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Ocala Razorback at Reddick Terrain: The trails are mostly singletrack, with a few moderate climbs, some off-camber sections, and other technical challenges for the intermediate to advanced rider. Trails are well marked and offer over ten miles of riding, which occasionally changes direction and route. The trails offer all season riding and are mostly shaded, but bring your bug spray if you plan to stay late. Skill To Get There: From the north, take I-75 south to 318 at exit 368 and head east. Turn south on US 441 at the traffic light. US 441 will curve left, but bear right on CR 25A and continue till you reach 316. Turn left at the intersection and head east for less than one mile. From the South, take I-75 to SR 326. Head east 0.5 miles, turn north on CR 25A, and continue north for 7 miles. Turn east (right) on 316. A small sign, easily missed if you are traveling too quickly, identifies your destination. Turn south (right) into the narrow entrance and follow the dirt road all the way back to the parking area. You can click, pan, and zoom on the map below to help find the trailhead.
A few obstacles to practice your skills, but now torn down. A large,
trials-like, obstacle course is planned. Razorback, sometimes called Reddick (352-873-9279), is open on weekends. Here's the deal: it is one of the must-ride places in Florida! There are hills to climb, steep drops to negotiate, and tight singletrack. You can really flow and get into a rhythm. The site hosts races, including 12 hour races that Tinker Juarez and Gary Fisher have attended. You can camp during race weekends, but bring your own toilet paper! At most Florida sites, beginners can manage by riding around obstacles or riding trails designated less difficult. However, I would not recommend these trails to beginners (advanced beginners that know their limits will do fine). Steep climbs and descents exist with no easy way to avoid them. Yes, there's an easy loop, but it's not all that easy. A restroom (porta-potty) and refreshments are available and there is a modest entrance fee ($4) in addition to the required annual license. The mountain biking trails sits on land leased by owners who also lease their land to farmers and a mining operation. The trails are adjacent to the mining operation and sometimes the mining destroys trails. That's okay because new trails are built to replace the old. The trail changes its course every few months. Interestingly, the Gone Riding operators of this park had a disagreement with Hard Rock management. The end result is that these former "Hard Rockers" started Razorback, to the benefit of all cyclists.
A rare and blurry view of the website author plunging down with spectators above! |
