Bicycling is a great way to spend time together outdoors. It promotes shared experiences and heart healthy physical activity that’s suitable for all ages.
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Here’s a Look at What’s Inside…
How to Find Suitable Mountain Biking Trails
Everything You Need to Know About Bike Rentals
Self-Guided Vs. Guided Group Rides
If your family loves riding bikes, there’s an even bigger thrill that you might be curious to try out—mountain biking. Mountain biking, also called MTB, takes family bike rides to the next level.
Mountain biking differs from regular bike riding because it takes the bicycle off-road onto specially-designed trails with rough terrain and obstacles.
Mountain Biking in the Ozarks
You may be surprised to discover that the Ozarks provide a perfect place for your family to explore the sport of mountain biking.
In fact, the mountain biking capital of the world lies in an unsuspecting area—right here in the United States. At the southern tip of the Ozarks, there’s a town in Northwest Arkansas that’s better known as the home of Walmart: Bentonville.
That’s right—Bentonville, Arkansas, is the Mountain Biking Capital of the World. It’s a little bit of a self-proclaimed title resulting from the very intentional, curated effort to build a complex system of MTB trails throughout the city. Today, Bentonville–and the surrounding area, draws thousands of MTB enthusiasts of all skill levels, from beginners to professionals.
Everything in this town seems to have been designed with your bicycle in mind—including premium services like bike taxis and bicycle-friendly hotel stays. But it’s not just Bentonville that is made for mountain biking. The entire surrounding Northwest Arkansas area is full of hundreds of miles of mountain biking trail systems.
But don’t let the professional allure intimidate you—mountain biking is for everyone; your family included!
Before you gear up with the kids and hop on your bikes, let’s cover some terminology that you’ll want to become familiar with before hitting the trails. This will help you understand maps and signs like a pro.
Keep reading to learn more in our Beginner’s Mountain Biking Guide for Families.
Glossary of Mountain Biking Lingo
First, let’s cover some unique terminology you’ll find throughout MTB circles so you’ll know what everyone is talking about!
| Singletrack | A narrow trail that is only one bike-width wide |
| Doubletrack | A wider trail with enough width for side-by-side riding or with two nearly-parallel paths |
| Pump track | A short, looped, man-made track usually made of concrete that is designed for riding by using momentum and bodyweight shifting (pumping) rather than pedaling. These are often used to practice the skills needed for MTB. These tracks usually contain a combination of rollers and berms. The Bentonville Bike Playground is an example of a pump track. |
| Bike park | A park specifically made for mountain bike riders to practice their skills on various features, which can be standalone or part of a trail system |
| Feature | An obstacle on a mountain biking trail such as jumps, berms, rollers, or skinnies |
| Rollers | Smooth humps on a trail or repeating mini-hills |
| Berms | Also called “banked turns,” these are semi-circular shaped turns with high sides |
| Trailhead | This is the entry point of a trail, usually found near a parking lot |
| Downhill trail | Steep trails that can only be traveled in one direction (downhill) |
| Switchback | When a trail goes up or down a steep mountain, rather than going the direct route of straight up or down—a switchback goes back and forth, only moving up or down the mountain a short distance at a time and therefore taking a much longer distance to travel up or down in elevation |
| Jumps | Ramps that will propel the rider’s bike off the ground if going fast enough |
| Drops | An on-trail obstacle where a feature (usually a wooden bridge-like structure) ends and your bike must drop to the ground |
| Skinny | A narrow, wooden structure feature on a mountain biking trail |
| E-bike | An electric bicycle that can run on battery power or by pedaling |
| Gravity cavity | A steep section of trail designed for fast downhill descents |
Mountain Biking Trails are Color-Coded for Difficulty Levels
Most trailheads will start with signs that clarify trail difficulty. If you end up on a trail and you’re not sure if it’s on your level, here are some common colors and associations:
- Green: Easy
- Blue: Moderate
- Black Diamond: Difficult / Expert
- Red/Black Diamond: Extremely Difficult / Professional
Where to Start: The Trails in Northwest Arkansas
Whether you’re a family full of seasoned mountain bikers, or have never ridden your bicycles on a trail before—Northwest Arkansas has a wide range of trails for multiple skill levels. Here, we’ll cover a few places to find beginner and intermediate-level trails, although more difficult trails are available in the area.
For Beginner Bike Riders
If you’ve never taken your bicycle off-road, you’re not alone. You’ll quickly notice that mountain biking is quite different from riding on the road. Going off-road gives you a chance to shift your focus from oncoming traffic to the thrill of rolling terrain.
Making this adjustment can take some time and practice. So, start with trails that are designated for beginners. There are both paved trails and dirt trails available for beginners or those looking for a safer ride.
Specifically, look for doubletrack trails to get you started. These are wider and tend to be lower on the difficulty scale. They allow for more room so that other bikers to go around you as you learn to maneuver your bike. Unlike singletracks, which can have sharp turns and run cliffside, doubletracks tend to have straighter runs and fewer trees to divert around, making them an ideal place for families and beginners to practice.
Coler Mountain Bike Preserve in Bentonville is a perfect starting point for families that are new to the sport. It has seven MTB trails that are family-friendly and rated as “easy.” Check out a trail map here.
There are also intermediate and advanced trails here if someone in your family wants to try something a little more challenging. Here are over five miles of easy-riding trails to check out for every beginner at Coler Mountain Biking Preserve:
- Family Flow Trail: .5 mile
- Good Vibrations Trail: 1 mile
- Esther’s Trail: 4 miles
>>Read more about Coler Mountain Bike Preserve<<
If you’re looking for a playground plus paved trail combo, check out Osage Park in Bentonville, which has both, including 2 miles of paved trail. Here’s a map of all the trail systems in Bentonville.
For Intermediate Bike Riders
If your family is looking for more rugged terrain, Devil’s Den State Park south of Fayetteville offers intermediate trails throughout its beautiful natural landscape. Fossil flats, a 5.6-mile loop inside the park, was one of the first mountain biking trails developed in the NWA area in the 1980s. This trail brings on a few challenges, including:
- Switchbacks
- Uphill climbs
- Gravity cavity
- Creek crossings
While this trail doesn’t have any drops or jumps, it does have some areas where the trail is very narrow and on the side of a steep landform. We’ll recommend that you watch the video before deciding if this trail is safe for your family riding trip. Just make sure to avoid the Devil’s Racetrack, which is a trail marked as difficult with multiple drops and jump features.
Mixed Skill Levels
Near the Bentonville bike playground riders can access part of the Slaughter Pen trail system called North Bentonville Trail. This area offers a little bit of everything for every skill level. There are bike park practice areas featuring jumps, berms, drops, and other features where you can hone your skills and increase your confidence.
We took our family to this area and found that it worked great for the four and five-year-olds to ride their Strider balance bikes on both paved portions and smooth rolling dirt trails as their confidence increased. The teenager and adult bike riders in our group found plenty of trails to meet their comfort level here as well.
Gearing Up: What to Bring on Your First Family Mountain Biking Trip
If you’ve decided that you’re taking your family to explore the NWA mountain biking trails, make sure you’ve got all the gear you’ll need to hit the trails. At the simplest level, you’ll need mountain bikes and helmets. Here’s a list of the essentials:
- First aid kit
- Water bottles or Hydration Pack
- Helmets
- Gloves
- Tire pump
- Tire repair kit
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray
- Map
- Cell phone (GPS)
- Backpack to carry items
- Snacks (protein bars, nuts, etc.)
- Knee and elbow pads
- Extra clothes
- Sneakers
- Mountain Bike(s)
- Balance Bike(s)
If you’ve got kids that are using training wheels, you might want to consider investing in a balance bike before your trip. Balance bikes are a perfect complement to NWA trail riding. Watch your little ones confidence explode after they get some practice on the trails.
If you decide to rent bicycles rather than take your own, rental outlets can provide helmets. Next, we’ll talk about renting bicycles in Northwest Arkansas.
Bike Rental Vs. BYOB (Bring Your Own Bike)
When you’re traveling to the Ozarks to go mountain biking with your family, you have two options for lugging your gear around. You can bring your own bikes or you can rent professional mountain bikes. Many people outside the Ozark area do not own mountain bikes, so there are plenty of bicycle rentals in the area.
If you want to bring your own bike, you’ll need some sort of vehicle-mounted bicycle carrier. We recommend a hitch-mounted system for the most stability and lowered risk of damaging your car.
E-Bikes Vs. Traditional Bike Rentals
The Arkansas trails are e-bike friendly. That is helpful when your family wants to ride all day long, but you don’t have the endurance to pedal the entire way. You can rent e-bikes just the same as renting traditional mountain bikes.
Fat Tire Bike Rentals
Bikes come with many different types of tires. When it comes to riding off-road style MTB trails, you’ll definitely want good traction and stability. You should look for a bike that has wide (or fat) tires with good, thick tread patterns. Thin-walled tires are best for street riding. For beginner’s fat tire bikes are generally a good choice, offering a lot of cushion on rugged trails.
Suspension Options for Mountain Biking
The options are as plenty as the days are long. Just like a car, the suspension system on a bicycle helps absorb the shock of hitting bumps, making the ride more comfortable. The first thing you will notice on many mountain bikes is that they are equipped with a springy full suspension system.
Most bikes categorically fall into one of three suspension categories:
- Rigid (no suspension)
- Hardtail (front suspension only)
- Full Suspension (front and back suspension)
Self-Guided Vs. Guided Group Rides
Many families choose to explore the Northwest Arkansas area at their own leisure. However, if you’re looking for an expert-guided tour who can pick the perfect spot for your family, tours are available. Here’s a company that offers guided mountain biking tours in NWA.
Step-by-Step Checklist for Planning Your Family Mountain Biking Trip to the Ozarks
- Pick your trail system at Oztrails.com
- Review and print maps online from www.mtbproject.com
- Locate trailheads for access points
- Book a guided tour, if desired
- Decide if you want to take your own bikes or rent
- Choose between e-bikes or traditional pedal bikes
- Reserve rental bikes, if desired
- Download apps for navigating the trails
- Pack your gear
The Beginner’s Mountain Biking Guide for Families: Plan Your Expedition Today
All you need is a few hours of free time and access to an equipment outfitter and your family can try out a fun new outdoor activity.
Tips to Book Your Trip
If you’re ready to book, here are a few resources for lodging and getting to NWA
Find a Local Hotel: Check dates and rates on Trip.com
Rent a Car: Roadtrips are the best way to experience the Ozarks, get the best rates on Economy Bookings
Reserve Bike Rentals: Book your mountain bike rentals
Looking for More? Here is a List of MTB trails in NWA
*Please note that these trail systems are constantly evolving. This is not an exhaustive list*
- Coler MTB Preserve (Bentonville)
- Slaughter Pen Trail System
- Razorback Greenway
- Back 40 Trail System (Bella Vista)
- Blowing Springs (Bella Vista)
- Lake Leatherwood Trails (Eureka Springs)
- Devil’s Den State Park (Fayetteville)
- Hobbs State Park (Rogers)
- Fitzgerald Mountain (Springdale)
- Mt. Nebo
- Pinnacle Mountain State Park
- Little Sugar Trail System (Bella Vista)
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