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8 Things to Know About Mountain Biking at Lake Leatherwood Gravity Project

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Quick Tips for Riding At Lake Leatherwood Gravity Project

  • There is some big stuff here – ride within your skill level
  • While stretches of the trails are machine-built and flowy/smooth, there is also a lot of rocky tech
  • e-bikes are allowed
  • The shuttle runs Friday – Sunday or by appointment during the week
  • The Loam Pass is accepted

The first time I discovered Lake Leatherwood Gravity Project, was by accident. My boyfriend (at the time) and I were driving back across the country from Vermont, making our way to Bentonville, Arkansas. We needed a van camping spot for the night, and Lake Leatherwood City Park & Campground was just the right distance away.

What we didn’t expect was to find some seriously epic mountain biking right in the heart of this small city park! Not only does it have 7 purpose-built downhill trails, but they’re shuttle-accessed, too. If you’ve ridden Coler Mountain Bike Preserve in Bentonville, you’ll find some similarities here, although I’d say Leatherwood is a bit of a step up when it comes to tech and features. The city park is also home to several more miles of cross-country trails for those who want to get in a solid pedal.

Lake Leatherwood quickly became one of my favorite spots for riding, and in this post, I’m sharing everything you need to know to make the most of your first trip to this incredible DH park.

Lake Leatherwood Trail Map

The shuttle-accessed downhill trails are just a small part of the overall trail network at Lake Leatherwood. Zoom out to see the cross-country trails. Zoom out even further to see the nearby Passion Play trails.

Quick stats:

  • Miles of trail: 6 miles of downhill trails and about 15 miles of cross-country
  • Max elevation: 1,442 feet
  • Vertical drop: 385 feet
  • Number of trails: 7 downhill trails plus more cross-country trails
  • Lifts: Shuttle bus

What I love about Lake Leatherwood Gravity project

I’m partial to most bike parks and shuttle-accessed trails, but Lake Leatherwood holds a special place in my heart. I just love it! It may not be the most maintained or ‘dialed’ bike park, but it’s unique and a bit off the radar.

  • It’s got a small park vibe: I like small, out-of-the-way mountain bike destinations and Lake Leatherwood definitely fits that bill. As I mentioned in the intro, I didn’t even know this place existed until we rolled in for a random night of camping. You won’t find hoards of mountain bikers or wait in line for the shuttle bus. It’s off the beaten path in the best way.
  • It’s not tamed down: There are some big features at Lake Leatherwood. I mean BIG features. Stuff I for such will never hit. But I like that. I like that there’s something for everyone from fast flow to big hits.
  • There’s lots of Arkansas’s iconic rock: If you’ve ridden in Arkansas you know what I’m talking about. There are rock ledges, rock gardens, loose rock, embedded rock, rock waterfalls, rock cliffs… you get the point. I think the rocky landscape is absolutely beautiful and there are plenty of rocky features at Leatherwood.
  • You can shuttle or pedal: But, I mean, who pedals? I guess if you have an e-bike that’s an option… all kidding aside, you can pedal to the top (for free) as many times as you’d like via Miner’s Rock Trail. There are also about a dozen miles of cross-country trails around the lake that I’ll get into below.
  • There’s more than just mountain biking: The Lake Leatherwood Gravity Project is adjacent to Lake Leatherwood city park where you can find more fun things to do. You can get out on the lake in rental boats, go swimming, stay a few nights at the campground or in a cabin, hike, etc… I talk more about other things to do in the area at the end of this post.
Mountain bike trail starting from central hub at Lake Leatherwood Gravity Project in Arkansas
The start of DH 5 from North Hub

What I don’t Love

As much as I love it here, no place is perfect, right? Here are a few things that could be improved at Lake Leatherwood (in my opinion…)

  • 7 trails do get old after a few laps: Even though I love – and do recommend – spending a full day lapping the trails, only having 7 runs to choose from does get a bit monotonous. For many riders, there are actually only 6 trails unless you want to scoot down the mountain with your tail between your legs on DH7 (the biggest jump line there).
  • There’s pedaling involved: What!? I know… it’s not all downhill. There is a small amount of pedaling required to get to both hubs from the shuttle drop-off at the top. Suck it up buttercup 🙂
  • The trails have a fine layer of slippery gravel on top: Every time I’ve ridden at Lake Leatherwood Gravity Project, there has been a fine layer of small stones on the trails that act like little ball bearings. It makes the riding a bit more interesting…
  • It’s not the most beginner-friendly place: The easiest trail is DH6, which is a fast and flowy descent. But that’s about it for beginners. All of the blue trails I would call ‘spicy blue’ because they have a lot of rock tech. Even the cross-country trails would be a challenge for true beginners.
  • There is ample opportunity to seriously hurt yourself. Seriously, there is some big stuff here. Ride within your skill level and always scope the line or feature before going for it. I’m sure many riders have been carted off to the hospital from Lake Leatherwood Gravity Project.

Safety at Lake Leatherwood Gravity Project: there is no patrol or nearby hospital, so keep that in mind when riding these trails. If you do get hurt, call 911. If you can, also send someone to the bottom to let the shuttle driver know that help is needed. There are numbered and colored markers along each trail so that you can quickly identify where you are and help can get to you as quickly as possible.

A few ways to keep yourself safe are:

  • Look before you send. There are some big features at Lake Leatherwood
  • Keep tabs on what trail you’re on so help can be sent to the right place
  • Make sure your bike is in great working order
  • Carry a first-aid kit
  • Don’t let ego overpower common sense.
  • Do not pedal up the downhill trails! (There are ‘do not enter’ signs)

How i rate It

After spending quite a bit of time riding the Lake Leatherwood Gravity Project and many other similar places around the US (and the world), here’s how I think it stacks up:

Overall fun-ness:

Lake Leatherwood Gravity Project is pretty darn fun (in my opinion). It’s small, but it packs a lot in!

Trail variety:

Sure, there are only 7 trails, but they’re all unique and I guarantee you’ll take different lines down each run. There are also 15+ miles of cross-country singletrack outside of the DH park.

Average difficulty:

There’s some big stuff at Lake Leatherwood Gravity Project (stuff I’ll never hit), but most everything has go-arounds. I’d say it does cater to more experienced mountain bikers, but intermediate+ riders will have fun, too.

Bike park features:

There are few man-made bike park features here like wooden ramps and drops, but there are a lot of natural features. Most of the jumps and drops are made from impressive stone work by the legendary Rock Solid trail crew.

Huge rock step-up jump on trail at Lake Leather mountain bike park in Arkansas
There are some big features at Leatherwood!

Must-Ride Trails

Alright, let’s get to the trails! There are 7 purpose-built DH trails at Lake Leatherwood, each of which starts from one of the two hubs:

  • North Hub: DH 4, DH 5, DH 6, DH 7
  • South Hub: DH 1, DH 2, DH 3

I know, the trail names are very original… (if you’re looking for the cross-country trails, keep scrolling).

Built-up stone 'hub' that leads into 7 downhill mountain bike trails at Lake Leatherwood Gravity Project in Arkansas
Each of the 7 downhill trails starts from either the North Hub or the South Hub (shown above)

Part of the fun is exploring each of the trails on your own, but below is a quick overview of what to expect on each one.

From easiest to hardest:

  • DH6: This is the easiest trail at Lake Leatherwood. It’s a fast flow trail with small jumps, tabletops and big berms. I recommend starting on this one to get a sense of what to expect on the other trails, which all have bigger/harder features.
  • DH4: Great mix of fast flow and rocky ledges/rock gardens. There is one big drop and a step-up (both optional) that are pretty high in consequence. This is one of my favorites.
  • DH5: Similar to DH 4. It is fast and flowy with bermed turns at the top and rocky and chunky toward the middle and bottom.
  • DH2: My favorite! Great flow, medium-size features (one big gap jump), lots of bermed turns. This is one I could ride again and again.
  • DH3: DH 3 is okay, but not my favorite. There’s a big log ramp drop that is cool, but intimidating. There’s also a good mix of flow and lots of rocks. When I rode it last, it was a little rutted out.
  • DH1: This trail has some crazy features! A huge step-up, a ‘Lily Pad’, and other impressive highlights – natural and manmade. Even if you’re not an expert rider, I highly recommend doing this trail just to see it. There are go-arounds for all the major features.
  • DH7: DH 7 is for the freerider’s out there. There’s a squirrel catcher feature at the start (see first photo) to weed out those who aren’t comfortable in the air (like me…). Like DH 1, there is some impressive rock work, but the jumps are bigger.

Watch pro rider Jimmy Smith hit the best trails at Lake Leatherwood

Facts & FAQs

Q: Where is Lake Leatherwood?

Lake Leatherwood is located in northwest Arkansas, about an hour east of Bentonville.

Q: Where should I park?

There is plenty of parking at the top. Here are the Google driving directions. If you’re camping at Lake Leatherwood, you can ride to the shuttle pick-up spot from the campground.

Q: What’s the bike haul system?

The Gravity Feed has a shuttle bus that pulls a bike rack trailer. On weekends, the shuttle runs continuously. All of the trails end at the shuttle pick-up location at the bottom.

Q: How much does the shuttle cost?

An all-day adult pass is $45. A kid’s pass is $28. The shuttle runs from 9am – 5pm Friday – Sunday (call for weekday shuttles). You can book your shuttle by calling the Gravity Feed, purchase a pass through their website, or buy one with Venmo or cash when you get there. I buy my pass when I get there, although on my last visit, I used my Loam Pass!

Q: Do I need to make a reservation?

Nope, just show up and be ready to ride!

Shuttle van pulling empty mountain bike trailer at Lake Leatherwood Gravity Project in Arkansas
The shuttle runs Friday – Sunday or by appointment during the week

Q: Is there food & water available?

There is a cooler of bottled water in the shuttle. I hate wasting single-use plastic, so I recommend bringing your own water bottle that you can leave in the shuttle or using a hydration backpack.

For food, there may be a food truck. I’ve ridden when there is one and I’ve ridden when there wasn’t one, so… If there is one, it’ll be located at the top near Topo Hotel (more about the hotel below).

Q: Is there a bike shop or bike rentals?

No. The shuttle drivers might be able to help you with basic fixes but bring all the tools and supplies you need. There are also no bike rentals, so you’ll need to have your own two wheels. The closest bike shop is Adventure Mountain Outfitters in Eureka Springs.

Q: When is the best time to ride Lake Leatherwood Gravity Project?

The trails are open year-round! Summers do get hot and humid and it can actually get pretty darn cold in the winter. Always check the weather and forecast before heading out there.

Read next

Planning a mountain bike trip to Northwest Arkansas? Check out these posts for inspiration and details:

Shopping for a full face helmet?

Smith Mainline Full Face Mountain Bike Helmet

Protect your face and pearly whites. When I’m at the bike park, I always wear a full face helmet. Not only does it give me more peace of mind when I’m bombing downhill, but I also know that it’s going to do a lot more to protect my head and face in the event of a crash.

My favorite full face helmet is the Smith Mainline. It’s comfortable to wear, has decent ventilation, and is downhill-certified meaning it has been tested for safety.

This helmet also comes with three different cheek pad sizes, so you can get a snug fit.

What about the XC trails Around the lake?

While the downhill trails are the reason most mountain bikers visit Lake Leatherwood, it’s worth pointing out that there are some pedal-accessed cross-country trails, too. When I first published this blog post a few years ago, I kind of gave them a bad review. But I just finished re-riding them (literally about an hour ago!) and I’ve changed my mind – they’re quite fun!

There are about 15 miles of cross-country trails and I would say that they’re definitely more suited for experienced riders. There’s some chunky, rocky tech, and several climbs that will test your fitness levels.

If you do want to pedal the XC trails, here are two route recommendations:

  • This 8-mile route is pretty fun and passes by a cool rock band. Make sure you stay on Fuller Trail and not Shoreline Trail, though, or else you’ll be hike-a-biking.
  • Lake Leatherwood XC Route is the ride I just did and really enjoyed. If you want to make it longer, climb back up the other side of Miner’s Rock Loop to Overlook Trail. This will add another 800-900 feet of climbing.
Photo out over handlebars of mountain bike onto singletrack Lake Leatherwood trail in Arkansas
The cross-country trails around the lake are ok – not great, but worth checking out if you have time

Camping & Where to Stay

There are lots of hotels and places to stay in Eureka Springs, but if you want to be close to the trails, here are my two recommendations:

Lake Leatherwood City Park Campground

This is the campground near the base of the Lake Leatherwood DH trails. It is about a mile, or maybe a little less, to pedal to the shuttle pick-up, but it’s all flat and quite beautiful.

The campground offers:

  • RV sites with hook-ups
  • Non-electric tent/van sites (my personal pick as these sites are quieter)
  • Rental cabins
  • A (very dated) bathhouse with showers
  • Firewood
  • A small store with snacks and camping/fishing supplies

The campground does not offer a dump station.

The RV area of the campground is pretty congested and not great, but the tent/non-electric area is better.

Van parked in meadow next to picnic table, fire ring, and gravel tent pad
I prefer the meadow camping at Lake Leatherwood because it’s quieter and less crowded

Topo Motel

If you prefer to stay in a hotel, the Topo Motel was recently purchased by Slaughter Trail Guides and sits at the top of the DH trails. It’s actually the shuttle drop-off point. You can literally wake up, hop on your bike, and do a first lap before the shuttle even starts running.

Other things to do At Lake Leatherwood

Lake Leatherwood is a destination for all outdoor lovers, not just mountain bikers. You can also fish, swim, boat, hike, picnic, BBQ, or just hang out on the grassy lawns by the lake. It does get pretty busy here during the summer months, so keep that in mind when making your travel plans and booking your campsite.


What questions do you have about Lake Leatherwood Gravity Project? Have you ridden here? What did you think? Is it on your bike-it list? Let me know in the comments!

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2 Comments

  1. Great blog, but those ads are bananas. Makes it hard to follow the article.
    I was just out at Leatherwood, you wrote a very good guide with nice pics, thanks

    1. you are not wrong, I hate them, too… I’m in the process of implementing a few other ways to make $$ with my blog, so hopefully I can turn the ads down. Thanks for reading!

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