Sending it for Salvation at the Passion Play Trails
I hope the title doesn’t ruffle any feathers, but it feels fitting. After all, the Passion Play Trails are literally built around a massive outdoor stage where Biblical reenactments take place. I’m not religious, but I’ve got to say, riding trails that weave through this setting is a pretty unique experience.
I just spent a few days pedaling and exploring the trails here, and theyhen again, I can’t say I’m too surprised. Arkansas has been killing it with mountain bike trails, and Passion Play is no exception.
What makes this spot stand out, though, is the variety and the vert. You’ll find everything from fast, flowy machine-built tracks to legit steep downhill runs that’ll test your brakes (and your nerves). But fair warning, every descent has to be earned, because the climbing here is no joke.
Here’s everything you need to know about planning your rides at the Passion Play Trails in Eureka Springs.
Quick Tips
For mountain biking the the Passion Play Trails
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
What is the Great Passion Play?
Before I get into the trails and how to ride them, it’s worth trying to describe what the Passion Play is. I still don’t fully understand it (I’m not religious), but it was very perplexing the first time I drove in and rode the trails. There are several components to this place:
- The Great Passion Play is a reenactment of the last week of the life of Jesus Christ. There’s a huge outdoor stage with tiered seating where it’s performed. Shows happen throughout the summer and fall.
- The Christ of the Ozarks is a 67-foot statue of Jesus Christ. A lot of people come just to see this.
- The Holy Land Tour takes visitors around the grounds to life-sized replicas of places that would have been found in Jerusalem. Depending on what trails you ride (mostly the eastern ones), you can check out some of these replicas during your ride.
As I said above, I’m not religious, so the Passion Play felt very strange to me. It is pretty cool that they allowed mountain bike trails to be built throughout their grounds, though!
The Good & Bad of Mountain Biking at Passion Play
What I like
What I don’t
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Planning your Passion Play Rides
Best trails to hit
Passion Play may look like a small-ish network, but there’s actually quite a bit of ground to cover. The first route I recommend below is a good first ride, but you’ll probably need a least two rides here if you really want to explore it all.
- Genesis (beginner)
- Beauty is Everywhere (beginner)
- Holy Roller (intermediate)
- Temptation (intermediate)
- Prussian Blue DH (intermediate)
- Atonement (advanced)
- Vengeance (advanced)
- Gn’Armageddon (advanced)
- Deliverance (expert)
Tip: I recommend spending at least two days here if you want to really get a feel for it.
Route recommendation
- Passion Play in a Day (intermediate) – After spending two full days of riding at Passion Play, this is the route I’d do again and what I recommend as a first ride for those visiting.
- Beginner’s Full Day (beginner) – This route skips the steep and technical stuff and just hits the flowy stuff.
- Ride It All (advanced) – This is a big day! But it hits most of the trails at Passion Play.
Passion Play Trail Map
FAQs & Planning Tips
🚗 Getting there: Passion Play is located in Eureka Springs, about 40 minutes east of Bentonville. It feels like you should have to pay to enter, but the trails are free to use.
🅿️ Parking: There’s free parking at the top of the Passion Play near the Christ of the Ozark statue. Here are the Google driving directions. There are bathrooms here.
🗺️ Navigating the trails: The trails are signed, but there are no maps to help you with figuring out where you are. This place is kind of a maze. I recommend having TrailForks downloaded to your phone.
🚻 Bathrooms: There are public bathrooms at the start of the walkway to the giant Christ statue.
💧 Water: I would plan for no water. There are bottles of water for sale for $1 (honor system) at the Holy Land Tour stops on the east side of the network (namely Revelation and Passover trails). You can fill up on water at the parking area.
📅 How many days: Passion Play looks like a compact trail network, but to do everything in a day is quite a mission. I recommend having at least two days to explore the trails here.
☀️ When to go: The Passion Play can be ridden year round, depending on weather. (It gets hotttt in the summer!)
🚲 What type of bike to bring: A short or mid-travel full-suspension bike would be best.
⚡️ E-bikes: Yes, class 1 pedal assist e-bikes are allowed at Passion Play (and pretty much everywhere in Arkansas).
🏨 Nearby Hotels: Everywhere you look in Eureka Springs is a cool, old Bed and Breakfast or vacation rental. There is no shortage of places to stay, but I do recommend booking in advance because it is a tourist town. If you want to splurge on a unique hotel, check out the historic Crescent Hotel (supposedly it’s haunted!)
⛺️ Camping: If you’re looking to camp, I love Lake Leatherwood City Park, which is about 15 minutes from downtown Eureka Springs. Reservations are a good idea on the weekends. Don’t miss the DH laps at Leatherwood Gravity Project.
Post-ride Fun & Food in Eureka Springs
Eureka Springs is a really cool and funky town. I recommend at least walking around for a bit maybe grabbing something to eat. There are also a ton of cute Bed and Breakfasts if you want to spend the night!
- Walk around the historic downtown area. Put away your phone and just explore – guaranteed you’ll find something(s) unexpected!
- Check out the events calendar. There was free live music downtown the last time I visited.
- Visit Thorncrown Chapel. It’s amazing.
- Check out the Onyx Cave. I haven’t been, but a friend said it’s pretty cool.
- Eat! Eureka Springs is a tourist town and has lots of great restaurants, including fine dining (maybe take a shower and change your clothes first…). Local Flavor Cafe, Grotto Wood-Fired Grill, and Nibbles Eatery (breakfast/lunch) are all popular.
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.
For me, the Passion Play Trails are absolutely worth checking out. I love the mix of flow, tech, and big climbs, and the whole setting is a one-of-a-kind experience. That said, I have friends who really didn’t enjoy it, so… You’ll definitely work hard for the descents, but they left me grinning and wanting to come back for more!
Have you ridden the Passion Play trails in Eureka Springs? What did you think about them? Are they worth the trip from Bentonville? Leave a comment below!
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