Looking for the top 10 Best Mountain Bike Trails in Northwest Arkansas (Bentonville Bike Trails, Bella Vista Bike Trails, Eureka Springs Trails, Fayetteville Trails and Springdale) also known as OZ trails and Monument Trails?
Northwest Arkansas has become a Mountain Bike mecca in a very few short years, in particular Bentonville Mountain Biking. There are more than 300 miles of both hard and soft surface trails in the area with more being developed almost constantly. Cycling enthusiasts travelers from all over the world to ride these stunningly beautiful and challenging single track trails in the country. In fact, recently, Bentonville Arkansas, has been named the Mountain Bike (MTB) Capital of the World.
Below is a list of
Top 10 Best Mountain Bike Trails in Northwest Arkansas:
OZ Trails, Little Sugar, Coler Mtb Preserve, Fitzgerald Mountain, Slaughter Pen, Back 40, Lake Leatherwood, Lake Wedington are few of the names that are getting national recognition as some of the top trails in the country.
They are located in Northwest Arkansas with additional trails coming soon.
These trails are world-class and so spectacular that two of them won a Bronze and a Silver IMBA designation.
Even though they are among the most competitive in the world, every skill level can still be accommodated.
Table of Contents
Bella Vista Bike Trails
Little Sugar – OZ Trails
Length of Trail: 45 miles
Type of Trail: Beginner 100% Singletrack
Directions/Parking for Sugar Creek: Hwy 71 North to Cedar Crest Drive ( .9 miles) to the intersection of Cunningham Drive.
Description: A single-flow track which is located on the West side of Bella Vista, Little Sugar network spans 50 miles and takes its riders through many hollers, ravines, drops, berms, tunnels, bluffs, switchbacks, caves, option jumps and glorious scenery throughout including spectacular creeks and a waterfalls. With lots of vertical, this is Northwest Arkansas scenery at its best. If you enjoy bike-park and back-country, you will love this trail. Be sure to take time to take photos, this fabulous trail is one you’ll want to return to again and again.
Back 40 & Blowing Springs Loop Trail
Length of Trail: Back 40 = 22.2 miles, Blowing Springs Loop 4 miles
Type of Trail: Intermediate, 100% Singletrack
Description: A world-class and favorite cross country single track with awesome berms and some great downhills with some tech stuff and a little bit of everything else.
Directions/Parking for Back 40 and Blowing Springs Loop: (from Town Center on Arkansas 340/Lancashire Boulevard): Take U.S. 71 south. Turn left on Dartmoor Road. Parking is off Blowing Springs Road before you get to the guard shack for the RV Park.
Description: Blowing Springs trails are fast and have flow with the more technical stuff and better scenery than Slaughter Pen. The trails include caves, waterfalls, springs, and cliff riding and is popular with hikers, mountain bikers, and trail runners year-round. The loop nets about six miles and connects easily to Slaughter Pen for more mileage.
Bentonville Bike Trails
Slaughter Pen Trail
Length of Trail: 23.7 miles
Type of Trail: Intermediate, 50% Singletrack
Directions/Location: Take Interstate 540 and exit at U.S. 71B in Bentonville. Follow U.S. 71B south for one mile to the parking lot on the left. Bike north on the concrete trail for one-half mile to the Slaughter Pen Hollow trail head.
Description: This is a loop trail located near Bentonville, Arkansas and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for mountain biking and is accessible year-round. Slaughter Pen trails are fast and have flow with enough technical stuff to make it hard.
Coler Trail Bentonville
Length of Trail: 16 miles when completed
Type of Trail: Advanced, 100% Singletrack
Directions/Location: 11840-11850 Peach Orchard Rd
Description: Built for skilled mountain bikers, the Coler Creek Trail features 8 different lines, all starting from a central hub. Whether you want rocks, flows or jumps, you’ll be able to enjoy them all at the new Coler Creek Preserve Trail.
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Eureka Springs MTB Trails
Lake Leatherwood Trail
Length of Trail: 20.8 miles
Type of Trail: Intermediate, 95% Singletrack
Location: 1303 Co Rd 204, Eureka Springs, AR 72632
Description: Lake Leatherwood sports the only natural downhill feature in the area. There are technical rock drops and tons of short tough climbs. A mid travel trail bike would be great for this trail.
Note: Lake Leatherwood is the site for the annual Fat Tire Festival. This festival is 3 day weekend that is packed with downhill, super-d, short track, and cross country racing. In addition, there are group rides, social gatherings, live music and craft beer.
Fayetteville Ar Bike Trails
Mount Kessler Trail
Length of Trail: 13.6 miles
Type of Trail: Advanced, Singletrack
Location/Parking: Take exit 60 off I-49 and go south about one-half mile on Cato Springs Road and turn right on Judge Cummings Road (WC 200) and the parking will be on your right.
Description: Mount Kessler is unique and rocky trail but a little more technical with some great scenery as well.
NOTE: Kessler Mountain Jam (formerly the Slaughter Pen Jam) is a mountain biking event that is family friendly and features live music, food, and much more. This singletrack race is part of the Arkansas Mountain Bike Championship Series (AMBCS).
Fossil Flats Trail – Devil’s Den State Park
Length of Trail: 5.6 miles
Type of Trail: Intermediate, 80% Singletrack
Location/Parking: 11333 West Arkansas Highway 74 West Fork 72774. South of Fayetteville, Parking is available at the campground across Lee Creek from the Visitor Center.
Description: Devil’s Den State Park has one of the oldest mountain bike trails (Fossil Flats) in the State of Arkansas. The park also offers scenic hiking trails and camping and fishing.
Note: Devil’s Den park plays hosts to the annual Northwest Arkansas Championship mountain bike race in the fall and a mountain bike festival each spring.
Lake Wedington Mountain Bike Trail
Length of Trail: 7.6 mile
Type of Trail: Advanced, 100% Singletrack
Description: Popular new easy, flowy, fun secluded single track.
Directions/Parking for Lake Wedington: Accessible from either Lake Wedington Parking lots.
Description: Good for all levels of riders with only a couple hundred feet of elevation. Expect a beautiful, refreshing scenic ride through the woods.
Rogers Mountain Bike Trails
Hobbs State Park Trail
Length of Trail: 19 miles
Type of Trail: Intermediate, Ridgeline Singletrack
Location: 20201 AR-12, Rogers, AR 72756
Description: Hobbs State Park trail system is really smooth with a lot of climbing. Winds and twists through the woods, and has some tight tree squeezes.
Railyard Bike Park & Lake Atalanta Trail
Length of Trail: 10 miles
Type of Trail: Intermediate, Singletrack
Location: 120 Lake Atalanta Rd, Rogers AR 72756
Description: Lake Atalanta Trail circles the spring fed lake, and takes you through some Ozark forest. The Railyard Bike Park has world-class dirt jumps, wood ramps, 20-foot gaps and even railroad cars. Cyclists of every skill level can enjoy this park.
Springdale Mtn Bike Trails
Fitzgerald Mountain Trail
Type of Trail: Intermediate, natural-surface multi-use trail
Location: A trailhead kiosk and temporary parking are available at Bayyari Park at 2400 Deer Valley Street, Springdale, AR.
Description: Using the natural rock formations at Fitzgerald Mountain as a major feature, the trail is not only beautiful, but is fun for cyclists of all skill levels.
Honorable Mention Northwest AR Trails
Lake Fayetteville Trail
Length of Trail 6.6 miles
Type of Trail: Beginner, 75% Singletrack
Location/Parking: 71B take Zion road to Veterans Memorial Park. The trail loops around Lake Fayetteville, starting and ending there.
Description: Lake Fayetteville is located on the north side of Fayetteville. It has a 6.6 mile loop that is family-friendly and is a good place to get a quick ride includes a hardwood forest, waterfall, wildflowers and is primarily used for mountain biking & trail running and is also accessible year-round.
Upper Buffalo Headwaters Trail
Length of Trail: 40.0 miles
Type of Trail: 90% Singletrack
Location/Parking: Knuckles Creek Road Trailhead: GPS Coordinates 35˚ 51´ 23.151˝ N -93˚ 29´ 40.056˝ W
Description: Offers about 40 miles of singletrack that surrounds the highest point in the Ozarks Mountains. It is comprised of beautiful vistas including dense forest, sustained climbs, steep pitches, rocky cliffs, berms, drops, water crossings and more. While beautiful, this trail is remote.
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