Mountain Biking at Devil’s Den State Park: Home Of Impressive Rock Formations
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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 rock features and landscape are so beautiful and unique and the riding has a good mix of tech and flow as well as climbing and descending.
Devil’s Den is part of Arkansas’s Monument Trail System, which has been created to bring world-class mountain bike trails to Arkansas State Park – they’ve succeeded!
The campground is right on a scenic river and there are a number of other fun things to do in the park if you want to stay for a few days (or more).
Whenever I find myself in Arkansas, Devil’s Den is a place I make sure to revisit because it’s just so cool. In this post, I share everything you need to know about mountain biking in Devil’s Den State Park.
Let’s ride!
Getting there & where to park
Devil’s Den State Park is located in Northwest Arkansas about 30 minutes south of Fayetteville or 50 minutes south of ‘The Mountain Bike Capital of the World’ – Bentonville.
Whether you’re coming from the north or south, you’ll access it via Route 49.
The drive into Devil’s Den State Park from the east on W Devil’s Den Drive is very windy and steep. If you have a trailer or long RV you’ll want to enter the park on the west side.
For parking, there are several parking areas that access the trails. If you do my recommended route below, you can park at the start/end of Devil’s Racetrack (directions here).
Another popular place to park is Campground A, which has quick access to the trails (directions here).
Watch BKXC explore Devil’s Den
Important Things to Know
Mountain biking at Devil’s Den State Park is awesome, but there are a few things to know before hitting the trails:
Trail Guide & Route Recommendation
Devil’s Den has about 25 miles of singletrack trail, but not all of that is open to mountain bikers nor worth riding, especially if you only have a day.
The three must-ride trails (in my opinion) are:
The route recommendation below includes these three trails and the best way to link them up.
Devil’s Den State Park Trail Map
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. You can cut out some climbing by taking the paved road at the start.
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 > Orville >
Route notes: Take your time on this route to really appreciate all the trail work and natural rock features.
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.
Do more: If you have another climb in you, climb up the We Can Take It switchbacks after finishing Orville then descend Sparky, another fast, flowy downhill.
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 as well as 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 are highly recommended. You can book your campsite or cabin here.
Other things to do around Devil’s Den State Park
If you have the time, I recommend adding a few days to relax and explore Devil’s Den. It’s a really beautiful state park with lots to offer off the bike.
Here are a few non-mountain biking things to do:
Final Thoughts
Out of the four Monument Trails in Arkansas, Devil’s Den one of my favorites (tied with Mt. Nebo) for its stunning limestone cliffs and rock features, amazing trail work, peaceful setting, and great mix of terrain.
If you have the time, I recommend spending at least 2 full days (or more!) at Devil’s Den State Park so you can really experience everything it has to offer.
Have fun!
RELATED POSTS
Looking for more mountain biking around the great state of Arkansas? Check out these related blog posts:
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