Bentonville, Arkansas isn’t just promising an epic mountain bike experience; it’s delivering it in spades. From the crest of Castle Hub, dropping into trails like Uwabami, the sheer dedication to mountain biking is palpable. Uwabami, a fresh addition to Bentonville’s trail network, exemplifies the area’s appeal: smooth, flowing, and downhill-oriented, crafted for enjoyment by riders of all skill levels, even those on adaptive bikes. Meeting the trail builders, locals who’ve turned their passion into year-round careers, hammers home Bentonville’s commitment. Their soundtrack of Real Life’s “Send Me An Angel” and their unanimous positive outlook on Bentonville’s transformation speaks volumes. Standing on the deck-like structure overlooking a vista of downhill trails, it’s clear – this is a mountain biker’s paradise.
Trail builders in Bentonville Arkansas listening to music while working on trails
The trails surrounding Uwabami, like Medieval and Dragon Scales, are almost theme-park-esque in their design. Enormous bridges launch riders over massive jumps, features that local kids navigate with ease. Witnessing this progression is inspiring. Watching my own son confidently tackle tabletops on Uwabami while my wife’s joyful whoops echoed through the berms solidified it: Bentonville is a perfect family mountain bike destination.
For a family like ours, constantly seeking off-season biking adventures, Bentonville is a near-perfect escape, especially when Ontario turns grey and cold. The drive is significant – 18 hours from Collingwood – but the payoff is immense. Bentonville’s self-proclaimed title, “Mountain Bike Capital of the World,” starts to feel less like marketing and more like reality as you immerse yourself in the scene. While debates may rage with places like Moab and Whistler, in Bentonville, the bike obsession is undeniable.
Bentonville’s Transformation into a Mountain Bike Mecca
Bentonville’s pre-bike identity was synonymous with Walmart, the retail giant founded by Sam Walton in nearby Rogers in 1962. Walmart’s headquarters remained in Bentonville, drawing suppliers and fostering economic growth. The narrative of Bentonville’s mountain bike evolution is multifaceted, varying with each local’s perspective. Some credit a $10 million trail investment, others point to Sam Walton’s grandsons. Our insight came from a volunteer at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, a Walton-funded gallery.
According to this local, about a decade ago, the Walton grandsons envisioned Bentonville as the “mountain biking capital of the world,” and remarkably, achieved this within seven years. Tom and Steuart Walton, avid mountain bikers themselves, channeled the Walton Family Foundation’s investments into mountain bike trails. Starting from zero kilometers of singletrack in 2006, they rapidly expanded to eight kilometers in 2007. From 2008 to 2018, the foundation contributed a staggering $74 million to trail development in the region. By the end of 2023, Bentonville boasted 110 kilometers of trails within city limits, seamlessly connecting to over 600 kilometers of trail systems across northwest Arkansas.
Navigating Bentonville by Bike: A Unique Experience
Exploring downtown Bentonville by bicycle is not only safe but also strangely courteous. As a cyclist, you consistently have the right-of-way. Pulling up to intersections, even hesitating to consult Google Maps, cars patiently wait, honking unheard of. Bike theft seems remarkably low. High-end bikes, like a $10,000 electric Santa Cruz or an $8,000 carbon Specialized, stand unlocked outside coffee shops, a testament to the town’s bike-friendly ethos.
From the downtown square, we effortlessly transitioned onto the All American trail, a meticulously crafted machine-built trail featuring rollers, berms, skinnies, and various features. This trail descends into the heart of the Slaughter Pen trail system. We dove into laps on trails like Moo Moo, Choo Choo (famously glow-in-the-dark!), and Boo Boo. While Choo Choo was a family favorite, Boo Boo, with its downhill, zig-zagging nature, resonated with me personally. Splitting up at trailheads and reconnecting at the bottom, our laughter echoed through the woods, a shared family joy amplified by the trails.
Slaughter Pen and Beyond: Trail Variety for Every Rider
Venturing further into Slaughter Pen, we tackled Berm Creek, a replica of YouTube star Seth Alvo’s backyard trail. The initial roll-in was exhilarating, leading to hours of lapping with local riders enjoying their after-work rides. A casual 35km ride after work is just normal here. Then, curiosity led us to the Bone Yard, touted as the most extreme city-built trail imaginable. It lived up to its reputation, with massive jumps, cliff drops, and daunting bridges – mostly walked by us. The fact that such challenging trails exist within city limits is incredible. The signage is clear: pre-ride, re-ride, free ride – essential advice for trails of this caliber. Slaughter Pen alone consumed a full day, clocking over 20km and leaving us thrilled by the sheer variety and quality of riding.
Over a week, we aimed to experience as much as possible. The Flowfeed app, funded by the town, proved invaluable, providing real-time trail updates and conditions. This ensured we maximized our riding time, avoiding closures and wet trails.
Bentonville: More Than Just Bikes
Bentonville’s appeal extends beyond mountain biking. The Crystal Bridges Museum is a must-visit, offering free admission and world-class exhibits. During our visit, Annie Leibowitz’s photography and an immersive outdoor light installation captivated us. The Momentary, another Walton Family Foundation initiative, is a vibrant concert venue, attracting renowned artists. We even caught a Wu-Tang Clan performance, narrowly missing Wilco the following day.
For accommodation, we chose the Bike Inn, located just outside downtown Bentonville. This converted roadside motel is a cyclist-centric haven, embodying the “Bike. Sleep. Repeat.” motto. Camper spots in the back provided a perfect base for our Westfalia. The Bike Inn serves as a hub for cyclists nationwide, fostering camaraderie around evening campfires.
Bentonville truly feels like Disneyland for mountain bikers. It’s the idealized childhood town reimagined for adults who love bikes. Dirt jumps near coffee shops, berms integrated into sidewalks, and downhill trails on the way to… well, everywhere. The interconnected trail system is seamless. Even local businesses embrace the bike culture; Airship Coffee offers a discount to cyclists.
On our final day, we explored Rogers, Bentonville’s neighbor and the original home of Walmart. The Railyard Bike Park in Rogers is a masterpiece. Designed by Velosolutions, this asphalt pump track boasts incredible flow, jumps, berms, and features. A local rider, recently relocated from Dallas to open a bike-themed barbershop, confirmed the park’s enduring appeal and showed us advanced lines. Six hours flew by at Railyard as we witnessed our skills improve alongside fellow riders of all levels, a testament to the community-building power of pump tracks. Leaving was genuinely difficult.
Bentonville is a slice of mountain bike utopia worthy of annual visits. And the economic impact is significant. According to the Center for Business and Economic Research at the Sam M. Walton College of Business, cycling in northwest Arkansas generated $159 million USD in 2022 alone, through jobs, tourism, and taxes. This trail investment is clearly a smart strategy. Hopefully, towns like Collingwood and Blue Mountains in Ontario will take note.
Consider planning your trip around events like the Gran Fondo Hincapie Bentonville, held September 6-8.
Explore further with resources like:
The Latest and Greatest Bike Gear from OGC
Don’t forget to check out the ML Podcast for more adventure inspiration!
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