to get thrown off course and end up on an equestrian tral. - more up hill. while ridng we came along two rattlesnakes that were not happy to see us. one snake about four feet even tryed to strike my friend. so keep your eyes pealed. we also saw 3 deer and a tortus. the wildlife makes what seems like neverending upiill climbs a lil more pleasant. there are are very few jumps on this trail. i would like to see some added, even if they are artificial.	Overall Rating:

KStone from FL Date: July 9, 2002 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Connect all trails and ride both directions Other recommended trails in the same area: Santos
Review: I stopped here after riding Santos in the morning. No stoppers and completely ridable. I liked the switch backs on the side hill, the climbing, and enjoy trails like this that leave me tired and sore, not bruised and battered. Riding in the opposite direction is a completely different trail and will double your mileage and extend the fun. Allow some time to watch the deer as we encountered many. I would reccommend San Felasco Hammock State Park to anyone who enjoys a ridable, interesting trail. Some of the riding is in open fields which can be hot so carry some water. Unlike Santos these trails are good for groups of varying abilities as the faster riders don't have to wait at the turns. Why? Because there are no turns in any of the three loops!! Slower riders won't get lost taking a wrong turn.	Overall Rating:

Jim (Yellow Cannondale, Black Jeep!) from Gainesville Date: July 8, 2002 Trail Ridden: Once a month
Recommended Route: Off 441.. easy to find. Other recommended trails in the same area: Santos, Hardrock, Razorback, Winter Park, Fort Clinch, etc.
Review: I'd ridden some of the smaller loops before, but not Tung Nut loop. It's got some killer climbs, and some decent downhills and technical jumps/dropoffs as you get further into the trail. Once you do the majority of the hillclimbing, it runs back down into ravines and makes good usage of all the elevation changes. I didn't bring enough water (I would have been fine, but my riding parter was WAY slower than I had anticipated) so make sure to bring it. It's a pretty long trail. A few trees are down.. had to walk around in places, but other than that a great trail. Come prepared, and have fun.	Overall Rating:

Roger Sunderland from Gainesville, Florida. USA Date: June 17, 2002 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: Above... Other recommended trails in the same area: They are ALL on my website...
Review: I've got a NEW WEBSITE at: http://rogersunderland.com and a NEW EMAIL ADDRESS: roger@rogersunderland.com San Felasco is growing... Some new trails coming soon.	Overall Rating:

Ian from Orlando Date: May 21, 2002 Trail Ridden: Please Select
Recommended Route: Just ride the trail and enjoy Other recommended trails in the same area: Razzorback at Redick has one of the best flows in Florida and has some great races. Go to Goneriding.com for directions and race dates. Also Santos at Bellview, the best trail in Florida, or probably anywhere for that matter.
Review: I'm not gona lie, this isn't a technical trail. Its a fast pace ride with kick ass climbs. The first mile is very decieving to the rest of the trail. After that, there is about a four mile climb filled with switchbacks. Hey, I rode it at a 18mph average, and Im thirteen and never ridden out of florida. Now come on, do you want a kid to beat you? After the climbs, theres a pretty sweet downhill section that takes you back to the begining of the climbing, and then you can go back to the parking lot. I rode some of the new single track at the top of the climbing with some of the trail bulders and it rocked, but wait untill its officialy open! All around, this is one of the sweetest rides Ive done, period. If you like climbing (I mean real climbs, not quick, fast, steep uphills, I mean long, real climbs) then come here and enjoy.	Overall Rating:

RalphL from Cooper City FL Date: April 10, 2002 Trail Ridden: Please Select
Recommended Route: From trailhead, take Cellon Creek loop halfway out, pickup Tung Nut loop and go all the way around, then finish with second half of Cellon Creek loop. Other recommended trails in the same area: Razorback, Santos and Hardrock in Ocala are the closest other realy good trails.
Review: Rode this trail on 4/2 with my son and enjoyed it immensely. Not a real technical trail like Markham or Razorback, but very satisfying, nonetheless. Looks like there is plenty of room for expansion, so, hopefully, some more advanced trails may be forthcoming. Congrats to Bryan McAllister and all of his trail crew for the development. The scenery, particularly once you get to the wooded sections, is marvelous. Thanks for a great ride.	Overall Rating:

Roger Sunderland from Gainesville, Florida. USA Date: April 9, 2002 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: Directions above! Other recommended trails in the same area: All the trails in Florida I recommend...
Review: Rode the trail today with some new friends... The trail builders are making some new trails in the back off of Tongue Nut Loop...Oh. I saw Little Pup on the trail today ... he was crying for his mommy. I had to give him directions back to the parking lot. Miserable little kid.. felt sorry for him! He won't be back. We don't need people like that who want to hurt all the people that made this trail possible.	Overall Rating:

BigDawg from gainesville FL Date: April 9, 2002 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Other recommended trails in the same area: powerlines, santo, razerback, hardrock
Review: i was told this trail was cool, but i ended up riding up hill for about 10 miles (on grass). this trail sucks, no drops, no jumps, just bull S@#%. the trail could have been cool, every time you would ride up a hill, instead of making a nice decent, they made it weave back and forth, thus no down hill.	Overall Rating:

mike m from middletown, ct. Date: March 26, 2002 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: ride the whole system Other recommended trails in the same area: santos
Review: very nice ride, nice elevation changes for fl. the back side of the cellon creek loop is a blast at speed.if i lived in this area i'd ride this place a lot, a good workout.	Overall Rating:

true from Gainesville Date: January 29, 2002 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: 441 south from Alachua/north from Gainesville, behind the Florida Progress Center just south of Alachua. Bring $2 for entrance fee-- it is part of the State Park system Other recommended trails in the same area: Razorback, Santos, Ft. Clinch
Review: It's pointless to compare San Felasco to Razorback or the red sections of Santos-- if you are looking for steep drops and big ledges, stay in the Ocala area. If you are looking for some of the best XC distance trails in north Florda, head to San Felasco. It doesn't have the quarrys of the Ocala trails, but it does a fantastic job of exploiting the rolling hills on the north rim of the Sanchez Prairie. Expect long, steady climbs (for this area), switchbacks just when you think you can bomb down a hill, and lots of tight twisty trail through oak, pine, and tung nut trees. San Felasco also has many more log jumps/bridges than the trails to the south. Don't be surprised if you come across armadillos, wild hogs, and herds of deer within the park. Trails can be run both directions. The Tung Nut Loop is a completely different ride when taken backwards. For a complete 14 mile tour d'felasco, start in the parking lot, take the south side of cellon creek loop to the tung nut loop, run the entire tung nut loop, stay on the jeep trail across the creek to the north side of cellon creek, then when you see the restrooms cut across toward the entrance gate to ride the cotton trail as a cool-down. Take lots of water in the summer-- the grinding hilly section of the tung nut loop is in full sun and feels like a blast furnace when the temp. is above 85.	Overall Rating:

Randy from Gainesville Date: November 28, 2001 Trail Ridden: Once a month
Recommended Route: Other recommended trails in the same area: Santos
Review: Mostly flat and unchallenging for a Thrasher. Too much trail through open fields (formerly horse/cow pasture?) and not enough radical terrain. Santos is much better. Too bad Powerlines is closed.	Overall Rating:

Tom Seaman from Melbourne, Florida Date: November 24, 2001 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Traveling north on I-75 from Ocala, get off at exit 78. Head East a few miles and you will see Progress Corporate Park. Make a right onto Progress Blvd. and head ALL the way back through the gate (yes, ALL the way back to the woods through the gate). You will see a small bldg in the field to your left, that is the restrooms. Follow the double track road to the woods and park. Maps are in the little mailbox. Other recommended trails in the same area: Reddick (great trail), Santos (ok), White Springs (good).
Review: Nice cross country ride about 12 - 13 miles total. Beautiful scenery and trails are in excellenet shape! Rolling hills which means up and down. This is not a technical ride like Markham Park in Ft. Lauderdale. For the locals in Gainesville and Ocala, you lucky dogs you.	Overall Rating:

Scott from Pensacola, Florida Date: November 3, 2001 Trail Ridden: Please Select
Recommended Route: see others - also, got a map from Roger's web site which helped a lot. Other recommended trails in the same area: www.porc.org has photos of this trail, plus many others in the State of Florida and Southeast USA.
Review: We rode this trail 2 days after it opened. We stopped on our way to Tampa on a business trip and had time to ride the entire loop once. The trail is very scenic and fun to ride. Difficulty is relative, however, and the hills are not as big as they are here in Pensacola, but considering what part of the State these trails are in I'd say that the layout made the most of the topography. The log obsticals were fun to hop, and I also liked the way the trail traveled in and out - - from thick vegetation with huge oaks to open fields. The trail signs are as good as one could want....no way to get lost on this trail. Can't really find anything bad to say about San Felasco....Hope to ride it again soon.	Overall Rating:

Russ Bowers from Gainesville Date: October 29, 2001 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: Tung Nut trail. Other recommended trails in the same area: Razorback, 30 miles South on 441.
Review: Nice beginner trail, but since the loop is a good 9 miles around, its also good for putting in some long mileage training during the week when razorback is closed. Minimal climbing, mostly flat or gently rolling single-track. Hopefully the lack of challenge will be fixed with some future trail additions because the terrain could potentially support some more interesting options. I would suggest that the trail-builders consider removing all the artificial log crossings. Leaving in the occasional natural one where a big tree falls across the trail is o.k., but the man-made built-up triangular shaped ones do not enhance the enjoyment or challenge to the trail in any way. During the rainy season the end of the Cellon Lake loop is under water. This 4 mile loop becomes an 8 mile out and back, so beware. Best to ride the loop backwards - take the NE direction and go around clockwise. Keep an eye out for Rattlesnakes! I had to bunny hop over a big one stretched across the trail in one of the groves of tree in the middle of the meadow. There are tons of bugs too.	Overall Rating:

perry from Jax Date: October 26, 2001 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: Trails are in excellent condition and very well marked. New trails are always fun but I dont think I will be making the drive from Jax to ride here any time soon. If you live in the Gainesville area, the trails are a god send. Tough climbs and some exciting downhills as a reward.	Overall Rating:

Isaac Hartmann from Gainesville, FL Date: October 21, 2001 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: It doesn't have anything challenging. If you want to get away from Gainesville and don't want to go as far as Santos, it's ok. Great place for beginning bikers. It's also a really beautiful area (For FL), with some hills.	Overall Rating:

Eddie Spagetti from Jacksonville Date: October 17, 2001 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: From Jax: I-10 We past 301 to SR121. South on 121 fro approx 35 miles to SR 235 in LaCrosse. Right on 235 about 7 miles to 441. Left on 441 to Progress Blvd. Creeps up on the right about 1.75 mi. Follow Dirt/Grassy road to Parking area. Start from trail head (maps available)just right of parking area Other recommended trails in the same area: Santos, Snow Hill Road (Orlando), Ft. Clinch(Fernandina), Hanna Park(Jax)
Review: Impressive! Kudos to the folks that created this great trail. Mostly single track,very well marked, maintained and very fun! Well worth the drive from Jax (about 1hr 45min). Not quite as challenging as Santos but just as fun. Several climbs, downhills and switch backs Overall trails are very fast. 3 trails to choose from for all skill levels... Currently, no charge to ride, but it is my understanding that in the next few weeks, bathroom facilities will be complete and there will be a small fee(well worth it!!!)to get into the park. Cotton Tail Trail 1 mi. loop for Beginners Cellon Creek Loop 4.2 mi. loop for Intermediate Tung Nut Loop 8 mi. loop Advanced All trails interconnect to make 1 long 13 mile loop. Considering this is Florida...5 wheels!	Overall Rating:

Roger Sunderland from Gainesville, Florida. USA Date: October 16, 2001 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: Very easy to find this trail... 0.6 miles right off of 441. Directions above. It just opened August 25th 2001. Other recommended trails in the same area: Some of my other favorites places to ride are Spider Kingdom at Santos in Ocala, Bridge to Bridge in White Spring and Hanna Park in Jax.
Review: This is one of most beautiful trails in north Florida. Skill wise,, it's a great workout. With 3 differant loops, you can bring a friend with no skills or bring your BUDS that love fast and beautiful hill climbs. I go out twice a week and I love this trail..	Overall Rating: