Mountain Biking in Bentonville, Arkansas: A Thrilling Adventure for All Levels
If you’re looking for a new outdoor adventure, look no further than Bentonville, Arkansas. This small town is quickly becoming a hot spot for mountain biking enthusiasts, with its stunning scenery, challenging trails, and world-class facilities. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced rider, Bentonville has something to offer for everyone.
One of the main draws of Bentonville for mountain bikers is the Slaughter Pen Trail System. This network of trails covers over 40 miles of terrain and is designed for riders of all skill levels. The trails range from easy, flowy singletrack to technical, rocky descents, with breathtaking views of the surrounding Ozark Mountains. If you’re new to mountain biking or just looking for a leisurely ride, the trails at the lower elevations are a great place to start. More experienced riders can test their skills on the more challenging trails, including the famous “Drop the Hammer” over at Coler Preserve.
In addition to the trails, Bentonville also offers a range of other mountain biking amenities. The town has several bike shops where you can rent a bike or have your own bike serviced. There are also several parks and public areas where you can warm up or practice before hitting the trails. And for those who want to take a break from riding, Bentonville has plenty of other attractions, including museums, art galleries, and a thriving food and drink scene.
Overall, Bentonville is unique. Is it the mountain bike capital of the world like they say? Maybe, but there is such a wide variety that every level of rider can have fun. If you like flow, tech, wood features and drops, easy bike access, and year round riding, then put it on your short list. After wrapping up my 3rd visit in as many years, I can confidently say that I will be back again to explore other areas whilst bringing new friends on new adventures. Check out the photos and trails listed below. They were some of my favorite. Click here to check out food, beer, art, and other things not bicycle related in Bentonville.
Slaughter Pen
Really fun system of trails off the main bike path that connects to downtown. A mere 3.4 miles from the north end. Lots lot flow, jumps and drops with easy access, e-bike friendly, family fun. This place has it all from the famous Bush Push, to fun statues hidden all over the place. Hammer Down, Ozone, Rim Trail and Schroen Train are some of my favorite trails we hit. From our place we could bike here in under 1 mile, passing a few dog parks along the way. The area just has it all.
Coler Preserve
Fun area good tech on all the Rock trails. Hardway to Cafe is good, Here’s Johnny and yes The Hammer is here. We started on the south end with Thunder Dome. A few laps here to start makes for a good warm up. After that choose your own adventure but, eventually you’ll wanna get to the hub with a decent amount of energy left so you can do a handful of laps. There’s a Cafe in the center that serves nachos, tacos, coffee and beer, making it a great place to take a brake from riding.
Blowing Springs
We pedaled from the house to Blowing Springs. Area 51, Ace of Spades, and Mad Hatter are some of the best trails in this area. With some good drops and jumps, it flows really well. The back part of Blowing Springs has great tech in some parts for sure, but a small travel bike will be just fine. Nothing crazy over there.
HandCut Hollow
From the rental to the trail and back. its an okay joint over there maybe 3.5 miles? The trails are a bit more raw mixed in with some flow. Zone 4 was rough and I just didn’t have the energy for it. Lots of tough features to clear while climbing with skinny’s mixed in. My favorite trails were Conjunction Junction and Victim of Gravity. super chunk and junk but short and sweet. For sure do a few laps, there are a few different lines to choose from.
