Mountain Biking at Mt. Nebo State Park: Epic Views & Long Downhills

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Mt. Nebo State Park is one of the four Monument Trail networks in Arkansas, which were created to bring world-class riding to local parks around the state.

Mt. Nebo was the third Monument Trail network I rode (the first two were Devil’s Den and Hobbs) and it quickly became one of my favorites. I only had two full days to ride, but I wish I could have stayed a week!

So what makes the mountain biking at Mt. Nebo so special? The views for one thing. The campground and parking areas are situated at the top of the mountain with 360-degree panoramas all around. It’s stunning, especially at sunrise and sunset.

The trails are also great with a perfect mix of tech, flow, and features. Be ready to earn your downhills, though. Climbing is required at Mt. Nebo!

In this post, I share everything you need to know to make the most of your mountain bike adventure at Mt. Nebo State Park in Arkansas.

Getting there & where to park

Mt. Nebo State Park is located just over an hour northwest of Little Rock, Arkansas, or 2 hours southeast of the “Mountain Bike Capital of the World – Bentonville“.

The park is up on a mountain – Mt. Nebo – and the road up there is very windy and steep. I do not recommend taking a trailer or a vehicle longer than 24 feet up to the top. If you still want to ride, but can’t drive up, there are parking areas at the base.

For parking, you have two options really:

1. You can park at the top and end your ride on a climb but enjoy epic views post-ride
2. Park at the bottom and end your ride with a downhill

I camped at the campground at the top, so I rode from my campsite, finishing my rides with hefty, but doable, climbs.

The route recommendations I’ve included below all start from the campground, but you can easily start the routes from wherever you decide to park.

Here are the four main parking areas at Mt. Nebo:

• Sunset Point (top – recommended if not camping)
• Sunrise Point (top)
• Bench Trail parking (top)
• Ox Pull parking (bottom)

watch BKXC explore Mt. Nebo

The Climbing

Before I get into the trails and route recommendations, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the climbing.

There is a lot of climbing involved at Mt. Nebo. The two rides I did both had over 2,500 ft of elevation gain.

I don’t want to intimidate you or discourage you from riding at Mt. Nebo because it is awesome, but be prepared to pedal.

The good news, though, is that the climb trails are really well built with lots of switchbacks and (mostly) mellow grades. I found the climbing there to actually be quite enjoyable.

Two easier options for getting to the top are shuttling and e-bikes. Currently, there is no commercial shuttle company, so you’ll need to set a shuttle up yourself (and remember, the road up is very steep and windy).

Class 1 e-bikes are also allowed at Mt. Nebo, although there are no local shops that rent them.

Trail guide & route recommendations

Mt. Nebo has about 13 miles of trail and it is some of my favorite riding (at least that I’ve done) in Arkansas. There’s a good mix of everything from fast flow to features (mostly natural) to some tech if you seek it out.

Hopefully, you’ll have time to do all of the singletrack (maybe minus Lizard Trail), but here are the three must-ride trails at Mt. Nebo:

The two route recommendations I give below are based on a two-day stay at Mt. Nebo. If you have an e-bike you could do all the trails in a day, but it’s such a cool spot I recommend staying at least 2 days.

If you do only have a day, I recommend doing the day 1 route.

Mt. Nebo Trail map

Camping at Mt. Nebo

As I’ve mentioned several times in this post, I highly recommend spending at least two days at Mt. Nebo.

There are several camping options as well as cabin rentals:

Mt. Nebo Campground

The Mt. Nebo Campground is situated at the top of the mountain with great views out over the surrounding area.

There are 24 campsites available with water, electric, picnic tables, and access to showers and bathrooms. There’s also a swimming pool that is open in the summer. There is no dump station. If the campground is booked, there is a small overflow lot.

Tip: If you can, snag sites 13, 14, 15, 16, or 17. These have the best views!

Cabin rentals

I didn’t know this before I visited, but Mt. Nebo has 15 really cool and unique cabins that you can rent out. Most of the cabins are perched along the rim with amazing views from their porches.

Each cabin is equipped with a kitchen, heat, air conditioning, and linens and some are even dog friendly. They can sleep 2-8 people depending on the cabin.

I would love to come back and spend a week or more at one of these cabins!

Bike-in campsites

If you want more privacy, there are also 10 bike or hike-in only campsites at Mt. Nebo. They’re located around the perimeter of the mountain top and some are even trail-side.

Other things to do at Mt. Nebo State Park

Mt. Nebo State Park has a lot of other great things to offer aside from mountain biking. Here are some things to do off the bike:

Final thoughts

Mountain biking at Mt. Nebo State Park was definitely a highlight of my most recent visit to Arkansas. The views from the top are spectacular and the trails – despite the climbing – are immensely fun.

Plan to spend at least two days here (or more!) to really make the most of your visit.

Have fun!