Bentonville, Arkansas, has rapidly emerged as a premier destination for mountain biking enthusiasts. Its growing reputation is well-deserved, and having visited first in 2020 and returned multiple times annually, I can attest to its status as one of the top riding locations in the United States, gaining global recognition.
While the influence of Walmart and the Walton Family Foundation in developing the region’s trails and community is undeniable, transforming this once-understated area into a mountain biker’s paradise, don’t be misled into thinking Bentonville is solely about manicured trails. Alongside expertly crafted flow trails, jump lines, and bike park features, you’ll find an abundance of raw, hand-built trails, complete with rocks and roots, catering to riders who appreciate classic, technical challenges.
The expansion shows no signs of stopping. With plans to add an impressive 1,200 miles of singletrack between Bentonville and Little Rock in the coming years, the future is bright for mountain biking in this region.
If you’re considering a trip to Bentonville, Arkansas, this guide is designed to equip you with all the essential information for an unforgettable experience. From top trail recommendations and route suggestions to dining hotspots and more, prepare to explore the Mountain Bike Capital of the World.
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Navigating Bentonville Bike Trails: Your Mountain Biking Map
This comprehensive map highlights the primary mountain biking trail networks in Northwest Arkansas. For even more riding options, explore my detailed guide on the best mountain biking destinations in Arkansas.
Sign post in Bentonville, Arkansas that reads Coffee, Beer, Tequila, and Trails with arrows pointing in different directions
Start Your Adventure at Slaughter Pen Bike Trails
Slaughter Pen Trails are perhaps Bentonville’s most iconic mountain biking destination and an ideal starting point for your exploration. Conveniently located within the city, you can access singletrack directly from downtown Bentonville, a truly remarkable feature.
Slaughter Pen offers a diverse range of trails, which can be initially overwhelming for first-time visitors. Expect to find machine-built flow trails, classic hand-cut trails, a skills park equipped with jumps and drops, a unique castle feature, cross-country routes, and even extreme features like the Boneyard for the most daring riders.
Many visitors focus solely on Slaughter Pen, and while these trails are exceptional, resist the urge to limit yourself. Exploring the other networks listed is highly recommended. Allocate around two days to fully appreciate Slaughter Pen, or more if your schedule allows.
Mountain biker riding down paved bermed trail in Bentonville, Arkansas
Essential Tips for Riding Slaughter Pen Bike Trails:
- Trails at higher elevations tend to be more cross-country oriented and less crowded, while lower trails offer more features and higher traffic.
- Navigating Slaughter Pen with a pre-planned route can be challenging. Instead, select a few key trails you wish to ride and build your route around them.
- Don’t miss the paved trails Choo Choo and Leopard – they are incredibly fun!
- Slaughter Pen is popular, so expect to see many riders. It’s a welcoming environment for all skill levels, so focus on enjoying your ride and progressing at your own pace.
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Mountain bikes at small skills park at the Slaughter Pen trails in Bentonville, Arkansas
Discover Blowing Springs & Alice in Wonderland Bike Trails
Positioned closer to Bentonville, the Blowing Springs and Alice in Wonderland Trails act as a connector between Little Sugar and the Back 40 in Bella Vista and the Slaughter Pen trails near downtown Bentonville.
These trails are personal favorites, offering a concentrated area of fun, particularly for those who enjoy both old-school technical challenges (like Boom Diggity) and modern flow trails (such as Ace of Spades).
When planning your Bentonville mountain biking itinerary, it’s easy to overlook these gems, but dedicating at least one ride here is highly recommended!
Wooden drop on mountain bike trail in Bentonville, Arkansas with
Valuable Tips for Riding Blowing Springs & Alice in Wonderland Bike Trails:
- Boom Diggity features sections with significant exposure; caution is advised.
- Make time to visit the natural springs at Blowing Springs Park, a perfect spot for a relaxing lunch or snack break.
- Please avoid riding the machine-built Alice in Wonderland Trails when they are wet to preserve trail conditions.
🚴♀️ Explore Blowing Spring/Alice in Wonderland on TrailForks 🚴♀️
Mountain biker riding out of converted RV trail hub at the Alice in Wonderland Trails in Bentonville, Arkansas
Embrace Cross-Country at Little Sugar Bike Trails
Little Sugar (and The Back 40) represent Bentonville’s rolling cross-country riding areas, though hidden pockets of technical terrain await those who know where to look. Little Sugar is situated northwest of downtown in the residential area of Bella Vista.
The Tunnel Vision loop, a 25+ mile circuit around Little Sugar, offers a ride through neighborhoods on gentle terrain, featuring well-constructed climbs and fast, flowing descents. Having completed the full loop twice, I can confirm it’s an enjoyable and worthwhile experience if you’re prepared for a longer ride. For shorter options, Little Sugar provides numerous alternatives (route recommendations are available below).
Little Sugar is also home to the Huntley Gravity Zone. Located centrally within Little Sugar, this trail cluster includes machine-built flow and jump lines. Air-Raid is particularly popular and excellent for building confidence on jumps and drops. (Note: The Huntley Gravity Zone isn’t directly on the main Little Sugar Loop; access it via the Uphill Both Ways trail).
On my most recent visit to Little Sugar, I discovered a northern section with fantastic trails like Staggerwing, Sister Rosetta, and Immortal Amanda – be sure not to miss these!
Becky riding rock ledge section of mountain bike trail in Bentonville, Arkansas
Essential Tips for Riding Little Sugar Bike Trails:
- Plan your ride to avoid unintentionally embarking on a very long day.
- Trails are multi-use and bi-directional. Manage your speed and remain aware of other users.
- Water stations are available throughout Little Sugar, but carrying a hydration pack is recommended, especially for longer rides.
- Tunnel Vision involves numerous road crossings. While Bentonville drivers are generally courteous, always exercise caution and don’t assume they will stop for you.
🚴♀️ **Explore Little Sugar on TrailForks** 🚴♀️
Mountain biker riding down switchback on singletrack trail in Bentonville, Arkansas
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Escape the Crowds at Back 40 Bike Trails
The Back 40 trail network shares similarities with Little Sugar, primarily offering cross-country riding and featuring a long Back 40 Loop of 22+ miles. The network’s interconnected trails also allow for creating shorter, arguably more engaging rides.
Also located in Bella Vista, but on the eastern side, the Back 40 is home to one of my favorite Bentonville mountain bike trails – The Ledges. This trail follows a striking rock formation, featuring some exposure and challenging rock gardens.
Tunnel Vision or the Back 40? For a long cross-country ride, I slightly prefer the Tunnel Vision loop. However, the Back 40 offers superior options for shorter and more varied rides compared to Little Sugar.
Mountain biker on singletrack trail at the Back 40 in Bella Vista, Arkansas
Essential Tips for Riding the Back 40 Bike Trails:
- Plan your route in advance, as the Back 40 boasts extensive trails, making it easy to unintentionally extend your ride.
- Fast descents are common, but remember these trails are bi-directional and popular with hikers and trail runners. Maintain control and be considerate.
- Be cautious at road crossings and yield to vehicles; do not assume cars will stop for you.
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Colorful Back 40 trail sign in Bella Vista, Arkansas
Maximize Fun at Coler Mountain Bike Preserve
If you have limited time and can only visit one mountain bike network in Bentonville, make it Coler Mountain Bike Preserve. This place is truly exceptional! Coler offers a wealth of trails to explore and a fantastic variety of features and terrain.
Most downhill trails originate from The Hub on the north side. This distinctive elevated structure serves as a launchpad with ramps leading to various trails. Fire Line is a must-ride! Cease & Desist and the renowned Drop The Hammer also start from here.
On Coler’s south side, Thunder Dome and Family Flow are two fast, flowy, machine-built trails perfect for multiple laps.
Connecting the north and south sides is a mix of cross-country trails, ranging from beginner-friendly to expert-level challenges like Here’s Johnny.
Need refreshments? Airship Coffee, located centrally within Coler Preserve and accessible only by foot or bike, is a must-stop. Camping is also available at Coler Campground for those wanting to maximize their trail time.
The Hub at Coler Mountain Bike Preserve, an iconic elevated launchpad providing access to numerous downhill trails, is a focal point of the park.
Essential Tips for Riding Coler Preserve Bike Trails:
- Ride within your skill level, as Coler features significant jumps and drops.
- A paved greenway connects the north and south sides, ideal for linking up different trails.
- Machine-built trails may close after rain; check conditions before riding.
- Don’t miss Airship Coffee for a mid-ride energy boost!
🚴♀️ Explore Coler Preserve on TrailForks 🚴♀️
Mountain bikers on machine-built dual-slalom course
Experience Old School Tech at Handcut Hollow Bike Trails
Handcut Hollow is among Bentonville’s newer trail networks. True to its name, it features many natural trails, but also incorporates machine-built sections. The Hub here accesses machine-built lines like Interplanet Janet (highly recommended!) and impressive rock work trails such as The Body Machine. Mother Necessity serves as the primary climb trail to the hub.
For those seeking classic hand-cut trails, Traverse Loop is excellent, offering a blend of cross-country and technical riding. During my ride, I found it relatively uncrowded, suggesting this area is less frequented than other Bentonville networks.
Handcut Hollow is also home to the notorious Zone 4 trail, designed to be an incredibly challenging climb. To date, no rider, even professionals, has managed to complete it cleanly in one attempt.
Essential Tips for Riding Handcut Hollow Bike Trails:
- Parking at the main lot off J Street means a significant climb at the end of your ride.
- Zone 4 is primarily a climb trail but is bi-directional; yield to uphill riders.
- Handcut Hollow is a great alternative if Slaughter Pen and Coler are too crowded.
🚴♀️ Explore Handcut Hollow on TrailForks 🚴♀️
Mountain bike resting against giant Axe sculpture with
Explore Trail Networks Beyond Bentonville
The six trail networks above are closest to Bentonville. However, Northwest Arkansas offers fantastic riding throughout the region! Here are a few additional networks worth exploring if you have extra time:
Mountain biker riding on trail under a waterfall at Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas
Watch BKXC Explore Bentonville’s Trails
[Embedded YouTube Video about Bentonville Trails – To be added here if link is available]
Planning Your Bentonville Mountain Bike Adventure
☀️ Best Time to Visit: Bentonville is a year-round riding destination, but summers can be very hot and humid, and winters can be cold, rainy, or snowy. The shoulder seasons of March-May and September-November offer ideal temperatures and minimal rain and humidity, making them the best times to visit. Bentonville also hosts mountain bike events like the Bentonville Bike Fest in May and OuterBike in October.
🗓️ Ideal Trip Length: You could spend a month or even a year here and still discover new trails! Northwest Arkansas is packed with riding opportunities. For a comprehensive experience of the highlights, plan for at least 5 days.
🚲 Recommended Bike Type: Bentonville’s trails are not overly technical or hardcore, making a short to mid-travel full suspension mountain bike (120-150mm rear travel) ideal.
⚡️ E-bikes: E-bikes are very popular and welcome in Bentonville, making it one of the most e-bike-friendly mountain biking destinations in the US.
🚗 Transportation: A car is helpful for exploring networks outside of Bentonville and Bella Vista. However, if you stay near town (Slaughter Pen and Coler), you can manage without one. Shuttle Hound offers shuttle services to trailheads as an alternative.
🏠 Bike Shops & Rentals: Bentonville boasts numerous excellent bike shops. Mojo Cycling and Phat Tire Bike Shops are highly recommended.
🚴 Mountain Bike Tours: Several businesses in Bentonville offer guided trail tours and lessons.
⛺️ Camping: Camping options in and around Bentonville are somewhat limited. Coler Preserve has a few campsites that book quickly, and Blowing Springs campground is another option, though it can be crowded with less privacy. Bike In Bentonville offers van camping sites, and Bentonville Bike Camp is a newer, well-reviewed option. (Use this link for a discount!).
🏨 Hotels: Bentonville has a wide range of accommodations. Explore mountain-biker-friendly hotels and Bentonville Bike Inn.
🧳 Bentonville Packing Essentials: For a comprehensive packing list, refer to my Mountain Bike Trip Packing List post. For Bentonville specifically, consider:
Explore More Arkansas Mountain Biking Destinations
Planning a mountain bike trip to Arkansas? Check out these posts for inspiration and details:
Join the Bentonville Biking Conversation
Have you ridden bike trails in Bentonville? Does it live up to the hype? What questions do you have about Bentonville mountain biking? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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