Why Bentonville Should Be on Your Mountain Bike Bucket List
From flow trails to backcountry loops—and even a castle you can shred off of—this Arkansas town is built for riders of all levels and absolutely worth planning a trip around.
The Castle at Slaughter Pen’s Phase III, where multiple gravity trails—from green to black—launch from a single iconic hub.
Bentonville, Arkansas has a way of sneaking up on you. You hear the hype, you see a few videos, but you don’t really get it until your tires hit the dirt. From flowy jump lines to backcountry-style loops, there’s a trail system here that makes you want to keep riding.
Whether you’re brand new to mountain biking or have been doing this for years, there’s something about the layout, the access, and the vibe that makes Bentonville worth the trip. It feels like an amusement park for mountain bike enthusiasts—purpose-built, easy to navigate, and packed with trails that make you want to keep pedaling. This post breaks down the main trail areas, the gear I rode with, and a few takeaways from my first experience riding here.
Table of Contents
Slaughter Pen
Coler Mountain Bike Preserve
Little Sugar
Back 40
Bike Shops + Demo Options
Gear I Rode With
Trailforks: My Go-To Trail Tool
Tips for Riding in Bentonville
Ride-Friendly Coffee + Food Stops
Final Thoughts
Slaughter Pen
Right off the edge of downtown, Slaughter Pen is probably the easiest place to jump into riding in Bentonville. It’s accessible, packed with variety, and features everything from beginner-friendly green trails to techy descents and jump lines. You’ll find wooden features, wall rides, and berms that are just plain fun. There is a jump park also, and the Castle, a set of gravity trails. Slaughter Pen was my favorite spot to ride.
The entrance to the blue Rim Trail located at Slaughter Pen III which can be found at the technical trail hub.
The trail system is divided into three zones:
Phase I (The Original): The closest section to downtown has a mix of green and blue trails. It is great for warming up and linking into other zones.
Phase II: Offers a variety of lines with technical features, bridges, and fast descents.
Phase III: Known for the Jump Park and Technical Hub, this area features advanced features like gap jumps, wall rides, and drops. It's a good place for a session. This is also where you'll find the castle—a standout feature that’s as fun to ride as it is to look at.
My Favorite Trails Here: The first trail I hit was The Masterpiece, a masterpiece. It's not my favorite, but it's a must-ride. My favorite trails were found on my second go at Slaughter Pen. I parked at Slaughter Pen 3 and took All-American to Slaughter Pen 1 & 2. I stopped off All-American to Urban Trail (blue), which was fun. Castle had some of my favorite gravity style trails; Lombard (green), Uwabami (green), and Catapult were great. Catapult is my favorite. In the heart of Phase 3, I loved Jessie’s Last Stand (blue). My final trail was Angus Chute (blue). This trail was super fun. I cannot wait to do this one again when I go back.
Trail Count: ~164 trails
Top Trails:
Choo Choo – Fun, flowy, and approachable.
2 Stacks – Quick and playful with good rhythm.
Benny Hill – Short, punchy, and full of berms. It’s accessible, packed with variety, and features everything from beginner-friendly green trails to techy descents and jump lines. You’ll find wooden features, wall rides, and berms that are just plain fun. Great spot to get your legs moving—especially if you're rolling straight from town.
You can view the trail map of Slaughter Pen here.
Coler Mountain Bike Preserve
Coler has more of a bike park vibe. It has machine-built flow trails, progressive jump lines, and a mix of climbs and descents that keep things interesting. It’s also home to Airship Coffee, which sits right inside the trail network and makes for a perfect mid-ride stop. This is the place to session features, practice skills, or just ride fast laps with friends.
Trail Count: ~66 trails
Top Trails:
Oscar’s Loop – Smooth and scenic.
Cease and Desist – Advanced jump line, high speed.
Copperhead Road – Rock gardens and switchbacks with bite. Machine-built flow trails, progressive jump lines, and a mix of climbs and descents that keep things interesting. It’s also home to Airship Coffee, which sits right inside the trail network and makes for a perfect mid-ride stop. This is the place to session features, practice skills, or just ride fast laps with friends.
You can view Coler's trail map here.
Little Sugar
Little Sugar offers a more natural-feeling trail system. It’s scenic, wooded, and great for longer loops. Expect rock features, creek crossings, and a backcountry vibe without being too remote. You’ll see fewer people here than at Coler or Slaughter Pen, which makes it ideal if you want to stretch your legs and ride for miles.
Trail Count: ~50 miles of trail
Top Trails:
Tunnel Vision – Technical with stunning scenery.
Rago – A solid mix of flow and tech.
Wishing Springs – Fun creek crossings and mellow miles. It’s scenic, wooded, and great for longer loops. Expect rock features, creek crossings, and a backcountry vibe without being too remote. You’ll see fewer people here than at Coler or Slaughter Pen, which makes it ideal to stretch your legs and ride for miles.
You can view Little Sugar's trail map here.
Back 40
Rugged and slightly more remote-feeling, the Back 40 is where you go for big-mile days and a more classic XC ride. Tight singletrack, steady climbs, and rolling terrain make it a go-to for riders who want to cover distance. It connects with Little Sugar, so you can link up trails for a full-day ride.
My Favorite Trail Here: My coach recommended the Back 40 Loop for my first day. It is perfectly old-school tech, scenic, with berms, tight switchbacks, and lots of flow.
Trail Count: ~40 miles
Top Trails:
Ledges – Rocky and technical.
Blowing Springs Loop – Scenic, flowy, and perfect for a long loop.
Falling Water – A mix of climbs and descents with water views., the Back 40 is where you go for big-mile days and a more classic XC ride. Tight singletrack, steady climbs, and rolling terrain make it a go-to for riders who want to cover distance. It connects with Little Sugar, so you can link up trails for a full-day ride.
You can view Back 40’s trail map here.
Hand-Cut Hollow
Hand-Cut Hollow is Bentonville’s newest trail zone, built with a more raw and technical flavor. It’s named after the building style—less machine-built flow, more hand-finished rock work and natural terrain. Expect longer descents, punchy climbs, and a different kind of challenge than what you’ll find at Slaughter Pen or Coler. Great for intermediate to advanced riders looking for something fresh.
Top Trails:
Castle Drop – Steep, spicy, and full of character.
Castle’s Ladder – A climb worth the reward.
Rock Salad – Chunky, technical, and a total upper-body workout.
You can view Hand-Cut Hollow’s trail map here.
Bike Shops + Demo Options
Bentonville has several shops if you need a shop for repairs, rentals, or trail advice. Phat Tire Bike Shop, Mojo Cycling, Gearhead Outfitters, and Yarrow Industries (Y Industries) are all based downtown and accessible. The staff at each shop know the trails well, and they’re used to helping riders with last-minute needs or custom setups.
For demos, head to the Specialized Bentonville Experience Center on Main Street. They have a huge demo fleet—from road and gravel bikes to e-MTBs—and trail-ready gear, including Wahoo computers preloaded with local routes.
Gear I Rode With
This trip was about keeping things simple, but solid. I brought gear I trust—durable, comfortable, and versatile for long days on the trail:
Helmet: The Smith Hardline Downhill Mips Bike Helmet has great ventilation, a secure fit, and integrates well with glasses. You can shop for it at REI.
Upgrade Option: Smith Hardline Downhill Carbon Mips Bike Helmet—For a little more, you can get a carbon version. It's also available at REI.
Gloves: Specialized Women's Trail Shield Gloves – These gloves are lightweight, breathable, and come with a reinforced palm, knuckle protection, and touchscreen compatibility. The low-profile D3O padding offers impact protection without bulk. Bentonville is rocky and granular, and gloves like these help prevent injury without sacrificing comfort. You can shop for them at Specialized.
Knee Pads: Fox Enduro D3O Knee Pads – Extra protection you won’t regret. You can shop for it at REI.
Elbow Pads: Fox Enduro D3O Elbow Pads – Same D3O padding tech. Lightweight but secure. You can shop for it at REI.
My bike: 2022 Specialized S-Works Epic EVO RS - I LOVE my bike. It rode beautifully in Bentonville. Shop Specialized Mountain Bikes. I highly recommend S-Works—it’s worth the money.
Pro Tip: These trails are legit. I had an accident at Coler on a simple green trail right out of the gate. A trip to the ER cleared me to ride but left me with bruises on my face and scratches on my hands. Rookie mistake: not wearing gloves, and I second-guessed bringing my full-face helmet. A full face would’ve helped avoid some of the road rash. No matter your level, being overprotected beats being underprepared.
Trailforks: My Go-To Trail Tool
I use Trailforks for nearly every ride, but it shines in Bentonville. The trails here connect in all directions, and having the app on hand makes it easy to plan a loop, re-route mid-ride, or ensure you're not missing something epic nearby.
I use Trailforks for mountain biking, hiking, fat biking, and skiing.
Pro Tip: Download maps offline before your trip. The Back 40 and parts of Little Sugar can have spotty service. With Trailforks Pro, you’ll have full map access and can check real-time reports from other riders.
Tips for Riding in Bentonville
Start early if you plan to hit Coler or Slaughter Pen—those get the most traffic.
Download Trailforks maps offline before you ride. Cell service can drop, especially in the Back 40.
Bring tools and a flat kit, even if you're riding close to town. Trails are well-maintained, but flats happen.
Hydrate—even on cooler days, Bentonville’s terrain works you.
Take a break at Airship Coler if you're riding that zone. It’s worth it.
Ride-Friendly Coffee + Food Stops
Bentonville does a great job of blending food and coffee with trail culture. A few spots that stand out:
Airship Coffee at the Pumphouse on a cloudy morning—my favorite pre-ride coffee stop.
Airship at Coler – Mid-trail coffee stop inside Coler Preserve—great layout and vibe.
Airship Coffee at the Pumphouse (Slaughter Pen) – Closer to downtown and Slaughter Pen. Solid post-ride stop.
The HUB Bike Lounge – Combines bike shop, bar, and hangout space. You’ll always find riders here.
Bike Rack Brewing Co. – Craft brewery with a local feel and a solid post-ride beer list. Casual, cyclist-friendly, and close to town.
These casual places are within easy distance of trailheads or connector paths. While Onyx Coffee Lab is a local favorite for coffee, it doesn’t have bike racks, so keep that in mind if you're rolling straight from a ride.
Final Thoughts
Seven days in Bentonville, I barely scratched the surface. What stood out most wasn’t just the trails (though they’re as good as everyone says)—it was how seamlessly the riding fits into daily life here. You can start your morning with a ride, grab a taco on your way back, and sip a local beer before sunset.
The trail systems are dialed, the community is welcoming, and the vibe is low-key but passionate. Whether you’re a weekend rider or planning an entire bike trip, Bentonville makes it easy to show up and ride—no shuttle, no fuss, just dirt and sound design.
I’ll be back, and next time, I’ll be riding even more. The access, variety, and energy here make it a destination that lives up to the hype. Whether you’re linking big loops together or grabbing a fun hour on the trails before tacos and beer, Bentonville makes it easy to ride how you want.
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