Arkansas’s Monument Trails: What They Are & Why You Should Ride Them
On one of my recent mountain bike 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 I’m a huge fan of the trails around Bentonville, but I was curious to see what the rest of the state had to offer. Spoiler: Bentonville isn’t the only place crushing it when it comes to mountain biking!
In this post, I break down what makes each Monument Trail system unique and share tips for planning your own two-wheeled adventure through Arkansas.
First up, what are Arkansas’s Monument Trails?
The Monument Trails are a collection of four mountain bike trail systems built in partnership between Arkansas State Parks, the Arkansas Parks and Recreation Foundation, and trail-building pros like Rogue Trails and Rock Solid. The goal? To create purpose-built, sustainably designed trails that highlight the natural beauty and unique terrain of each park, while offering a world-class riding experience.
These aren’t your typical state park trails. They’re professionally built by mountain bikers for mountain bikers with careful attention to integrating the natural landscape into the trail design and layout. Each Monument Trail system has its own unique personality and riding style, making them worth checking out individually.
And while they were built with mountain bikers in mind, the trails are also open to hikers and runners, so they’re a great example of multi-use trail systems done right.
1. Mt. Nebo State Park
Known for its dramatic views, long downhills, chunky rock features, big berms, and big climbs, Mt. Nebo is one of my favorite mountain bike trail networks in Arkansas!
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
Home to spectacular rock features, flowing waterfalls, river views, and a tranquil campground, Devil’s Den is where I go when I want to be inspired.
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
The singletrack at Hobbs is some of the best country-country mountain bike trails I’ve ever ridden— fast, flowy, and FUN! The Karst Loop is the highlight with beautiful lake views.
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
Pinnacle is the ‘weakest’ Monument Trail System (IMO). The trails are decent, but there’s nothing really ‘special’ about it. Ride it if you’re in the area, skip it if not.
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.
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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.
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!
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