Type: Multiple loops
Distance: 37 miles
Difficulty:
Beginner/Intermediate
Directions: Visit our Google
Map and get turn-by-turn directions from your front door by
clicking here
Online Map: View the
trail in Google Maps by
clicking here
Description:
Nestled in the Long Cane Ranger
District of the Sumter National Forest, FATS is the crown
jewel of the CSRA trails, and for good reason. FATS
has something for everyone. Very few technical
features make FATS a great place to get beginners hooked on
the sport, and the excellent flow, pump track like feel, and
high speed sections combined with lots of mileage keeps
bringing the seasoned riders back for more time and time
again.
In 2009 FATS was awarded
IMBA Epic status, and in 2010 was the host trail for
the annual
IMBA World Mountain Bike Summit. The trails have
been highlighted in several magazines, including
BIKE,
Blue Ridge Outdoors, and a series of web articles for
Bicycling just to name a few.
FATS consists of six individual
loops, each with their own character and feel. There
are two parking lots, the South Trailhead is the main
parking lot, and the North Trailhead is adjacent to Big Rock
and Tower. The southern loops are Brown Wave, Skinny,
Great Wall, and Deep Step. Big Rock and Tower make up
the northern loops. Each loop is explained in more
detail below.
(Note: the numbers on
the map are location markers, NOT mile markers)
Brown Wave
Distance: 5.8
miles
Description:
The Brown Wave gets its name
because it feels like surfing on a bike. Lots of
whoop-de-doos and the least climbing of any loop make it one
of the most popular.
Careful at The Dip down by the
river. When you see the sign that says DANGER - slow
down!
See what "lots of whoop-de-doos"
means in this
video on YouTube.
Doesn't get much more
technical than this on Brown Wave.
Typical FATS singletrack -
fast, and more flow than the Savannah River. Surf the
contour!
That sign aint kidding.
Skinny
Distance: 6 miles
Description:
Skinny is best trail for
beginners. Easily accessible from the parking lot, and
not much climbing make it a good place to learn. But,
like all of the loops, a rider can very easily get in over
their head (literally) in the whoop-de-doos with too much
speed.
Great Wall
Distance: 7.5
miles
Description:
The Great Wall is the most
"well-rounded" trail at FATS, with a little of everything.
Some very fast down hills, tough climbing, plenty of
whoop-de-doos, and a very tight and twisty hand built
section offer lots of variety.
The loop gets it's name from the
long section of trail armored with concrete. While not
quite as big as the real Great Wall, it's still an
interesting challenge.
The rock bridge.
Deep Step
Distance: 5 miles
Description:
Many locals have a love-hate
relationship with Deep Step. It offers more climbing
than the other three southern loops, and many of the climbs
are steep. The same whoop-de-doos that are so fun
going down become momentum killers while climbing up!
However, the blistering fast
descents are more than enough of a reward for the climbs.
Deep Step gets its name from a
popular fishing hole in the nearby Savannah River.
The trails cross power line
clearings in several places.
A group of riders flying
through some whoop-de-doos.
Big Rock
Distance: 4 miles
Description:
Big Rock and Tower both have a
different feel than the southern loops. The terrain is
steeper, the ground is rockier, and the trail corridor is
narrower.
Highlights of Big Rock is the
multiple rock outcroppings the trail winds through, and the
bridge made from a cedar tree. Be sure to stop and
check out the carving in the bridge.
The cedar log bridge is
really cool. It's also a bit narrow.
Some findings of the
trailbuilders.
No, those are not the big
rocks.
Tower
Distance: 4 miles
Description:
Named after the nearby
observation tower, this loop has been described as up-hill
in both directions. Steep climbs, switch backs, and
plenty of flowing high speed sections are guaranteed to keep
any rider entertained.
