Quick tips for mountain biking the Hobbs State Park Trails
Alright mountain bikers, listen up! Even if you don’t consider yourself a cross-country rider, you still need to get out to Hobbs State Park to ride the trails. I wouldn’t call myself an xc pedaler, but I LOVE riding here. In fact, the Hobbs State Park trails are some of my favorites in Northwest Arkansas.
What’s to love about them? They’re flowy, fast, and beautiful and if you do the Karst Loop (which you must), the section along the shore of Beaver Lake is stunning with some cool rock walls and ledges.
I make sure to spend at least one day at Hobbs whenever I’m back in the Bentonville area. If you want to check out these trails – which I highly recommend doing – this post covers everything you need to know about mountain biking in Hobbs State Park.
Quick Facts & FAQs
Q: Where is Hobbs State Park?
A: Hobbs is located about 40 minutes east of Bentonville on the shores of Beaver Lake.
Q: Where should I park?
A: 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.
Q: Do I need to pay to ride?
A: Nope! The trails are free to use.
Q: Are the trails open year-round?
A: Yes, but they may be closed temporarily for rain or snow.
Q: How many days do I need to explore the Hobbs State Park trails?
A: If you’re up for a 17-mile day, you can cover all of the trails on the east side in one ride. This is my go-to loop (see route recommendations below). If you only have one day, but don’t want to do 17 miles, I recommend just doing the Karst Loop. If you have two days, the west side trails are worth checking out, but only after you’ve ridden Karst and Wolf Den.
Hobbs State Park Trail Map
The Monument Trail System
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:
Watch BKXC explore the trails at Hobbs State Park
My Honest Take
Overall rating
Even though I don’t consider myself a cross-country rider, I really love the Hobbs State Park trails (at least the east side – the west side isn’t as great). I think this network has some of the best-built, flowiest, non-monotonous, xc trails in the state (and beyond!).
Not only are the trails a joy to pedal, but the landscape is beautiful with oak trees, cool geological features, and views out over the lake. 10/10 recommend!
Average difficulty
The trails at Hobbs State Park are not overly difficult. There are a few sections that have a tricky rock or some minor exposure, but for the most part, these trails are very beginner/intermediate-friendly.
That being said, the mileage can get you into trouble. It’s easy to do a 15+ mile day here. If you’re just starting out or riding with kids, I recommend starting with the 7-mile Karst Loop.
Trail variety
Similar to trail difficulty, there isn’t a ton of trail variety at Hobbs. The two downhill trails – Sawtooth and Lumberjack add a bit more speed and spice, but in general, Hobbs is pretty cross-country.
Should you ride at Hobbs State Park?
What to love about it
What to not
Read next
Planning a mountain bike trip to Arkansas? Check out these posts to make the most of your time there:
The Hobbs State Park Trails
Route Recommendations
As I’ve mentioned above, the trails at Hobbs State Park are broken up into east and west networks.
If you only have one day to explore Hobbs, I highly recommend riding the eastern network (Karst Trail, Wolf Den, etc..).
Hobbs East: Karst Trail
Karst Trail – at least for me – is the highlight trail at Hobbs. It’s an 8-mile loop that features mellow and meandering singletrack through beautiful woods until you round the corner on the stretch that follows the river. This part is stunning with super cool rock overhangs and Arkansas’s iconic slab walls.
Route Basics
Ride it for:
- The ‘best’ of Hobbs
- Beautiful stretch along the lake
- Fast and flowy cross-country riding
Need to know:
- There is some sidehill exposure that may be a little uncomfortable for some people
- Ride the loop counterclockwise
Route directions: Karst Loop Parking > Karst Loop counterclockwise
Make it longer: See second route recommendation below
Hobbs East: The Whole Thing
This loop, with the addition of the Sawtooth and Timberjack downhills (see make it longer), is what I typically do when I head to Hobbs.
Route Basics
Ride it for:
- A great cross-country loop
- Relatively easy pedaling and a lot of flow
Need to know:
- There’s no potable water so bring at least 2-3L
- Wolf Den and Karst Trail are directional – follow the signs
Route directions: Hobbs State Park Parking > Tunnel Connector > (optional: Sawtooth > Return Trail) > Wolf Den West > Karst Trail > Wolf Den East > (optional: Timberjack > Return Trail) > Tunnel Connector
Make it longer: Add the Sawtooth and Timberjack downhills. The Return Trail is pretty mellow and not that bad of a climb.
Make it even longer: Cross the road once you get back to the parking area and do War Eagle Valley Loop (clockwise). See that full loop here.
Hobbs West Loop
The western trail network at Hobbs is less popular than the east, but if you have a few days to explore the area, they are worth checking out. The trails are hand-cut rather than machine-built, so they don’t roll or flow quite as well, but they’re still fun.
I rode Hobbs west as a 20-mile, 2,500+ ft day and honestly, it was a struggle to finish. Unless you’re super fit, I wouldn’t recommend trying to pack all the miles in.
Route Basics
Ride it for:
- A different side of Hobbs
- The view over War Eagle Creek
Need to know:
- These trails have steeper climbs and looser terrain
Route directions: Hobbs State Park Parking > Visitor Center Connector > Little Clifty Creek Loop > War Eagle Valley Loop > Little Clifty Creek Loop > Visitor Center Connector
Make it longer: If you have the legs and stamina, there are two additional loops you can add: Dutton Hollow and Bashore Ridge. They were both pretty but not ‘can’t miss’. Bashore Ridge does go all the way down to the lake if you want a nice spot for lunch.
Need some new gloves?
I’ve been a fan of HANDUP Gloves for years and they continue to be my go-to choice for mountain bike gloves.
Not only are they super fun and not boring with lots of colors and pattern choices (ice cream cones?!), but they also last a lot longer than most bike gloves I’ve tried.
All HANDUP bike gloves are touchscreen compatible and they have a nice soft nose wipe on the thumb so you can discretely wipe your boogers away.
Post-ride Fun
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:
Camping at Hobbs State Park
Hobbs State Park doesn’t have a developed campground, but it does have several primitive sites that are pretty cool.
Karst Loop Hike/Bike-in Camping
There are 6 hike/bike-in sites on the northern end of Karst Trail that overlook Beaver Lake. Each site has a large gravel tent pad that can accommodate two tents, a fire pit, and a large metal structure to hang hammocks. These sites are $15 per night and reservations must be made in advance.
This would be a great one-night bikepacking trip!
Trailhead camping
There are two tent camping structures at the main trailhead that are available first-come first-serve for camping.
They’re located right off the parking area, so they aren’t very private, but a good option if you need an easy camp spot for the night. There are bathrooms, but no potable water.
What questions do you have about mountain biking at Hobbs State Park in Arkansas? Have you ridden here already? What did you think? Leave a comment below!
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