Bentonville is fingers down certainly one of my favourite locations to mountain bike for its world-class trails and enjoyable vibe. Begin planning your journey with this information!
I feel the key has gotten out about Bentonville and its wonderful community of mountain biking trails. I first visited Bentonville in 2020 and have been going again yearly (typically twice a yr!) to trip. I’m not simply saying this, however Bentonville is by far probably the greatest locations I’ve mountain biked within the US and it’s making a reputation for itself all over the world.
Say what you’ll about Walmart, however the cash the Walton Basis has poured into the paths and neighborhood improvement in Northwest Arkansas – and throughout the state – is mindblowing. This a part of center America has critically develop into the Disney World for mountain bikers.
And if you happen to’re pondering “Oh, it’s too new-school for me”, assume once more! Certain, there are many machine-built stream trails and bike park-like leap traces and options, however there’s additionally loads of handcut, old-school terrain with as many rocks and roots as you might need.
And it looks like the path crews are simply getting began. Rumor has it that there are plans to construct 1,200 miles of singletrack between Bentonville and Little Rock over the subsequent ten years. Fairly freaking cool.
In the event you’re planning a mountain biking journey to Bentonville, Arkansas, this submit covers every part you could find out about planning your journey. Study the very best trails to trip, route suggestions, the place to eat, and extra!
In search of the very best trails? Obtain my guidelines for the 15 finest trails in Bentonville.
Bentonville Mountain Biking Map
This map exhibits all the principle mountain biking path networks round Bentonville. In the event you’re searching for much more driving, take a look at my submit on the finest mountain biking in Arkansas.
What to like & what to not
I really like the mountain biking round Bentonville, however in fact not each place is ideal. Listed below are a couple of execs and cons of driving right here.
Bentonville’s path networks
Like most mountain bike locations, the paths in Bentonville are unfold out over a handful of networks. There are 6 principal mountain bike path networks to discover:
- Little Sugar
- The Again 40
- Blowing Springs & the Alice in Wonderland Trails
- Slaughter Pen
- Coler Protect
- HandCut Hole
1. Little Sugar
Little Sugar (and The Again 40 – see beneath) are the rolling cross-country areas of Bentonville, though there are a couple of pockets of some enjoyable tech. Little Sugar is northwest of downtown within the residential neighborhood of Bella Vista.
There may be one 25+ mile loop round Little Sugar known as Tunnel Imaginative and prescient. It rolls out and in of neighborhoods on mellow terrain with a number of well-built climbs and lengthy, quick descents. I’ve performed the complete loop twice and it’s really fairly enjoyable and value doing in case you have 25+ miles in your legs. In the event you’re not up for a big-mile day, there are many choices for shorter rides at Little Sugar (see route suggestions beneath).
Little Sugar can also be house to the Huntley Gravity Zone. This cluster of trails is situated virtually smack dab in the midst of Little Sugar and has a couple of machine-built stream and leap traces. Air-Raid is the most well-liked and an incredible path to construct confidence on jumps and drops. (Observe: the Huntley Gravity Zone isn’t on the massive Little Sugar Loop. You’ll must take the path Uphill Each Methods to entry it).
Lastly, the final time I rode Little Sugar, I found a little bit pocket of trails on the north finish that have been a ton of enjoyable. That is the place Staggerwing, Sister Rosetta, and Immortal Amanda are. Don’t miss them!
Have to know for Little Sugar
Planning your Little Sugar trip
2. The Again 40
The Again 40 path community is just like Little Sugar in that it’s primarily cross-country and has one lengthy 22+ mile loop – the Again 40 Loop. There are additionally loads of methods to place collectively shorter (and arguably extra attention-grabbing) rides with the crisscrossing of trails all through the path community.
The Again 40 can also be situated up in Bella Vista however on the appropriate aspect of the neighborhood. It’s house to certainly one of my favourite mountain bike trails in Bentonville – The Ledges – which follows a band of rock with some publicity and some difficult rock gardens.
Tunnel Imaginative and prescient or the Again 40? If you wish to do one lengthy cross-country trip, I just like the Tunnel Imaginative and prescient loop a little bit greater than the Again 40 loop. I additionally assume the Again 40 has higher choices for shorter and extra attention-grabbing rides than Little Sugar.
Have to know for the Again 40
Planning your Again 40 trip
3. Blowing Springs & the Alice in Wonderland Trails
Making our manner nearer to Bentonville, the Blowing Springs and Alice in Wonderland Trails bridge the hole between Little Sugar and the Again 40 in Bella Vista and the Slaughter Pen trails close to downtown Bentonville.
These trails are a few of my favorites. It’s not an enormous space, however what’s packed in there’s fairly darn enjoyable, particularly if you happen to like old-school tech (Increase Diggity) and new-school stream (Ace of Spades).
It is likely to be simple to miss these trails when placing collectively your Bentonville mountain biking journey, however I extremely suggest doing at the very least 1 trip right here!
Have to know for Blowing Springs & Alice in Wonderland
Planning your Blowing Springs & Alice in Wonderland trip
4. Slaughter Pen Trails
The Slaughter Pen Trails are most likely essentially the most well-known Bentonville mountain biking trails. They’re situated mainly on the town. You’ll be able to actually catch singletrack trails from downtown Bentonville. It’s wonderful!
There may be every part right here and it may be a bit overwhelming if it’s your first time visiting. There are machine-built stream trails, hand-cut old skool trails, a abilities park with jumps and drops, a CASTLE, cross-country driving, and even massive stuff I’ll by no means hit (good day Boneyard).
I feel most guests get into the lure of solely driving the Slaughter Pen trails after they go to Bentonville, and whereas they’re superior, don’t fall into that lure. It’s value testing the opposite networks I’ve listed as nicely. I’d say 2 days at Slaughter Pen is nice (clearly extra in case you have the time).
Have to know for the Slaughter Pen Trails
Planning your Slaughter Pen trip
5. Coler Protect
In the event you solely have time to go to one mountain bike community in Bentonville, make it Coler Mountain Bike Protect. This place is superior! There’s a ton to discover right here and there’s an incredible number of trails, options, and terrain.
Many of the downhill trails begin at The Hub on the north aspect. This alien-looking construction is an elevated launchpad with ramps dropping down into completely different trails. Hearth Line is a should! Stop & Desist and the well-known Drop The Hammer begin from right here as nicely.
On the south aspect of Coler, Thunder Dome and Household Movement are two quick and flowy machine-built trails which can be value lapping a few instances.
In between the north aspect and south aspect are a mixture of cross-country trails starting from beginner-friendly to the expert-only Right here’s Johnny.
Want a snack? You should definitely hit up Airship Espresso, which is situated in the midst of the Coler Protect trails and may solely be accessed by foot or bike. You can even e-book a website on the Coler Campground if you wish to shred sunup to sunset.
Have to know for Coler Protect
Planning your Coler trip
6. Handcut Hole
Handcut Hole is likely one of the newer path networks in Bentonville. As you’d suspect from its title, there are a whole lot of pure trails right here, BUT it’s not all handcut. The Hub does entry a couple of machine-built traces like my favourite – Interplanet Janet (so enjoyable!) – and a few spectacular rock work trails like The Physique Machine.
If you’re searching for old-school hand-cut, although, you’ll love Traverse Loop. It’s a superb mixture of cross-country and tech. After I rode it, I had the path principally to myself. This space is much less in style than different Bentonville mountain biking networks.
Handcut Hole can also be house to the notorious Zone 4 path. The transient for the path builders was to construct the toughest climb they may! As of this submit, no rider – even the professionals who’ve tried it – has been capable of trip the entire thing in a single clean shot.
Have to know for Handcut Hole
Planning your Handcut Hole Trip
Path Networks Farther Afield
The six path networks listed above make up the driving closest to Bentonville. Nevertheless, there’s nice driving throughout Northwest Arkansas! Listed below are a couple of different path networks to take a look at in case you have the time:
- The Railyard in Rogers – that is an city bike park with tons of enjoyable options like drops, jumps, pump tracks, and so on…
- Lake Atalanta in Rogers – I’ve solely hiked this path community, but it surely’s set in a very fairly park on a lake. The paths are primarily cross-country with not a whole lot of tech.
- Fayetteville – House to 2 of my favourite path networks – Mt. Kessler and Centennial Park – the mountain biking in Fayetteville is value a visit!
- Hobbs State Park – House to a few of the finest cross-country mountain bike trails I’ve ever ridden. Hobbs State Park is certainly one of my favourite locations to trip.
- Satan’s Den State Park – the paths at Satan’s Den are completely gorgeous (and enjoyable!) with cool rock formations and river views.
- Lake Leatherwood Gravity Venture: In search of a downhill day? E-book a trip on the shuttle at Lake Leatherwood Gravity Venture and lap the 7 downhill trails!
- Ardour Play in Eureka Springs – constructed on the grounds of a biblical reenactment camp, the Ardour Play trails are odd, however so enjoyable!
Watch BKXC trip a few of the trails in Bentonville
FAQs & Details
Q: When is the very best time to go to Bentonville to trip?
Bentonville can technically be ridden all yr lengthy, however the summer season months could be very popular and humid and winters could be chilly, wet, and snowy.
It’s finest to go to through the shoulder seasons of March-Could and September-November when the temps are good and the rain and humidity are minimal.
Bentonville additionally hosts a number of mountain bike occasions if you need your journey to coincide with a shindig. Bentonville Bike Fest occurs in Could and OuterBike involves city in October.
Q: Are e-bikes allowed on the paths in Bentonville?
Sure! Bentonville is likely one of the most e-bike pleasant locations to mountain bike within the US.
Q: Do I want a automotive to get to the paths in Bentonville?
That is dependent upon what you need to trip. In the event you’re going to remain near city (Slaughter Pen and Coler), then you may get away with no automotive. However if you wish to discover the Bella Vista trails and different networks in NWA then a automotive is critical.
Alternatively, Shuttle Hound is a shuttle service in Bentonville that gives transportation to and from trailheads.
Q: What’s the very best bike store in Bentonville?
There are a whole lot of nice bike outlets in Bentonville. I’m keen on Mojo Biking and Phat Tire Bike outlets.
Q: Can I e-book a Bentonville mountain bike tour or lesson?
Q: What are some good eating places in Bentonville for post-ride meals?
You’ll most likely be shocked in any respect the good eating places round Bentonville. It’s a foodie’s city! Listed below are a couple of of my favourite locations to seize one thing to eat:
– Crepes Paulette for scrumptious crepes
– Tusk & Trotter for American fare (nice burgers)
– Oven and Faucet for wood-fired pizza
– Tavola Trattoria for actually good Italian
– Nosh Nola at Bentonville Brewing (the Totchos are insane…)
– Pedaler’s Pub for good pizza and beer
Have you ever been to Bentonville to trip? Does it reside as much as the hype? What questions do you continue to have about Bentonville mountain biking? Depart a remark beneath!
Bear in mind to obtain my guidelines for the finest trails in Bentonville.
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Bentonville seems to be an exciting destination for mountain biking enthusiasts. The variety of trails and the local community support are impressive.
It’s great to see the investment in the trails and community. I look forward to visiting Bentonville and experiencing the biking culture firsthand.
The information about Bentonville’s trails is detailed and helpful. I appreciate the insights into different skill levels and trail types.
Bentonville sounds like a fantastic place for mountain biking. The mix of old-school and new-school trails is intriguing.
The plans for expanding the trail network in Bentonville are exciting. It will definitely attract more riders in the future.