Why Bentonville Is the Mountain Biking Capital of the World
From local vision to global trails, here's how this Arkansas town became a rider's dream—and what you’ll find beyond the bike.
Welcome sign at the Slaughter Pen trailhead—part of the Oz Trails network in Bentonville. Photo by Aaron Doucett.
Bentonville, Arkansas, didn’t always have world-class trails—but now it’s known as the Mountain Biking Capital of the World. What started as a small Northwest Arkansas town is now a global riding destination with purpose-built singletrack, a passionate trail community, and support from some unexpected places (hint: Walmart). Whether you're here to explore the Oz Trails, sample the best biking in the U.S., or just see what makes Bentonville mountain biking so special, this guide breaks down how it all came to be—and where to ride, eat, and explore while you’re here.
The Southern charm is not to be overlooked. Despite Bentonville’s growing global presence, thanks in part to Walmart’s headquarters, the town still holds onto its roots, where hospitality, friendliness, and manners shape the local experience.
Table of Contents
How It All Started: The Walmart Effect
Trail-Building as a Mission
OZ Trails: A Regional Vision
Trailblazers: The Builders Behind the Vision
The Community That Rides (and Builds)
Art, Food, and More Than Bikes
Hidden Gems Worth Exploring
Lift-Access Coming to Bella Vista
Final Thoughts
Check Out Our Other Blogs
How It All Started: The Walmart Effect
You can’t talk about Bentonville without talking about Walmart. The global retail giant is headquartered here, and its influence shows up in more than just corporate offices. The Walton family—specifically Tom and Steuart Walton—have been instrumental in transforming Bentonville into a mountain biking destination.
The original Walton’s 5&10 store in downtown Bentonville, now part of the Walmart Museum experience.
The two brothers are passionate riders themselves. Their interest in mountain biking and outdoor recreation led them to invest in trail systems, trail organizations, and even outdoor brands—like the high-end cycling apparel company Rapha, which they purchased in 2017. Their goal? To elevate biking culture not just in Bentonville, but across the U.S.
Through the Walton Family Foundation and initiatives like the Trailblazers, they’ve poured funding, planning, and long-term vision into building a trail network that’s world-class. But it wasn’t just about tourism—it was about making the town better for the people who live here. Trails aren’t an afterthought—they’re part of the city planning. That’s a big reason why you can ride from your hotel, Airbnb, or downtown coffee shop straight onto dirt.
Trail-Building as a Mission
What sets Bentonville apart isn’t just the mileage—it’s the intention behind every trail. These aren’t just loops thrown together in the woods. Each system is thoughtfully designed to offer something different, from cross-country mileage on the Back 40 to the jump lines and progressive features at Coler.
The entrance to the blue Rim Trail located at Slaughter Pen III which can be found at the technical trail hub.
Trailbuilders here aren’t just contractors—they’re part of the community. Local organizations like Trailblazers work closely with land managers, city planners, and designers to create trails that are sustainable, fun to ride, and integrated into the town itself.
The mission has always been bigger than biking. Trails here are part of the fabric of the city—used by hikers, runners, families, and commuters. It’s about access, activity, and getting people outside.
OZ Trails: A Regional Vision
When people talk about mountain biking in Bentonville, they often talk about OZ Trails—a regional network of over 550 miles of soft-surface trails extending across Northwest Arkansas. The name might sound like branding, but OZ Trails is a real and intentional movement built to make world-class riding accessible to everyone.
The Bentonville area anchors the system, but it spreads into Bella Vista, Rogers, Springdale, and Fayetteville. What ties it all together is the quality, variety, and connectedness. From jump lines to scenic cross-country miles, OZ Trails was designed to keep riders coming back—and it’s working.
Trailblazers: The Builders Behind the Vision
If OZ Trails is the face of mountain biking in NWA, Trailblazers is the team behind the curtain. This local nonprofit, formed by the merger of NWA Trailblazers and BikeNWA, leads the charge in building and maintaining the region’s trail systems. They work on everything from layout and flow to community engagement and advocacy.
Their work goes beyond bikes, too—they’re deeply involved in active transportation planning, greenway development, and making the outdoors part of everyday life for locals. When you ride in Bentonville, you’re experiencing trails built with care, vision, and long-term sustainability in mind.
OZ Trails is the branded umbrella for the region’s 550+ miles of trails. From Bentonville to Bella Vista to Rogers and beyond, the OZ Trails network connects riders to a variety of experiences, from flowy beginner trails to big-mile backcountry loops. It’s the name most riders associate with the riding scene here, and for good reason—it sets the standard for what a mountain biking destination can look like. OZ Trails is the branded umbrella for the region’s 550+ miles of trails. From Bentonville to Bella Vista to Rogers and beyond, the OZ Trails network connects riders to a variety of experiences, from flowy beginner trails to big-mile backcountry loops. It’s the name most riders associate with the riding scene here, and for good reason—it sets the standard for what a mountain biking destination can look like.
What sets Bentonville apart isn’t just the miles and miles of trails—it’s the intention behind every trail. These aren’t just loops thrown together in the woods. Each system is thoughtfully designed to offer something different, from cross-country mileage on the Back 40 to the jump lines and progressive features at Coler.
Trailbuilders here aren’t just contractors—they’re part of the community. Local organizations like Trailblazers work closely with land managers, city planners, and designers to create trails that are sustainable, fun to ride, and integrated into the town itself.
The mission has always been bigger than biking. Trails here are part of the fabric of the city—used by hikers, runners, families, and commuters. It’s about access, activity, and getting people outside.
The Community That Rides (and Builds)
Bentonville's cycling culture runs deep—and it's not just casual riding. This is a place where bikes are integrated into the lifestyle, and events keep the stoke high year-round.
Events + Races
Bentonville Bike Fest – A full-on celebration of cycling with races, demos, clinics, music, and food. Riders from all over the world show up for this one.
Life Time Little Sugar MTB – A challenging endurance event that covers parts of Little Sugar, Back 40, and Coler. Choose from 20K, 50K, or 100K routes.
Life Time Big Sugar Gravel – Gravel lovers descend in October for this tough and scenic race that tours the Ozarks.
Local Bike Groups + Advocacy
Bike Bentonville – Focused on advocacy, safety, and cycling education across the city.
Women of OZ NWA – A rad women-led nonprofit dedicated to getting more women on bikes through clinics, group rides, and mentorship.
Ozark Off-Road Cyclists (OORC) – A nonprofit trail-building crew keeping the region’s trails maintained and expanding.
Girls Bike Bentonville – A community group encouraging youth development and participation in cycling for girls of all ages.
The mountain biking culture here is both grassroots and global. On any given day, you’ll see kids on balance bikes, weekend warriors, and pro riders all sharing the same trailheads. While I was there, I saw numerous teams training together like the USA mountain bike team or maybe the USA XC team. People ride to work, ride to dinner, and ride just because they can. And it’s not just a riding community—it’s a building one, too.
From volunteers maintaining trail corridors to locals shaping jump lines, the people of Bentonville are hands-on. Events like the Bentonville Bike Fest and group trail work days keep that energy high. The result? Trails that feel loved—and a town that genuinely supports outdoor access.
Lift-Access Coming to Bella Vista
Big changes are coming to Northwest Arkansas with the future OZ Trails Bike Park, a lift-assisted trail system being developed in Bella Vista. Once complete, it will offer a full range of downhill and freeride terrain accessible by chairlift—something the region has never had before.
The bike park is designed for progression, with zones and features built to accommodate everyone from beginners to advanced riders. It’s not just about gravity—it’s about creating another destination-worthy trail system under the OZ Trails banner.
Keep an eye out for announcements as construction continues. This project will be a major step in expanding what mountain biking looks like in Arkansas.
Stay tuned. When it opens, it will be a major addition to what’s already one of the best places to ride in the country.
👉 Read the full OZ Trails Bike Park announcement for the latest details on what's coming to Bella Vista
Art, Food, and More Than Bikes
There’s a lot more to Bentonville than bikes. It’s an artsy, creative, and food-loving town where you’re just as likely to talk about galleries and espresso as you are table tops and berms.
Art
The town is home to the world-renowned Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, where you can walk from singletrack straight into an architectural masterpiece filled with iconic works. Outdoor sculptures line the greenways and trails, and you’ll find unexpected installations while riding, like metalwork tucked into berms or colorful murals under bridges.
There’s also The Momentary, a contemporary art space housed in a converted cheese factory. It’s known for live performances, edgy exhibitions, and creative community events. Perfect for a post-ride wander.
Food + Coffee Shops
Yeyo’s food truck sits in downtown Bentonville across the street from Rapha.
Here are a few food and coffee stops I kept going back to:
Yeyo’s The Yellow Truck – A taco truck in the heart of downtown with seriously good street tacos. I had the chicken one day and the brisket the next. Both were great, but I’d go with chicken if you had to choose.
Airship Coffee at the Pumphouse – My go-to ride stop. I love this place. The lemon blueberry loaf and the breakfast taco are both solid, but the brisket burrito (with tater tots inside) is worth trying. To confirm, this is not the Coler location but the one close to downtown, right by Slaughter Pen III. There's a little pump track out back with small berms and jumps—perfect for warming up or practicing skills. Their coffee is fantastic—Black Apple is their staple roast, consistently smooth and bold.
Pro tip: I preferred the taco, but both are legit.
Airship Coffee at the Pumphouse on a cloudy morning—my favorite pre-ride coffee stop.
Onyx Coffee Lab – Great coffee with a super clean vibe. I always get the Southern Weather drip. This coffee shop is known internationally, and I got a tip as a must-go from my local coffee shop in Illinois.
The Witching Hour – This food truck is a hidden gem for killer burgers. The spooky theme plays through the menu, the music, and the vibe—and the food is really good. It's a fun, unique post-ride stop.
Ozark Mountain Bagel Co. – A local favorite in downtown Bentonville. Bagels are fresh, the breakfast sandwiches are great, and they also serve lunch sandwiches and salads—great stop, whether you're riding early or need something midday.
Trash Creamery – A funky ice cream shop that mixes candy, cereal, and nostalgia into every scoop. It’s weird in the best way—and yes, it’s worth the stop. However, I always had plain vanilla. I know. I know.
Hidden Gems Worth Exploring
Even if you’re not here to ride (or need a rest day), Bentonville has some low-key experiences that might not make the guidebooks but are absolutely worth checking out:
One of Bentonville’s many downtown murals, this floral piece by renowned muralist Ouizi brightens up the historic square.
Thaden Field + Louise at Thaden – Watch small planes take off while you eat brunch. It’s a relaxing spot that blends aviation, food, and open views.
Compton Gardens – A peaceful nature space just steps from downtown with trails, native plants, and shady spots to wander.
Slaughter Pen Hollow Trail Art – Even if you’re not riding, walk portions of the trail system to catch outdoor art installations tucked into the trees.
Downtown Murals – Bentonville’s mural game is strong. Look for big, colorful walls tucked into alleys and side streets—perfect photo stops.
The Walmart Museum – Yes, it’s a thing—and it’s actually pretty interesting. The story of Walmart’s roots and growth is tightly woven into Bentonville’s identity.
Final Thoughts
When I came to Bentonville to check out the mountain biking scene, I didn’t know what to expect—aside from what I’d heard or seen in YouTube videos. But it’s legit a mountain biker’s paradise, and much more than that. Bentonville didn’t just stumble into being the Mountain Biking Capital of the World—it was built with vision, investment, and a whole lot of trail love. The people here are friendly, with that unmistakable Southern charm that makes you feel welcome the moment you arrive. I met a lot of locals but I am also from the South and we tend to be open books. :)
Check out our other blogs on Bentonville’s trails and travel tips:
Quick Guide to Bentonville: Trails, Tacos, and Bike Shops
Bike. Sleep. Repeat.: My Stay at The Bike Inn in Bentonville
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