No place in the country has embraced mountain biking like Northwest Arkansas. The mountainous corner of the Natural State has more than 400 miles of singletrack, the vast majority of which has been built specifically for mountain biking. The neighboring cities of Bentonville and Bella Vista have gone all-in on bikes, integrating new trail systems into the fabric of their communities, while endless ribbons of singletrack traverse the surrounding mountains and bluffs. The result? Northwest Arkansas has become the hub of mountain biking in America. “I can’t think of anywhere else in the U.S. that approaches trail riding in quite the same way,” says Anneke Beerten, a three-time world champion mountain biker and professional skills coach.
The cycling community is so unique that it must be experienced to be believed. What’s in store? Here are eight reasons Northwest Arkansas is the ultimate mountain biking destination.
A Seamless Riding Experience
Are Bella Vista and Bentonville towns with world-class mountain biking, or is it a 200-plus-mile network of world-class trails that comes with two charming cities? Either way, what you get is two distinct communities with an amazing all-levels trail system that connects them. Can’t decide where to ride? Bella Vista’s Tunnel Vision never disappoints. Beerten also points new visitors to Slaughter Pen, just north of Bentonville: “You’ll find me here most of the time,” she says, “because it has super fun, flowy trails with some really playful jump lines.”
Options for Every Rider
The diversity of trails throughout Northwest Arkansas is unmatched, largely because most systems are built with progression in mind. The 49-mile Little Sugar system, for instance, has the well-groomed Tweety Bird loop (ideal for beginners) but also the black diamond Sick-A-More trail that’s stacked with features for expert riders. At Slaughter Pen’s Skills Park, there are beginner jumps and drops where kids and newer riders can safely get comfortable with airtime, but also advanced jump lines and big-air features.
True Proving Grounds
The area gets a lot of well-deserved credit for welcoming beginners (see above), but there’s plenty of technical terrain for experts as well. That’s why the U.S. National Mountain Bike Team chose Northwest Arkansas as its home base, and why many pros are moving to the area. Nat Ross is a former world champion XC racer who relocated specifically for the trails, and notes the many backyard opportunities to test his skills. “There’s so much for intermediate riders here,” Ross says, “but you’ll find dabs of black diamond terrain everywhere because the Ozarks topography, and all the rock here, make for excellent technical riding.” Want to push your climbing prowess to its limit? Try out Here’s Johnny, a black-diamond cross-country test piece in Coler Mountain Bike Preserve (pictured atop article).
A Culture of Two Wheels
Biking isn’t just a pastime in Northwest Arkansas, it’s woven into the community’s culture and economy. Trails are more than just magnets for visitation, they improve life for locals—kids riding bikes to school, parents commuting on two wheels, and a record number of designated Bicycle Friendly Businesses. Beyond its substantial economic impact, biking shapes the nature of the community for the better. “The trails, the community, and the slower pace of life really stand out,” Beerten says of her choice to live in Bentonville year-round. “It’s inspiring to see the community continuously striving to make cycling part of everyday life.”
Innovative Urban Trails
Bentonville has benefitted from its growth as the country’s new biking epicenter, with a 70-mile network of mountain bike trails incorporated seamlessly into the small city. And it’s not just singletrack in the forest; bike integration means sidewalks built into pump tracks. “Every time I ride from my house into town, I feel grateful,” Beerten says. “I’ll roll down a sidewalk with jumps built in, cut into a few singletrack trails, then hop onto the greenway that takes me straight downtown.” Beerten likes to bookend a day on the bike with a morning latte at Airship Coffee and a cold beverage at The Hub Bike Lounge.
Instant Adventure
From any one of Bella Vista’s 400-plus bike-friendly vacation rentals, you can connect to three trail networks with more than 100 miles of singletrack fanning out through forested bluffs, caves, and lakes. The Little Sugar trail network includes Huntley Gravity Zone where mountain bikers can lap features like drops and tabletops without worrying about uphill traffic. For a big ride, the Back 40 network includes 40 miles of singletrack for all levels, including hanging bridges that span waterfalls and bluffs. The Blowing Springs network includes the Gear Garden, an outdoor beer garden next to a natural spring. Recharge overnight at the new Campfire Ranch adventure lodge, which packs amenities like a bike wash, sauna, and cold plunge. Looking to build your skills? “In Bella Vista,” says Rich Drew, former enduro racer and founder of The Ride Series coaching system, “you’ll never run out of trail styles to improve your bike handling, mindset, and endurance.”
Lift Service
Arkansas’ first lift-served mountain biking, the OZ Trails Bike Park, is currently being developed in Bella Vista with easy access from Bentonville, featuring a high-speed quad chairlift (rendering pictured below) and 20 miles of gravity trails, all of which connect with the existing OZ Trails network. In true Arkansas fashion, art installations will be featured throughout the system.
The Bigger Vision
The extensive riding in Northwest Arkansas is only one part of a larger statewide investment in outdoor recreation dubbed Trail Vision. The initiative encompasses everything from the Monument Trails, a collection of purpose-built trail systems scattered throughout Arkansas’s state park units, to the new Trails at Mena Project, which will be comprised of 100 miles of singletrack on Ouachita National Forest, connected to the town of Mena and serviced by three chairlifts.
Northwest Arkansas, where the cities of Bentonville and Bella Vista unite to create the ultimate mountain biking destination and provides the training ground for the US National Mountain Bike Team. These neighboring cities offer 200-plus miles of connected trails ranging from urban flow to backcountry adventure, anchored by the OZ Trails Bike Park. The OZ Trails network radiates across the region creating a cycling destination where year-round riding meets genuine Arkansas hospitality, an expansive culinary scene, and a thriving outdoor culture. Welcome to Arkansas – The Natural State, a mountain biking paradise.
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