OZ Trails: Mountain Biking in Northwest Arkansas, From Bentonville and Beyond
This isn’t a bike park—it’s a region. OZ Trails connects Bentonville, Bella Vista, Rogers, Springdale, and Fayetteville into one of the most expansive and well-designed mountain biking destinations in the U.S.
A screenshot from the OZ Trails website shows how trail networks span towns like Bentonville, Bella Vista, Rogers, Springdale, and Fayetteville.
OZ Trails Quick Facts
550+ miles of soft-surface trail
Year-round riding in the Ozarks
4+ town-connected systems
New lift-access park coming to Bella Vista
Table of Contents
What Are the OZ Trails?
Where to Ride: Trail Systems by Region
Bentonville: The Epicenter
Beyond Bentonville: More Towns, More Trails
Types of Riding You’ll Find
Who the OZ Trails Are Great For
Events + Community Vibe
Trail Building + Sustainability
Planning Your Trip
Final Thoughts
Explore More: Bentonville Blogs + Trail Videos
What Are the OZ Trails?
OZ Trails is the name given to the massive and growing trail network across Northwest Arkansas. It includes over 550 miles of soft-surface trails, with something for every type of rider. Funded in part by the Walton Family Foundation and built with purpose, OZ Trails was created to support community health, outdoor recreation, and economic development—and the results have been game-changing.
The name "OZ" refers to the Ozark Mountains, which provide the rolling hills, rock features, and wooded terrain that define the area’s trail character.
Where to Ride: Trail Systems by Region
The OZ Trails network spans multiple towns, each with its own unique flavor. Some trail systems are right off downtown squares, others wind deep into the woods.
By Region:
Bentonville: Slaughter Pen, Coler, Hand-Cut Hollow
Bella Vista: Little Sugar, Back 40, soon-to-come lift-accessed park
Rogers: Lake Atalanta, Hobbs State Park
Springdale + Fayetteville: Fitzgerald Mountain, Mount Kessler, Centennial Park
Each system connects via greenways or short drives, allowing riders to easily sample several in a single trip.
Bentonville: The Epicenter
Phat Tire Bike Shop in downtown Bentonville, located in the historic Massey building and just steps from the trails.
Bentonville is often the first stop for visitors—and for good reason. It’s home to some of the most accessible and fun trails in the region, plus a downtown that embraces the bike lifestyle. Slaughter Pen flows from town, Coler offers bike park-level features, and new additions like Hand-Cut Hollow keep things fresh.
For riders new to the area, Bentonville is a great base. Trails, bike shops, coffee, and tacos are all within a short pedal.
Read our Bentonville Travel Guide: Trails, Tacos, and Bike Shops for a closer look at what it’s like to ride, eat, and stay right in town.
Beyond Bentonville: More Towns, More Trails
Don’t stop at Bentonville. The OZ Trails network stretches well beyond, and you can quickly drive—or even bike—to explore more nearby systems:
Bella Vista (8 miles from Bentonville) – Scenic, cross-country style rides on Little Sugar and Back 40, with lots of elevation and wooded singletrack.
Rogers (10 miles from Bentonville) – Forested flow trails, lake views at Lake Atalanta, and access to Hobbs State Park for big-mile XC.
Springdale (20 miles from Bentonville) – Big elevation, technical climbs, and rugged lines at Fitzgerald Mountain.
Fayetteville (30 miles from Bentonville) – More natural terrain and race-caliber trails at Mount Kessler and Centennial Park, including NICA-level riding.
These towns are all within a 30–40 minute drive, and paved greenways or bikeable road routes link many systems. Base in Bentonville, then venture out.
New Lift-Access Bike Park Coming Soon
OZ Trails recently announced the region's first lift-served mountain bike park, set to open in Bella Vista. This addition will offer riders an actual gravity-fed experience with a chairlift, downhill runs, progressive features, and all the infrastructure to support bike park-style riding. It marks a major step in evolving the region’s offering and making Bentonville + OZ Trails a destination for all riding styles.
📌 Read the full announcement here
Types of Riding You’ll Find
Flow Trails: Berms, rollers, and tabletops
Tech Trails: Rock gardens, ledges, off-camber turns
Jump Lines: Machine-built or natural options in Coler and Slaughter Pen
XC Loops: Scenic, wooded rides with some climbing
Beginner Zones: Pump tracks, green trails, and signage everywhere
The variety is what makes this region stand out. You can ride smooth, machine-built flow one day and rocky, hand-cut singletrack the next.
Who the OZ Trails Are Great For
Everyone. Really. From kids on balance bikes to seasoned riders on enduro rigs, the OZ Trails have something to offer:
A young rider cruising one of Northwest Arkansas’ scenic greenways—part of what makes the OZ Trails network great for all ages and riding levels. Photo by Chad George.
Solo travelers and weekenders
Families with young kids
Women riders (including clinics + group rides)
Gravel grinders and XC racers
Downhill and jump-line lovers
Events + Community Vibe
You can plan your trip around major events like:
The community support is real here. You’ll find group rides, skills clinics, trail work days, and a welcoming vibe across the board.
Trail Building + Sustainability
Trailblazers (the NWA nonprofit that builds many of the trails) has been a big part of the success here. Trails are built with long-term maintenance in mind, using both machine and hand-built techniques. Trailbuilders prioritize sustainable grades, drainage, and experience.
These trails aren’t just carved out of the woods—they’re engineered, tested, and maintained with intention.
Behind the Scenes: Walton Brothers + Trailblazers
Trailbuilders with Trailblazers hand-cutting new singletrack deep in the Ozark forest. Photo from We Are Trailblazers.
Much of OZ Trails’ success stems from visionary support and world-class trail building.
Tom and Steuart Walton, grandsons of Walmart founder Sam Walton, are passionate mountain bikers who helped fund and shape the region’s riding infrastructure. Through the Walton Family Foundation, they’ve backed projects that integrate trails into city planning, education, and public health.
Meanwhile, Trailblazers is the boots-on-the-ground crew bringing those visions to life. Their builders design and maintain trails across the region, blending sustainability with progression. You’ll see the results in the perfectly built berms, artful lines, and signage that make OZ Trails so rideable.
Planning Your Trip
When to Visit: Spring and fall have the best temps, but trails are rideable year-round.
Where to Stay: For central access, base yourself in Bentonville or Bella Vista. Check out my review of The Bike Inn, Bike. Sleep. Repeat—My Stay at The Bike Inn in Bentonville.
Navigation: Use Trailforks to find routes, features, and conditions. Get Trailforks.
Bike Shops + Rentals: Multiple towns offer rentals and service options.
Final Thoughts
The OZ Trails network is the real deal. It’s not a hidden gem anymore—it’s a blueprint for what mountain biking in the U.S. can look like. Whether you’re coming for a weekend or a full riding vacation, Northwest Arkansas delivers more than you expect, with trails that are fun, accessible, and built to last.
The trail systems I did ride while there all had something I loved, from gravity style to old-school single-track. Some days are for jumping and some are for long miles on single-track.
Visit the official OZ Trails site for trail maps, updates, and the latest on trail development.
Explore More: Bentonville Blogs + Trail Videos
A Quick Guide to Bentonville: Trails, Tacos, and Bike Shops
Why Bentonville Is the Mountain Biking Capital of the World
Bike. Sleep. Repeat. — My Stay at The Bike Inn in Bentonville
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