My Honest Thoughts on Lake Leatherwood Gravity Project
Seven downhill trails, huge berms, plenty of rocky tech, a bus shuttle back to the top… These are just a few reasons I love Lake Leatherwood Gravity Project.
Quick tips on riding at Lake Leatherwood Gravity Project
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.
Lo and behold, this little city park is also home to some amazing mountain biking! Shuttle-accessed no less! The Lake Leatherwood Gravity Project has 7 purpose-built downhill mountain bike trails that start from two hubs. It’s kind of similar to Coler Mountain Bike Preserve in Bentonville if you’ve ridden there. There are also a dozen or so miles of cross-country trails, too, for those who want to get some pedaling in.
I love Lake Leatherwood for many reasons and in this post, I share everything you need to know about making your first trip to this awesome DH park.
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Lake Leatherwood Trail Map
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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.
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:
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.
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).
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:
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!
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?
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.
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:
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.
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!
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
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!