Bentonville, AR
Northwest Arkansas
The fastest-growing mountain bike destination in America — purpose-built trails, world-class flow, and Walmart money behind every mile.
About Bentonville
Bentonville went from zero to hero in under a decade. The Walton family's investment through the Runway Group and Oz Trails has created a trail system that rivals anywhere in the world — over 100 miles of purpose-built singletrack within 15 minutes of downtown. Slaughter Pen, Coler, and the Back 40 are the headliners. The town itself is built for bike tourism: bike-friendly hotels, restaurants with bike racks, and a community that treats mountain biking as a core economic driver.
Year-round riding. Best months are March-May and September-November. Summer is hot and humid. Winter is mild — trails drain fast after rain.
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Rent & Shuttle
Rental Shops
Shuttle Operators
Shore Line Shuttle
Season: Jan – Dec
Schedule: Operates roughly 9:00am to 7:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays (primary operating days), with the M1078 running point-to-point laps between Slaughter Pen, Coler, and partner zones. Charter/VIP rides available on request — confirm via Facebook.
Runs a converted military M1078 troop carrier. VIP rides and guided options available. Book through the website.
Shuttle Hound
Season: Jan – Dec
Schedule: Flexible on-demand pickup/drop-off across NWA in half-day (8am-noon morning, 1pm-5pm afternoon) or full-day (7 hours + 1 hour lunch) blocks. Runs 7 days a week by reservation; no fixed departures — they pick up riders wherever they're staying.
Flexible pickup and drop-off — they'll take you wherever you want to ride in NWA.
Gear Essentials
What you'll want to bring or buy before the trip. Opinionated picks based on the terrain, climate, and rides.
Hydration
Summer is hot and humid — 2L minimum. Spring/fall is perfect and you can get away with a 750ml bottle on shorter Slaughter Pen laps. Coler has water fountains at the hub.
Lube + Tools
Wet lube is the move — NWA humidity washes dry lube off quickly, and storms can turn trails muddy. Tubeless plugs + spare tube standard.
Tires
NWA rock is limestone + dirt — tires wear slower than Moab but you'll still want aggressive tread for the technical features at Coler and Back 40. Trail/enduro casings, not DH. Maxxis Minion DHF/DHR, Specialized Butcher, Continental Trail King all dial.
Weather Layers
NWA weather flips fast in shoulder seasons. Rain shell is worth packing April-October — summer thunderstorms roll through quickly. Humid summer means breathable jersey + ventilated helmet matter more than elsewhere.
Protection
Coler's DH runs and Back 40's ledge sections reward knee pads. Not mandatory for Slaughter Pen flow, but bring them if you're hitting jumps. Convertible full-face if you're sessioning the jump lines.
Some links above are affiliate links — we get a small commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. Recommendations are opinionated picks, not paid placements.
Epic Rides
Slaughter Pen
Flow trail perfection — berms, jumps, and machine-built singletrack minutes from downtown.
Season: Rideable year-round thanks to Northwest Arkansas's mild climate and Slaughter Pen's well-drained, rock-armored trail surfaces. Managed by the City of Bentonville. Fall (September-October) is the most popular season for color and cool temps, but winter rides are very common on dry days. Wet-weather closures occasionally happen after heavy rain — check OZ Trails or NWA Trails before heading out.
Beta: Multiple trailheads — most central is the All-American trailhead at Crystal Bridges / Compton Gardens on Main St, or Bark Park lot on N Walton Blvd for the north end. Trails sprawl across pockets connected by the paved Greenway, so download Trailforks and return to pavement when you get turned around. Start with All-American (flowy intro, optional features throughout) and warm up at the Skills Park in the middle. Ride early or late — this is Bentonville's downtown system and it gets crowded with e-bikes and kids after 4pm.
Coler Mountain Bike Preserve
The crown jewel of NWA — downhill runs, jump lines, and progressive trails on a dedicated MTB preserve.
Shuttle: Shuttle from Slaughter Pen to Coler is popular but you can ride between them.
Season: Open year-round under Peel Compton Foundation management, with trails designed to drain quickly. There's no formal closed season, but flow trails and jump lines close after rain or snow to protect the surface — check the Coler website or Trailforks for real-time status before driving out. Spring and fall are ideal; summers ride fine if you start early.
Beta: Two main lots — North Gateway (small, fastest access to The Hub and black descents) and South Gateway (big lot, bathrooms, water, tools, kid-friendly). Climb to The Hub (the 20-ft steel tower at the top), then pick your downhill: Fire Line (flow), Cease and Desist (jumps), or Rock Solid (tech). Westside is beginner/intermediate, Eastside is harder — all trails funnel to the paved Applegate path so you can't get lost for long. The on-site cafe and brewery make it the chillest park to hang at post-ride.
Back 40
40 miles of rolling Ozark singletrack connecting Bentonville to Bella Vista. The long ride.
Shuttle: Point-to-point route. Shuttle one direction or do an out-and-back on your favorite sections.
Season: Open year-round in Bella Vista, managed by the Bella Vista POA / OZ Trails. Limestone-base trails shed water well, making this one of the more wet-weather-friendly NWA systems. Peak conditions September-November and March-May. Winter riding is common on dry days; summer is hot and humid so early starts help.
Beta: Park at Blowing Springs (off Mercy Way / US-71) or Lake Ann trailhead — Blowing Springs is better if you want to ride The Ledges in the correct direction. 21-mile loop rides well either way: clockwise for steep climbs and long descents, counter-clockwise for mellower climbs and punchier descents. Ride counter-clockwise from Blowing Springs so you hit The Ledges (best 2.8 mi of the system) set up correctly. Don't ride it wet — the karst turns to peanut butter and locals will give you the stink eye.
Monument Trails at Lee Creek
Gravity-fed trails on a former quarry with massive exposure. Think bike park meets natural terrain.
Shuttle: Gravity-oriented trails designed for shuttle or lift laps.
Season: Monument Trails at Devil's Den State Park (Arkansas State Parks, ~45 min south of Bentonville) are accessible year-round with no seasonal closures. Lee Creek sits at lower elevation than the Bentonville core trails but rides similarly — well-built, well-drained, and best in spring and fall. Summer can be hot and humid; winter is rideable most dry days.
Beta: Park at the new Devil's Racetrack trailhead on AR-220 (Lee Creek Rd), west of the horse camp past the Ellis Branch bridge — bathrooms, changing stalls, bike-in campsites on site. From Fayetteville, take I-49 to exit 45, right on AR-74 W into Devil's Den State Park, then follow 220 past the horse camp. Grab a printed map at the Visitors Center — cell service is spotty and the 25-mi system has 8 separate trailheads. Ride the Racetrack loop as the signature — fast flow with rock features, same build standard as Slaughter Pen.
Trip planning guides
Cost breakdowns, trail beta, packing logistics — the editorial background for planning your Bentonville trip.
About Bentonville
Bentonville with Kids: The Best Family-Friendly MTB Destination in America
Bentonville has more purpose-built singletrack per capita than anywhere in the US, and a surprising amount of it works for families. Here's how to plan a trip with riders of all levels.
Bentonville MTB Trip Cost: The Best-Value Destination in American Mountain Biking
No shuttles needed, ride from your hotel, mid-tier lodging year-round. Here's what a Bentonville MTB trip actually costs — and why it's the best value in US mountain biking.
General trip planning
MTB Shuttle Logistics 101: How to Not Waste Your Ride Day
Shuttle-accessed rides are some of the best in the sport. But the logistics trip people up. Here's how shuttles actually work — booking, timing, tipping, and what to do when plans change.
How to Choose the Right Rental Bike for Your MTB Trip
Trail, enduro, DH, e-bike — rental shops carry them all. Here's how to pick the right one based on what you're actually riding.
How Much Does a Mountain Bike Trip Cost? A Real-World Breakdown
Shuttles, rentals, lodging, lift tickets, food, fuel — here's what an MTB trip actually costs in 2026, with sample budgets for Moab, Whistler, and more.
How to Fly with a Mountain Bike: 2026 Airline Fees, Packing, and Logistics Guide
Bike fees by airline, how to pack a bike for travel, when it makes sense vs renting — everything you need to know to fly with your mountain bike for a destination trip in 2026.
MTB Trip Packing List 2026: Everything to Bring for a Mountain Bike Trip
Bike, gear, clothing, tools, and the things people forget — a complete mountain bike trip packing list for destination trips in 2026, with destination-specific notes.
How to Plan Your First MTB Destination Trip: A Step-by-Step 2026 Guide
Picking a destination, booking shuttles before lodging, choosing rentals, building a 4-day itinerary — a complete step-by-step guide to planning your first mountain bike destination trip in 2026.