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Hobbs State Park Mountain Bike Trails (Don’t Miss the Karst Loop!)

ByBecky Timbers
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Mountain biker riding down singletrack trail in woods at Hobbs State Park in Arkansas with lake on the right hand side
Flowy singletrack mountain bike trail through the woods at Hobbs State Park in Arkansas

Alright mountain bikers, listen up! Even if you’re not usually into cross-country trails, the Hobbs State Park mountain bike system deserves a spot on your must-ride list. I don’t think of myself as an XC rider either, but I love it here. In fact, these are some of my favorite trails in Northwest Arkansas.

What makes them so good? They’re fast, flowy, and surprisingly scenic. If you ride the Karst Loop (which you absolutely should), the section along Beaver Lake is stunning—think rocky ledges, cool limestone walls, and peaceful lake views.

I make a point to spend at least a day at Hobbs anytime I’m back in the Bentonville area. If you’re thinking about checking it out, this guide has everything you need to know to make the most of your ride.

Quick Tips

For mountain biking at Hobbs State Park

  • Karst Loop is the highlight! But the whole trail system is worth riding.
  • The eastside trails are what most mountain bikers do. I’ve ridden all the trails at Hobbs and while the west loops are okay, they’re not as good as Karst, Wolf Den, Sawtooth, and Timberjack
  • Check your route mileage – you can get into some long days here.
  • Sawtooth and Timberjack are downhill-only trails
  • Karst Loop and Wolf Den are one-way. Follow the arrows.

TWW Take

Please note that these are my personal opinions – you may argue otherwise! And if so, state your case (politely) in the comments 🙂

Fun-ness Factor

Trail Variety

Average Difficulty

Mountain biker riding bike on rock ledge at Hobbs State Park in Arkansas

What I love about mountain biking at Hobbs

  • Fast and flowy XC singletrack
  • The section of Karst Loop that parallels Beaver Lake – so beautiful!
  • The descents down Lumberjack and Sawtooth
  • War Eagle Creek viewpoint

What I don’t

  • There’s very little tech – some riders might find it ‘boring’
View out over turquoise green river at Hobbs State Park in Arkansas

Planning your Hobbs State Park Ride

Best trails to hit

There are two trail areas at Hobbs: east and west. The east trail network is more popular and has better singletrack.

  • Karst Trail (beginner)
  • Wolf Den (beginner)
  • Timberjack (intermediate)
  • Sawtooth (intermediate)

Tip: The Little Clifty and War Eagle loops are ok. They’re worth checking out if you’ve already ridden the east side.

Route recommendations

  • Karst Loop (beginner) – The highlight of Hobbs! Ride it CCW.
  • All of Hobbs East (intermediate) – This is my go-to loop for Hobbs. The 18 miles are relatively ‘easy’ miles, so don’t let that deter you.
  • Hobbs West Loop (intermediate) – Expect more climbing and less flow. But there are also great views and fewer people.

Hobbs State Park Trail Map

Man riding mountain bike on Hobbs State Park trail in Arkansas next to a lake
Karst Trail in the spring with Eastern Red Buds blooming!

FAQs for Hobbs State Park

Got questions? I’ve got answers! Here are some helpful tips about the Hobbs State Park mountain bike trails:

TrailForks says e-bikes aren’t allowed at Hobbs, but I don’t think that’s true… I see more e-bikes there than regular mountain bikes.

There are several parking areas that access the trails at Hobbs. Here are the Google directions to the main trailhead parking for the eastside mountain bike trails. You can also access the west side trails across the street from this parking lot. There are bathrooms here, but no potable water.

Nope! The trails at Hobbs State Park are free to enjoy.

Yes, but they may be closed temporarily for rain or snow.

Yes, but not in the traditional sense. There are 6 primitive sites on the Karst Loop that can only be accesses biking hiking or biking in. You can learn more here.

Very few. There is a toilet at the main parking area, but no water or places to get food. Cell service (for me) was good.

Yes, the trails are well-marked and there are maps at the major intersections. I still recommend having TrailForks downloaded to your phone.

Yes, Hobbs State Park is part of Arkansas’s Monument Trail System, which was created to “bring world-class mountain bike trails to Arkansas State Park” – in my opinion, they’ve succeeded!

I’ve ridden at each of the four Monument Trail Systems and Hobbs is my second favorite after Devil’s Den. The other Monument Trail Systems are:

Hobbs State Park is Arkansas’s largest state park, so there are lots of other great outdoor activities to do in the area. If you have more time to explore, here are some places/things to do I recommend checking out:

  • Explore the hiking-only trails at Pigeon Roost, which has hike-in campsites
  • Get out on the water on Beaver Lake. You can fish, swim, boat, or SUP
  • Join a park event including ranger-led interpretative walks and workshops
  • Stop at the historic War Eagle Mill for something to eat or locally-made gifts
  • Visit War Eagle Cavern. I haven’t been here, but it looks cool, especially if you have kids

Need gear recs?

Head over to my gear closet! I’m always testing out new pieces of bike gear and if I really like them, they earn a place on this page.

See my gear favorites
Large metal half-egg shape camping structure at bike or hike-in only campsite on the shores of Beaver Lake at Hobbs State Park in Arkansas
The bike or hike-in only campsites along Karst Trail are really cool
Trail signs at Hobbs State Park in Arkansas recommending route of travel for mountain bikers and trail names: Wolf Den-West (left), Wolf Den-East (right), Karst Loop (both directions)
Wolf Den and Karst Loop are directional – follow the red sign arrows

Hobbs State Park might not be home to the ‘most exciting’ trails in Arkansas, but they are among some of my favorites. I always make sure to do a least one ride here when I’m in the area, checking off Karst Loop and the two downhill trails – Sawtooth and Timberjack. If you’re an XC rider, you’ll love it here and if you’re more of an adrenaline seeker I still encourage you to check them out – you might be pleasantly surprised!

What questions do you have about mountain biking at Hobbs State Park? Have you ridden here already? What did you think? Leave a comment below!

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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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