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Written byBecky Timbers

Bentonville is hands down one of my favorite places to mountain bike for its world-class trails and fun vibe. Start planning your trip with this guide!

I think the secret has gotten out about Bentonville and its amazing network of mountain biking trails. I first visited Bentonville in 2020 and have been going back every year (sometimes twice a year!) to ride. I’m not just saying this, but Bentonville is by far one of the best places I’ve mountain biked in the US and it’s making a name for itself around the world.

Say what you will about Walmart, but the money the Walton Foundation has poured into the trails and community development in Northwest Arkansas – and across the state – is mindblowing. This part of middle America has seriously become the Disney World for mountain bikers.

And if you’re thinking “Oh, it’s too new-school for me”, think again! Sure, there are plenty of machine-built flow trails and bike park-like jump lines and features, but there is also plenty of handcut, old-school terrain with as many rocks and roots as you could want.

And it seems like the trail crews are just getting started. Rumor has it that there are plans to build 1,200 miles of singletrack between Bentonville and Little Rock over the next ten years. Pretty freaking cool.

If you’re planning a mountain biking trip to Bentonville, Arkansas, this post covers everything you need to know about planning your trip. Learn the best trails to ride, route recommendations, where to eat, and more!

Looking for the best trails? Download my checklist for the 15 best trails in Bentonville.

Bentonville Mountain Biking Map

This map shows all the main mountain biking trail networks around Bentonville. If you’re looking for even more riding, check out my post on the best mountain biking in Arkansas.

Map of the mountain biking trails around Bentonville, Arkansas

What to love & what to not

I love the mountain biking around Bentonville, but of course not every place is perfect. Here are a few pros and cons of riding here.

  • SO MANY trails
  • City and volunteer trail crews keep everything well-maintained
  • Safety patrol will come get you free of charge in case of emergency
  • Trails for ALL levels of riders
  • Very e-bike friendly
  • Cool random trail art
  • Family and kid-friendly
  • Can ride year-round (depending on weather)
  • The town is really cool, too, with lots of restaurants, museums, and a nice downtown square
  • The popular trails and networks can get very busy
  • Some trails close after rain
  • The local hospital probably stays in business thanks to mountain bikers (in other words, there’s some big stuff here)
  • There’s almost TOO much to ride
  • The summer heat and humidity can be downright miserable
Sign post in Bentonville, Arkansas that reads Coffee, Beer, Tequila, and Trails with arrows pointing in different directions
I mean, what more do you need?

Bentonville’s trail networks

Like most mountain bike destinations, the trails in Bentonville are spread out over a handful of networks. There are 6 main mountain bike trail networks to explore:

  1. Little Sugar
  2. The Back 40
  3. Blowing Springs & the Alice in Wonderland Trails
  4. Slaughter Pen
  5. Coler Preserve
  6. HandCut Hollow

1. Little Sugar

Map of the Little Sugar Trails and highlights in Bentonville, Arkansas
Click to enlarge

Little Sugar (and The Back 40 – see below) are the rolling cross-country areas of Bentonville, although there are a few pockets of some fun tech. Little Sugar is northwest of downtown in the residential community of Bella Vista.

There is one 25+ mile loop around Little Sugar called Tunnel Vision. It rolls in and out of neighborhoods on mellow terrain with lots of well-built climbs and long, fast descents. I’ve done the full loop twice and it’s actually pretty fun and worth doing if you have 25+ miles in your legs. If you’re not up for a big-mile day, there are plenty of options for shorter rides at Little Sugar (see route recommendations below).

Little Sugar is also home to the Huntley Gravity Zone. This cluster of trails is located almost smack dab in the middle of Little Sugar and has a few machine-built flow and jump lines. Air-Raid is the most popular and a great trail to build confidence on jumps and drops. (Note: the Huntley Gravity Zone isn’t on the big Little Sugar Loop. You’ll need to take the trail Uphill Both Ways to access it).

Lastly, the last time I rode Little Sugar, I discovered a little pocket of trails on the north end that were a ton of fun. This is where Staggerwing, Sister Rosetta, and Immortal Amanda are. Don’t miss them!

Becky riding rock ledge section of mountain bike trail in Bentonville, Arkansas
On the Tunnel Vision Loop

Need to know for Little Sugar

  • Have a ride plan – you can get yourself into a BIG mile day here if you’re not careful!
  • There are water stations spread throughout Little Sugar, but I recommend riding with a hydration pack, especially if you’re doing a longer ride.
  • Trails are multi-use and two-way. Check your speed and stay in control.
  • Tunnel Vision has many road crossings. I found that drivers in Bentonville are very nice, but don’t assume they will stop for you.

Planning your Little Sugar ride

  • Where to park: There are a ton of parking options for Little Sugar and where you park will depend on what you want to ride. See my Little Sugar guide for route recommendations.
  • Best trails to ride:
  • Intermediate: Full Tunnel Vision Loop, Down Under, Staggerwing, Immortal Amanda
  • Advanced: Air-Raid, Sick-A-More, Sister Rosetta, Technical Difficulty
  • Route recommendations: There are a ton of ways you can put together routes at Little Sugar. Below are two of my favorites.
  • The full Tunnel Vision Loop (ride it clockwise)
  • Quick North Lago Vista Loop
  • Make it longer: Instead of taking Bamboozled, continue on Tunnel Vision to Staggerwing. You can lap these trails a few times before getting back on Tunnel Vision to Play Through to Lago Vista East trail where you’ll pick up the route.
  • Make it harder: Add Technical Difficulty.
  • Add Huntley Gravity Zone: Take Lago East Gravity Line to Uphill Bothways to access the Huntely Gravity Zone. Do a few laps here before retracing your steps to rejoin the route.
Mountain biker riding down switchback on singletrack trail in Bentonville, Arkansas
The Tunnel Vision loop has a lot of well-built climbs and descents to keep the flow

2. The Back 40

Map of the Back 40 Trails in Bella Vista, Arkansas
Click to enlarge

The Back 40 trail network is similar to Little Sugar in that it’s mainly cross-country and has one long 22+ mile loop – the Back 40 Loop. There are also plenty of ways to put together shorter (and arguably more interesting) rides with the crisscrossing of trails throughout the trail network.

The Back 40 is also located up in Bella Vista but on the right side of the community. It’s home to one of my favorite mountain bike trails in Bentonville – The Ledges – which follows a band of rock with some exposure and a few tricky rock gardens.

Tunnel Vision or the Back 40? If you want to do one long cross-country ride, I like the Tunnel Vision loop a little more than the Back 40 loop. I also think the Back 40 has better options for shorter and more interesting rides than Little Sugar.

Mountain biker on singletrack trail at the Back 40 in Bella Vista, Arkansas
The Back 40 trails are mostly cross-country but they’re really well built with lots of flow and fast descents

Need to know for the Back 40

  • Again, have a ride plan – there are dozens of miles of trail in the Back 40 and you can easily end up doing a big mile day by accident.
  • It’s easy to get going fast on some of the downhills, but these trails are 2-way and popular with hikers and trail runners. Stay in control.
  • Look both ways when crossing the roads and don’t assume cars will stop for you.

Planning your Back 40 ride

  • Where to park: There are a lot of trail access parking areas around the Back 40. See my route recommendations for where to park.
  • Best trails to ride:
  • Intermediate: Taylor’s Homestead (west to east), Go Ride, the Back 40
  • Advanced: The Ledges
  • Route recommendation: You can ride the 22+ mile Back 40 Loop, but I think there are better ways to explore this network. Head to my Back 40 guide for more tips and details on these route recommendations.
  • The Back 40 Fun & Flow
  • Make it shorter: Skip the last stretch on Back 40 Loop and return to the parking area via Mulligan.
  • Back 40 Variety Loop
  • Make it longer: Head over to the Alice in Wonderland trails for a lap on Ace of Spades
Colorful Back 40 trail sign in Bella Vista, Arkansas

3. Blowing Springs & the Alice in Wonderland Trails

Map of Blowing Springs and Alice in Wonderland Trails in Bentonville, Arkansas
Click to enlarge

Making our way closer to Bentonville, the Blowing Springs and Alice in Wonderland Trails bridge the gap between Little Sugar and the Back 40 in Bella Vista and the Slaughter Pen trails near downtown Bentonville.

These trails are some of my favorites. It’s not a huge area, but what’s packed in there is pretty darn fun, especially if you like old-school tech (Boom Diggity) and new-school flow (Ace of Spades).

It might be easy to overlook these trails when putting together your Bentonville mountain biking trip, but I highly recommend doing at least 1 ride here!

Wooden drop on mountain bike trail in Bentonville, Arkansas with "we are all mad" written on the edge
There’s a good-sized wooden drop and step-up on Mad Hatter at the Alice in Wonderland trails

Need to know for Blowing Springs & Alice in Wonderland

  • Boom Diggity has some exposure that you would not want to fall off of
  • Check out the springs at Blowing Springs Park. It’s a great place to eat lunch or have a snack.
  • Don’t ride the machine-built Alice in Wonderland Trails when wet, please.

Planning your Blowing Springs & Alice in Wonderland ride

  • Where to park: There are several parking areas, but I like to park at Blowing Springs Park. There are bathrooms, water fountains, and a nice sitting area by the springs for hanging out post-ride.
  • Best trails to ride:
  • Intermediate: Mighty Pine, Sally Trail, Ace of Spades, Through the Looking Glass, Blowing Springs Loop (east)
  • Advanced: Area 51, Boom Diggity, Blowing Springs Loop (west)
  • Route recommendation:
  • Alice in Wonderland Blowing Springs Ride
  • Make it longer: Head over to the other side of the highway and do Down Under Loop (counterclockwise)
Mountain biker riding out of converted RV trail hub at the Alice in Wonderland Trails in Bentonville, Arkansas
Don’t miss the RV Hub at the top of the Alice in Wonderland trails!

4. Slaughter Pen Trails

Map of the Slaughter Pen Trails in Bentonville, Arkansas
Click to enlarge

The Slaughter Pen Trails are probably the most famous Bentonville mountain biking trails. They’re located basically in town. You can literally catch singletrack trails from downtown Bentonville. It’s amazing!

There is everything here and it can be a bit overwhelming if it’s your first time visiting. There are machine-built flow trails, hand-cut old school trails, a skills park with jumps and drops, a CASTLE, cross-country riding, and even big stuff I will never hit (hello Boneyard).

I think most visitors get into the trap of only riding the Slaughter Pen trails when they visit Bentonville, and while they are awesome, don’t fall into that trap. It’s worth checking out the other networks I’ve listed as well. I’d say 2 days at Slaughter Pen is good (obviously more if you have the time).

Mountain biker riding down paved bermed trail in Bentonville, Arkansas
The paved berms on Choo Choo are SO much fun!

Need to know for the Slaughter Pen Trails

  • The higher-up trails tend to be more XC and less traveled while the lower-down trails have more features and are more busy
  • You’ll see a lot of people riding here. It can feel intimidating, especially if you want to try the features. But just ride your ride – everyone is learning and having fun!
  • It’s almost impossible to follow a pre-planned route at Slaughter Pen. Instead, I recommend choosing a handful of trails you want to ride and building your route around them.
  • The two paved trails – Choo Choo and Leopard – are a must!

Planning your Slaughter Pen ride

  • Where to park: When I ride Slaughter Pen, I typically park at this parking lot. However, if you’re staying in Bentonville, you may just be able to ride to the trails. Also, this lot gets busy, so you may need a plan B (there are a number of parking areas with access to the Slaughter Pen trails).
  • Best trails to ride: There are SO MANY trails at Slaughter Pen that it’s hard to choose just a few. But if I HAD to choose, here are my highlights.
  • Beginner: All-American, Lombard, Black Apple Creek
  • Intermediate: Medeviel, Schroen Train, Choo Choo, Leopard, Tristan’s Trail
  • Advanced: Loam Wolf, Techgnar
  • Route recommendation: As I mentioned above, it’s almost impossible to follow a pre-planned route at Slaughter Pen unless you’re following a GPS track on your bike computer. Instead, choose a few trails you want to ride (see my favorites above) and just head out there and explore!
Mountain bikes at small skills park at the Slaughter Pen trails in Bentonville, Arkansas
This is part of the skills park at Slaughter Pen – it’s just a tiny portion of what is there!

5. Coler Preserve

Map of the Coler Mountain Bike Preserve Trails in Bentonville, Arkansas
Click to enlarge

If you only have time to visit one mountain bike network in Bentonville, make it Coler Mountain Bike Preserve. This place is awesome! There’s a ton to explore here and there’s a great variety of trails, features, and terrain.

Most of the downhill trails start at The Hub on the north side. This alien-looking structure is an elevated launchpad with ramps dropping down into different trails. Fire Line is a must! Cease & Desist and the famous Drop The Hammer start from here as well.

On the south side of Coler, Thunder Dome and Family Flow are two fast and flowy machine-built trails that are worth lapping a couple of times.

In between the north side and south side are a mix of cross-country trails ranging from beginner-friendly to the expert-only Here’s Johnny.

Need a snack? Be sure to hit up Airship Coffee, which is located in the middle of the Coler Preserve trails and can only be accessed by foot or bike. You can also book a site at the Coler Campground if you want to shred sunup to sundown.

The Hub at Coler Mountain Bike Preserve
The Hub on the north side of Coler leads into several of the downhill trails

Need to know for Coler Preserve

  • Ride within your skill level – there are some big jumps and drops here
  • There is a paved greenway that connects the north and south sides. You can use it to link together the best trails
  • Stop at Airship Coffee for a pick-me-up!
  • The machine-built trails get closed after rain

Planning your Coler ride

  • Where to park: There is a parking area on the north side near the Hub, but it’s small and fills up fast. I like to park at Coler Grove because it’s way less busy.
  • Best trails to ride: All of them! Seriously, all the trails at Coler are great. That being said, here are some cautionary tips.
  • Here’s Johnny: This is one of the hardest trails in Bentonville. It’s very technical and very frustrating if you try to ride it all. Maybe do a section of it before committing to the whole thing.
  • Cease & Desist: The largest jump/drop line at Coler. Ride within your skill level.
  • Drop the Hammer: Has an 8-foot drop at the start. Again, ride within your skill level
  • Copperhead Road: Not actually a road, but this trail is pretty rocky and chunky. Don’t ride it if you don’t like old school.
  • Route recommendation: You really don’t need a route for Coler. I like to start on the south end at Thunder Dome and Family Flow and then head up to the Hub on the north side via Oscar’s Loop. Then return back to the south side on Esther’s.
Mountain bikers on machine-built dual-slalom course
Racing on the Thunder Dome dual slalom!

6. Handcut Hollow

Map of the Handcut Hollow Trails in Bentonville
Click to enlarge

Handcut Hollow is one of the newer trail networks in Bentonville. As you’d suspect from its name, there are a lot of natural trails here, BUT it’s not all handcut. The Hub does access a few machine-built lines like my favorite – Interplanet Janet (so fun!) – and some impressive rock work trails like The Body Machine.

If you are looking for old-school hand-cut, though, you’ll love Traverse Loop. It’s a good mix of cross-country and tech. When I rode it, I had the trail mostly to myself. This area is less popular than other Bentonville mountain biking networks.

Handcut Hollow is also home to the infamous Zone 4 trail. The brief for the trail builders was to build the hardest climb they could! As of this post, no rider – even the pros who’ve tried it – has been able to ride the whole thing in one smooth shot.

Need to know for Handcut Hollow

  • If you park at the main parking lot off of J Street you’ll have a pretty hefty climb at the end of your ride.
  • Zone 4 was built to be a climb, but it is two-way. That being said, you need to yield to riders climbing the trail.
  • Handcut Hollow is a great place to go if Slaughter Pen and Coler are too busy.

Planning your Handcut Hollow Ride

  • Where to park: This parking area isn’t the main parking area for Handcut, but I like it because it means you’ll end your ride on a downhill. If you park at the main lot, you’ll end your ride on a climb.
  • Best trails to ride: Handcut Hollow isn’t the best place for newer riders.
  • Intermediate: Interplanet Janet, Traverse Loop, The Body Machine,
  • Advanced: School House Rock, Zone 4 (worth doing just for the experience)
  • Route recommendation: You kind of have three options for riding at Handcut Hollow:
  • 1. Ride Traverse Loop
  • 2. Just lap the downhill trails from the Hub
  • 3. Do a bit of both. I like to do a lap or two from the hub and then make my way around the Traverse Loop, either doing the whole thing or cutting it short depending on how I feel.
Mountain bike resting against giant Axe sculpture with "Hand Cut Hollow" written on handle

Trail Networks Farther Afield

The six trail networks listed above make up the riding closest to Bentonville. However, there is great riding all around Northwest Arkansas! Here are a few other trail networks to check out if you have the time:

  • The Railyard in Rogers – this is an urban bike park with tons of fun features like drops, jumps, pump tracks, etc…
  • Lake Atalanta in Rogers – I’ve only hiked this trail network, but it’s set in a really pretty park on a lake. The trails are mainly cross-country with not a lot of tech.
  • Fayetteville – Home to two of my favorite trail networks – Mt. Kessler and Centennial Park – the mountain biking in Fayetteville is worth a trip!
  • Hobbs State Park – Home to some of the best cross-country mountain bike trails I’ve ever ridden. Hobbs State Park is one of my favorite places to ride.
  • Devil’s Den State Park – the trails at Devil’s Den are absolutely stunning (and fun!) with cool rock formations and river views.
  • Lake Leatherwood Gravity Project: Looking for a downhill day? Book a ride on the shuttle at Lake Leatherwood Gravity Project and lap the 7 downhill trails!
  • Passion Play in Eureka Springs – built on the grounds of a biblical reenactment camp, the Passion Play trails are odd, but so fun!
Mountain biker riding on trail under a waterfall at Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas
Devil’s Den is one of my favorite places to ride in Northwest Arkansas for its cool rock formations on Devil’s Racetrack trail

Watch BKXC ride some of the trails in Bentonville

FAQs & Facts

Q: When is the best time to visit Bentonville to ride?

Bentonville can technically be ridden all year long, but the summer months can be very hot and humid and winters can be cold, rainy, and snowy.

It’s best to visit during the shoulder seasons of March-May and September-November when the temps are perfect and the rain and humidity are minimal.

Bentonville also hosts several mountain bike events if you want your trip to coincide with a shindig. Bentonville Bike Fest happens in May and OuterBike comes to town in October.

Q: Are e-bikes allowed on the trails in Bentonville?

Yes! Bentonville is one of the most e-bike friendly places to mountain bike in the US.

Q: Do I need a car to get to the trails in Bentonville?

That depends on what you want to ride. If you’re going to stay close to town (Slaughter Pen and Coler), then you can get away without a car. But if you want to explore the Bella Vista trails and other networks in NWA then a car is necessary.

Alternatively, Shuttle Hound is a shuttle service in Bentonville that provides transportation to and from trailheads.

Q: What’s the best bike shop in Bentonville?

There are a lot of great bike shops in Bentonville. I’m partial to Mojo Cycling and Phat Tire Bike shops.

Q: Can I book a Bentonville mountain bike tour or lesson?

Yes! There are actually quite a few businesses that offer trail tours and lessons:

– Slaughter Trail Guides
– Ozark Bike Guides
– The Ride Series

Q: What are some good restaurants in Bentonville for post-ride food?

You’ll probably be surprised at all the great restaurants around Bentonville. It’s a foodie’s town! Here are a few of my favorite places to grab something to eat:

– Crepes Paulette for delicious crepes
– Tusk & Trotter for American fare (great burgers)
– Oven and Tap for wood-fired pizza
– Tavola Trattoria for really good Italian
– Nosh Nola at Bentonville Brewing (the Totchos are insane…)
– Pedaler’s Pub for good pizza and beer

Q: Where should I stay?

There are a ton of places to stay in Bentonville. Check out my guide on mountain-biker-friendly accommodations and the Bentonville Bike Inn.

Have you been to Bentonville to ride? Does it live up to the hype? What questions do you still have about Bentonville mountain biking? Leave a comment below!

Remember to download my checklist for the best trails in Bentonville.

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Becky is the creator and founder of the bike blog Two Wheeled Wanderer. She's been riding bikes and traveling the world since she was a kid and likes nothing more than enjoying some flowy singletrack or embarking on a multi-day bikepacking adventure. When she's not blogging, Becky is a Level 1 PMBIA-certified mountain bike coach and coaches with Ladies AllRide.

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16 Comments

  1. you had bike shop recommendations, on this page. I bookmarked it for a upcoming trip and now there are no local bike shops listed….. bummer

    Reply

    1. Hi Dane – I moved the bike shops to my 5-Day Bentonville Itinerary, which also includes the Google maps locations for them (and a lot more!). I’m trying to move away from ads as much as possible while still keeping most of my content free. I hope you understand and have a great trip to Bentonville!

      Reply

  2. What’s the lay of the land when it comes to e-bikes? Wanting to get a Sur Ron X soon and am not sure how welcome it would be in Bentonville.

    Reply

  3. I’m from Wisconsin and get winters off from work. I would like to get some off-road action late Feb or March. How is the riding in Bentonville that time of year?

    Reply

    1. There’s a ton of fun stuff to do around Bentonville! The Crystal Museum is really cool (and I’m not a museum person). If you have kids, the Amazeum is supposed to be awesome. There are also a lot of really cool hikes, parks, and outdoor off-bike things to do within a short drive. And there are some great restaurants and bars and a cute downtown to walk around.

      Reply

  5. Do you recommend renting a car? Or most of the trails are accessible directly from Bentonville with 10-20 minutes bike ride?

    Reply

    1. A car is not absolutely necessary since all of the trail networks are connected by bike paths. However, you may need to add quite a few miles to your ride depending on where you’re staying (I’d say 10-30 minutes one-way). I just did a quick search for mountain bike shuttles in Bentonville and it looks like Shuttle Hound has some good options if you don’t want to rent a car. If you’re not staying in or close to downtown Bentonville, though, I’d recommend renting a car. Have fun!

      Reply

  6. Becky-glad you had a good time in our little paradise. Next time don’t forget to check out Pedalers Pub. Very best pizza, staff and beer selection.

    Reply

  7. So glad I came across your post as we will be making our first biking trip to Bentonville. Your tips on what to do, where to go and where to stay were very helpful. Thank you!

    Reply

  8. Nice guide. I appreciate the tips. This will definitely help me decide on where to bike this summer on a cross-country road trip. I have 1 day/night in Arkansas and I was struggling on which city to camp and hit some easy to intermediate level trails. My main objective is scenery without being too technical.

    Reply

    1. Thanks for reading Charles and glad these posts are helpful. Bentonville is awesome and definitely worth a stop. There’s also a lot more mountain biking around Arkansas that I haven’t ridden (yet). Hobbs State Park is supposed to be amazing as are Pinnacle and Mount Nebo State Parks. Hoping to hit those this fall. Check out the Monument Trails page

      Reply

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