Quick Tips for Mountain Biking at Devil’s Den State Park
Out of all the places I’ve mountain biked in Arkansas (and honestly around the United States – which is a lot!) Devil’s Den State Park is one of my favorite places to ride. The geology and rock features on Devil’s Racetrack are super unique and beautiful (you probably haven’t ridden anything like it) and the views above the river from We Can Take It are stunning. Then there’s the pure fun descent down Sparky!
Any time I find myself back in Arkansas, I make sure to hit up the Devil’s Den mountain bike trails at least once – my favorite route (see below) never gets old. If you’re planning a trip to NWA, read on to learn everything you need to know about the mountain bike trails at Devil’s Den State Park.
Devil’s Den Trail Map
What I love about Devil’s Den
There’s a lot to love about mountain biking at Devil’s Den. As I mentioned above, everytime I’m back in Arkansas, I make sure I ride my favorite loop (more about that below) at least once. Here are some things to love about this unique State Park:
- Very cool and unique geology: I am far from a geologist, but I can definitely appreciate the cool and unique geology at Devil’s Den. There are all kinds of cool rock formations like limestone cliffs, bowl-shaped caverns, cool caves, and narrow rock fissures. The rocky landscape is the defining characteristic of Devil’s Den and the mountain bike trails pass through some of the most interesting spots!
- Well-built climbs and fast descents: If you know anything about me and what I like to ride, you know that I like my climbs to not be sufferfests and my descents to be fast and long. The mountain bike trails at Devil’s Den deliver on both! The climbs are well-built and the descents are a blast.
- Nice river views and opportunities to take a dunk: The Devil’s Den mountain bike trails follow the Lee River and there are several spots where you can enjoy some nice views or cool off if you visit in the summer.
- Great trail variety: There’s a little bit of everything at Devil’s Den from old-school tech with narrow sidehill and chunky rock gardens to short sections of machine-built flow. There are even natural features like drops for those who want to get sendy. If you do the route I recommend below you’ll get a trail variety sampler.
- Devil’s Racetrack: This is the most ‘famous’ mountain bike trail at Devil’s Den if you visit, you should at least ride this one. It’s so cool!
- Ancient fossils: This area must have been underwater at some point because there are tons of embedded fossils, especially on the lower section of Devil’s Racetrack. Look out for them as you’re pedaling – they’re super cool.
What I don’t love about Devil’s Den
I love mountain biking at Devil’s Den, so these aren’t so much things I ‘don’t love’ about it, more ‘good-to-knows’ if it’s your first visit.
- There are lots of rocks of all shapes and varieties: You gotta love rocks! Sections of the trails, especially Devil’s Racetrack, may be frustrating if you aren’t used to riding in rocky areas.
- It’s not really a beginner-friendly place: I don’t recommend Devil’s Den for beginner mountain bikers. The trails are rocky and technical in places and there’s a fair amount of climbing especially on the east side of the river. There’s also a bit of exposure and it wouldn’t feel good if you tumbled over the side.
- There are river crossings: If you want to ride the trails on the east side of Lees Creek, you’re going to have to cross it and you will get your feet wet. If it’s been raining a lot, the river might actually be unpassable. Use your judgment and don’t try to cross if the water is moving quickly. I’ve marked on the map above where the river crossings are. The river crossing at the north end of Fossil Flats is the trickiest.
How it rates
Overall fun-ness:
The trails at Devil’s Den are a blast and beautiful! I don’t often give out 5/5 star ratings, but Devil’s Den deserves it.
Trail variety:
There is a lot of trail variety here from machine-built bermed flow tracks to the rockiest rock gardens you’ll ever meet. There are also drops and jumps (all natural – no wooden features).
Average difficulty:
Most of the trails here have some tech, exposure, steady climbs, or all of the above. It’s not the most beginner-friendly places, but if you’re a solid intermediate and above you’ll have fun.
Newer rider or with the kids? If you are looking for an easier ride, the Fossil Flat Loop is a good place to start. There is a river-crossing, though, that can be pretty deep and slippery.
Best Mountain Bike Trails at Devil’s Den
Honestly, all of the trails at Devil’s Den are worth checking out. My route recommendation below covers most of them, but here’s a quick breakdown on what to expect:
Watch BKXC explore Devil’s Den Mountain Bike Trails
My Route Recommendation
Devil’s Den Highlights
This is my go-to route at Devil’s Den. There is a fair amount of climbing, but the trails are built really well so it doesn’t ever feel too hard. Watch out for hikers on Devil’s Racetrack.
Route Basics
Ride it for:
- Very cool rock features on Devil’s Racetrack
- Fun, fast descent on Sparky
- Beautiful river views
- Flowy pedaling through the woods
Need to know:
- Devil’s Racetrack has some tricky rock gardens
- There is a river crossing at the end. You’ll probably get your feet wet
Route directions: Devil’s Racetrack Parking (or start from your campsite) > Devil’s Racetrack > Fossil Flats Loop > Dollar A Day > All You Can Eat > Racer’s Hill (briefly) > We Can Take It > Sparky > Fossil Flats Loop > Gold Brick > Devil’s Racetrack
Make it longer: Add a lap on Orville. This will add quite a bit more climbing!
Make it easier: If you want to cut out some climbing, you can take the paved road from the parking area instead of climbing up Devil’s Racetrack (which honestly isn’t that bad). There are several places where you can jump back onto the trail.
Facts & FAQs
Q: Where is Devil’s Den State Park?
Devil’s Den is located in Northwest Arkansas about 30 minutes south of Fayetteville or 50 minutes south of ‘The Mountain Bike Capital of the World’ – Bentonville.
Important! The drive into Devil’s Den State Park from the east on W Devil’s Den Drive (Route 74) is very windy and steep. If you have a trailer or long RV you’ll want to enter the park via Route 170 instead.
Q: Where should I park?
There are several parking areas that access the mountain bike trails, but I recommend parking at the Devil’s Racetrack Parking Lot (bathrooms but no water). If you’re just visiting for the day and plan on doing the full tour (see route recommendation below), this is a great starting point. Another popular place to park is Campground A, which also has quick access to the trails as well as post-ride showers.
Q: Do I need to pay to ride?
Nope! There’s no day-use fee for riding at Devil’s Den.
Q: Are e-bikes allowed?
Yes. Arkansas is a very e-bike friendly place.
Q: Are the trails open year-round?
Yes, but the park may close them temporarily for rain or snow.
Q: How many days do I need to explore the trails?
You can cover most of the trails in one day using my route recommendation below, but if you have the time, I suggest camping overnight and spending two full days there.
Read next
Planning a mountain bike trip to Arkansas? Check out these posts to make the most of your time there:
Need some new gloves?
I’ve been a fan of HANDUP Gloves for years and they continue to be my go-to choice for mountain bike gloves.
Not only are they super fun and not boring with lots of colors and pattern choices (ice cream cones?!), but they also last a lot longer than most bike gloves I’ve tried.
All HANDUP bike gloves are touchscreen compatible and they have a nice soft nose wipe on the thumb so you can discretely wipe your boogers away.
Post-ride Fun
Devil’s Den State Park is kind of in the middle of nowhere without many restaurants or amenities nearby. I recommend packing lunch or a picnic if you want to have something to eat after your ride.
Here are a few things you can do if you want to explore the area further:
- Go for a hike: Yellow Rock Trail and Moonshiners Cave Trail are two hikes worth checking out that aren’t open to mountain bikers. Or you could tackle the 15+ mile Butterfield Trail as an overnight (no bikes allowed).
- Go swimming: There are a few great swimming holes along Lee Creek, which runs through the park.
- Go paddling: Bring your kayak, SUP, or canoe and paddle along the shores of Devil’s Lake or make your way down Lee Creek
Camping at Devil’s Den State Park
Devil’s Den State Park has a great campground and several other lodging options. The campground has 135 sites, including 8 hike/bike-in only, which are located down near the Devil’s Racetrack parking area.There are also full-service cabins with kitchens and bathrooms and rustic ‘camper cabins’ with no facilities.
If you plan on camping, I recommend trying to get campsites 1 -23 since they are located closest to the mountain bike trails. There are bathrooms, showers, and a nice river to relax by post-ride.
Advanced reservations for camping are highly recommended. You can book your campsite or cabin here.
What questions do you have about mountain biking at Devil’s Den State Park? Have you ridden these trails? What did you think? Leave a comment below!
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