The Monument Trail System – Best Mountain Biking in Arkansas?

Yes. The answer is a resounding “yes!”. On one of my recent trips to Arkansas, one of my goals was to ride at each of the Monument Trail systems. These trail networks have been developed in four State Parks throughout north & central Arkansas. They include:

• Hobbs State Park east of Bentonville
• Devil’s Den State Park south of Fayetteville
• Mount Nebo State Park northwest of Little Rock
• Pinnacle Mountain State Park north of Little Rock

It’s no secret that I love the mountain biking in and around Bentonville, so I was really excited to check out what’s happening in other areas of the state.

Spoiler alert: Bentonville isn’t the only place in Arkansas that has great trails!

In this post, I share what makes Arkansas’s Monument Trails special and how you can plan out your mountain biking visit to each of them.

Let’s dive in!

So what are the Monument Trails?

The Monument Trail system was formed thanks to a collaboration between State Park management and professional trail builders. A lot of the money to build these trails came from a generous donation by the Walton Foundation (aka Walmart).

Monument Trails Map

Launched in 2019, the Monument Trails initiative aimed at boosting outdoor recreation (namely mountain biking) and nature tourism, while promoting conservation and appreciation for the state’s natural resources.

Each park offers something different and unique and if you have the time, I highly recommend mountain biking at all four of the Monument Trails.

The Four Monument Trail Systems & What Makes Them Special

Each of the four Monument Trail systems is unique in its own special way. Pinnacle Mountain is the ‘weakest’ trail system, but the other three are 5/5 stars in my book.

Here are the four trail systems ranked based on my experience:

1. Mount Nebo State Park

Ride it for: Epic views, long downhills, and amazing purpose-built mountain biking trails

Mount Nebo State Park is one of Arkansas’s first state parks and a must-visit for mountain bikers. Seriously, this place is epic.

Located in Dardanelle about an hour and a half northwest of Little Rock, Mount Nebo stands out with its stunning vistas, historical significance (it used to be a destination for wealthy summer vacationers), and incredible mountain biking trails.

The park’s unique feature is its location atop a flat-topped mountain. As you drive up the steep, windy road (and I mean it’s steep and windy – no vehicles over 24 feet are allowed), you’ll probably be squirming in your seat realizing that your legs will soon be getting a workout.

But trust me, the downhills are worth it!

I spent 2 full days exploring the Mount Nebo trails and I wish I’d stayed a week. There’s a great campground and good cell service if you work remotely. Head over to my guide to mountain biking at Mount Nebo for more info on the trails and route recommendations!

2. Devil’s Den State Park

Ride it for: Spectacular rock features and a tranquil campground

Devil’s Den State Park is a close second for the best Monument Trail system (according to me). Nestled in a deep valley, Devil’s Den State Park is characterized by its distinctive rock formations, caves, crevices, and rugged limestone bluffs.

The most ‘famous’ trail is Devil’s Racetrack with its natural bowl-like rock formation and overhanging cliffs, but all of the trails have something unique to offer.

Take your time on Fossil Flats trails where you can see numerous fossil impressions left in the rock bed—relics from an ancient sea that once covered the area!

You can ride most of the mountain bike trails at Devil’s Den in a day, but recommend spending at least two if you can. Get all the details on mountain biking at Devil’s Den in my guide.

3. Hobbs State Park

Ride it for: Truly world-class cross-country mountain bike trails

For the XC riders in the crowd, Hobbs State Park will not disappoint. In fact, the trail system here has some of the best cross-country singletrack I’ve ever ridden. The trails are fast, flowy, and fun! (And I don’t consider myself to be a cross-country enthusiast).

Hobbs State Park is the largest state park in Arkansas with over 30 miles of singletrack to explore. It’s also located on the shores of Beaver Lake, which makes it a great place for multi-sport getaways.

There are two sections of singletrack – the east side with Karst Loop is the most popular for mountain bikers, but if you want to spend a few days here, the west side is worth checking out as well. I dive into the best trails to ride, recommendations, and other tips in my guide on mountain biking at Hobbs State Park.

4. Pinnacle Mountain State Park

Ride it for: ..this is a tough one because Pinnacle wasn’t my favorite. If I had to choose something that it’s unique for, it would be old-school technical riding.

Pinnacle Mountain State Park was my last Monument Trail system to check off and to be fully honest, I didn’t love it. After having amazing rides at the other three trail systems, this one definitely fell flat.

While the riding is good, it’s not unique or ‘monumental’ like the Nebo, Devil’s Den, or Hobbs.

Located just west of Little Rock, Arkansas, Pinnacle Mountain State Park is centered around Pinnacle Mountain, which rises more than a thousand feet above the Arkansas River Valley. Unfortunately, you don’t really get to see Pinnacle Mountain while riding and the only views of the Arkansas River are seen from one trail – Dynamite Trail.

I’m not trying to discourage you from riding at Pinnacle Mountain but maybe hit it first so your expectations are set based on this one, not the others. If you do want to check it out, head over to my guide on mountain biking at Pinnacle Mountain State Park.

Final thoughts

I really enjoyed my days exploring all four of Arkansas’s Monument Trails. Each network had its own unique and (mostly) amazing terrain, views, and of course, awesome singletrack.

If you find yourself in Arkansas (or you live there!) and you want to hit the highlights, Hobbs, Devil’s Den, and Mount Nebo are definitely good places to start. Pinnacle is worthwhile, but just know that it doesn’t quite live up to the “monumental-ness’ of the other three.

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Have you ridden at all or any of Arkansas’s Monument Trails? Which one is your favorite? Which one do you want to ride next? Leave a comment below!