Santos Campground — Hotel in Belleview

It's exciting to see mountain bike trails in Florida, even more exciting to realize how many there are for all skill levels. This place is a gem! It appears to be a popular place. I visited on a weekday and there were many people out throughout the day. Before getting started worried about crowded trails (that was before I realized how many trails there were) and feeling intimidated as I am a mountain biking novice. The beginner trails were great. I stepped it up to the next level and found those to be varying. Some with just tighter turns and a few more bumps and another with a lot of rocks and obstacles. At some of the features there was an option to take it or not which was nice. I did get confused with which way to go once or twice. Maybe I just wasn't familiar enough with the trails. I hope there is some sort of guide maps or pamphlet that tells more about the trails that I just never did see. One thing you have to know is to watch the sign post carefully, if you're not familiar and not an expert biker, you could end up on a trail you didn't intend to be on. Though I'm not experienced enough to use all there was to offer I am glad to see a park offer so much in an area where mountain biking would be a less likely sport, as there aren't really many...

Edited: I stayed at the campsite one night to ride two days instead of driving back home. The campsite it self is spacious, cleaned and nice. The only thing I didn't like was the in-ground bbq pit on the site. There are upright BBQ but they are next to the square by the bathrooms. If you have your own bbq or stove that shouldn't be a problem.

The campground is not that quite due to the fact that is located next to SR 301/441. You can hear a train whistle and traffic non stop. The train is heard more at night when everything else is quite. If you can't deal with noises, do not camp here. I love quietness especially when camping, but I can take the train and the cars. Is better than rowdy people camping. For the most part I had a pleasant stay, met a few good people camping there. And the MTB rides were good. Although I'm spoiled with NC MTB scene, Santos offer a great variety. No downhills since FL is flat but a few drops here and there.

This is a four year old review about the trails: Many trails to choose from. I discovered it in 2008 and I'm still riding it from time to time. Now with a tool stand on the parking trailhead is...

This place is fantastic and so well-maintained. It’s great for every age. Facilities include clean bathrooms, picnic areas, and a campground next-door. While much is made of the spectacular mountain biking trails, and they are certainly worth coming here for, there is also a beautifully paved trail for a day’s ride here as well. We biked about 7 1/2 miles one-way, winding through a peaceful, wooded forest that includes occasional benches, picnic tables, and two fun, curvy road underpasses before we reached the land bridge that crosses over I-75. That in itself was worth the trip! Lots of historical information about the doomed Cross Florida Barge Canal that was thankfully halted before that ecological disaster was finished. This paved trail is shared with walkers and intersects often with the mountain biking trails. This can be a relaxing cycle ride to toddle slowly or have lots of fun speeding along but either way, the paving is really smooth and definitely good for all ages. The majority of it is shaded with a canopy of oaks and very tall pine trees but the use of sunscreen is a good idea and remember to...