Fant's Grove Perimeter Loop

This ride takes you on a journey around the perimeter of Fant's Grove. It uses sections of all four main trail loops (Gray Diamond Trail, Green Triangle Trail, Red Square Trail, and Blue Bar Trail) to provide you with a bit of what each has to offer.

Some areas of the trail may be difficult to navigate in late fall/early winter due to leaf litter. The Blue Bar Trail is missing many of the intersection markers listed on available map. Some sections of trail drain poorly after rain and see heavy damage from horses.

Park at the Butch Kennedy trailhead. Begin the ride by riding up Arena Blvd until it dead ends at Queen Street. This will be the Green Triangle Trail entrance.

Head into the forest and follow the trail. After a short distance, you'll come to a dirt road near the Starkey Swine Farm. As of late 2018, this area has been logged and the section of trail that used to be here at marker A2 no longer exists. Follow the forest road and enter the trail again at marker A6. The route will now become old school singletrack in a mixed hardwood forest. Continue to follow the trail. It will cross a paved street at marker A7 then continue into the forest.

At this point, the route will trace the perimeter of the peninsulas bordering a branch of Lake Hartwell. This will provide some great views of the lake. Continue to follow the trail until it terminates at a forest road. There will be a picnic pavilion off to the right. Turn left and continue down the road until you reach marker A12. Now make a right and follow the trail to marker A15. At this point, the trail will continue right onto a short section of the Gray Diamond Trail. As of late 2018, the section of the Gray Diamond Trail has been logged around marker A17, making the trail difficult, if not impossible to find/pass. Stay to the right and follow the shoreline of the lake and it will become evident where passage is possible/been happening. Follow the trail and continue until it overlaps with the Red Square Trail.

This section of the ride will have more climbs and offer steeper terrain. There will be a few water crossings as well; some will require walking your bike due to the amount of mud. Once you reach the intersection at marker B9, continue onward on the Red Square Trail. Follow it until it terminates at a forest road. Make a left and follow the road to marker B11. Pass around the gate and look for the trail entrance behind and off to the right. Do NOT cross the paved street.

Continue on the Red Square Trail to marker B12. This is where it will intersect/overlap with the Blue Bar Trail. The entrance to the Blue Bar Trail may be very difficult to identify. As of January 2017, there were three or four downed trees laid perpendicular to the entrance between two big trees. Make a right and ride the trail for a short distance and it will dump out on a forest road. Shift into high gear and head down the road. Speeds in excess of 20 MPH are possible at this point.

After about a mile, the road will intersect another road. Pass though this intersection and stay left at the next three forks. Make sure to make a left at marker B15. Follow the trail until it becomes a forest road and stay left. At marker B17, make a right (if you go straight you'll end up at the first intersection you passed when riding down the road). Follow the road until it turns left and turns back into trail. Then, cross the paved road at marker B18, make a left, and re-enter the trail at marker B19 on the right side of the road. Follow the trail a short distance and turn left after about 1/4 mile (if you ride into the field, you've gone too far).

This next section of trail may be difficult to navigate when covered with leaves. It will become a bit steep at points and once again become forest road. Follow the road until it intersects with another at marker B20. Make a left onto the road then an immediate right back onto the trail at marker B21. Follow this trail through the woods until you reach marker B24.

At this point, you'll intersect again with the Red Square Trail. Make a right to continue on the Red Square Trail until it intersects with the Gray Diamond Trail. Make a right on the Gray Diamond Trail and follow until it intersects with a forest road at marker B30. Cross the road and follow the forest road. It will cross over a paved road and join in with the Red Square Trail and Green Triangle Trail. Exit over the bridge and up the hill back to the Butch Kennedy Trailhead.