Top 3 MTB Trails in NWA: Local Rider Shares her Picks
Words: Tandie Bailey | Photos: Oz Trails + Sam Matthews
Northwest Arkansas-- I grew up here, learned to ride here & train for races here. NWA is my home & I’m so thankful. We’ve been riding mountain bikes in NWA since the 80’s when Tim Scott & his buddy Wally Scherrey (then the Superintendent of Devil’s Den State Park) brought MTB back to Arkansas after riding in Crested Butte, CO. It wasn’t until 2008 though, that we went from 0 to 100; & we’re still building trails & bike parks wherever we can find a spot to drop them.
Now, with an abundance of trail, we now can spend time arguing with each other about which ones are the best. (One of my favorite trails is Ben Mays’ least favorite, but he’d argue with a wall so I let it slide.) When riding, progression is important, I call them my baby steps. That said, if you were to take just three steps through the NWA MTB scene with me-- a beginner step, an intermediate step, and an advanced step-- I’d take you to these three spots:
Step 1, Beginner Trail: Slaughter Pen
It’s easily accessible from downtown Bentonville & the first few minutes of your ride (if you start at Compton Gardens, where we usually do) is a cruisey downhill with rollers, berms & wood features to get you comfortable on your bike (called All American Trail, it parallels Crystal Bridges Museum). Then comes 10 miles of singletrack to play around on-- all without ever losing sight of the concrete bike path, just in case you wear yourself out & want to take the chill ride home.
Explore Slaughter Pen Trails + Beta
Step 2, Intermediate Trail: The Back 40
This is a trail that's both more elevated & more remote than Slaughter Pen, but still within an after-work-ride distance from Bentonville. Characteristic of the Bella Vista trail networks, there’s a lot of exposed rock & it’s rad. My favorite lap starts at the Lake Ann Trailhead & loops you around the lake in a clockwise direction. This route offers most of the good stuff (sans The Ledges, but since we’re baby stepping to the big stuff it’s probably best we skip The Ledges, notorious for bustin' tires). My favorite break spot along the way is the wooden bridge that’s built right into the side of a rock face.
Step 3, Advanced Trail: The Buffalo Headwaters
It’s a journey to get to the Buffalo Headwaters, so we almost always make it a multi-day trip. The Headwaters is reserved for setting up camp before the ride so you can make that final climb out & cruise right over to the iced down cold beers & a cooler full of snacks. The Headwaters is far from any creature comforts & there’s not much cell reception out there. The route we usually hit is 25 miles of raw, hand-cut, loose & rocky singletrack to play with on the route we do & it’s a whole deal, every single time. I don’t know that we’ve ever made it out of there without somebody bleeding, but we love it & we keep going back. I feel like a better rider every time we pack it up to head home.
Explore Buffalo Headwaters Trails + Beta
Bonus Step Up: Coler Preserve
Coler is both close to downtown & offers session jumps, drops or rocks all day with a quick seven-ish minute climb back to the top of the Hub to try out a different line.
**Something Else to Note:
I live in Bentonville, AR. If I was in Fayetteville this list might be altered a splash to include Mt. Kessler, Mt. Sequoyah, or Lake Lincoln. They’re beautiful, accessible & some of the only raw singletrack you can get to without going to the Headwaters.
It’s kinda like Bentonville = flow & Fayetteville = gnar. They’re the moon to each other’s tide; they’re cool on their own, but with both of them, NWA MTB becomes pretty magical.
Tandie Bailey can be found day in and day out shredding the mountains of the Ozarks + building the ever-growing NWA MTB scene. You can also find her on Instagram @tandielion.
For more on the vast array of trails in NWA, check out Oz Trails' Trail Locations Guide.
“I found myself in the same situation as other victims who had placed their hard-earned money into an investment scheme, expecting significant returns, only to be told to keep contributing without any benefits. I initially put $250,000 into this venture over a week with my broker. The promised bonus/profit was $480,000, but every time I tried to withdraw, I was met with failure and was told to deposit another $250,000 before I could access my money, which I did. Two days later, I could still withdraw, and all my effort seems abortive. I attempts to reach the broker were unsuccessful. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have managed to recover my funds from these fraudulent Binary option brokers. The specialist who helped me retrieve my money was exceptional in his assistance. I was on the verge of giving up, but I am grateful to Recovery Hacker101 for their excellent work. If you find yourself in a similar situation, I highly recommend reaching out to Recovery Hacker101, via their email at: recoveryhacker101 @ gmail com
As a victim of a scam, I was impressed by the exceptional service provided by Cyberspace Hack Pro. Their team demonstrated expertise and dedication to recovering my lost funds.
- Professional and efficient service
- Expertise in tracking down scammers and retrieving funds
- Dedicated to customer satisfaction
I highly recommend Cyberspace Hack Pro to individuals who have fallen victim to scams. Their services are reliable, trustworthy, and effective.
Contact info
https://cyberspacehackpro0.wixsite.com/cyberspacehackpro
Email: Cyberspacehackpro@rescueteam com
WhatsApp +1 (559) 508 2403
We have the Real registered Fake birth Certificate, Fake Divorce papers , and good quality Fake Driver License will be verify from any other country database system with no problems involved, meanwhile with the camouflage quality Fake drivers License , non of your biometric details will be under the government system, but it can not be detected as fake with naked eyes, except with the use of machines.
We also help provide easy methods on How to become a real Portuguese citizenship smoothly. the use of machines. We also help you Clear your Criminal record from any countries court system or criminal records database system.
Download the Telegram APP and Text us at : OCTAPUSTICKET for more informations an orders. Where to easily obtain Registered Passports , IDs , ssn , drives license that works from the database system for various Countries . We also provide , Fake birth certificate with raised seal . you can also get fake divorce papers , Forged Passports , False Passport , Fake UK Documents , Valid German driving Licence , Welcome to Octapustickets Group of Experts Best Producers of High Undetected Drivers License . We produce two types of documents qualities. email us today at our E-mail address at: { octapusticketsgmail.com }
Visit our website on octapustickets.com
Thanks and waiting to Hear from you soonense.
Do you know that with MasterCard & Debit you can withdraw cash from any ATM machine !!! , we provide programmed ATM cards that can be used to raise cash in ATMs or push, shops and businesses. We sell these cards to all our customers and interested buyers worldwide, the cards have a daily withdrawal limit of $ 5000 at ATM and up to $ 100,000 spending limit in the stores. Visit our website on noveltydmvexperts.com you can Download the Telegram APP and text us on the Telegram: @Octapusticket
We also offer the following services:
CALIFORNIA REAL DRIVER LICENSE
FAKE BANK STATEMENT FOR LOAN
DIPLOMATIC DOCUMENTS PROCESSED
FICO CREDIT INCREASE
BANK STATEMENT SERVICES
BANKNOTES PRODUCTION
BANK TO BANK FLIPS
CRYPTOCURRENCY MINING
QUALITY FAKE DRIVERS LICENSE
REAL ESTATE LICENSE
EXPUNGEMENT SERVICES
BITCOIN INVESTMENTS
REMOVAL OF NAME FROM DEBIT RECORD AND CRIMINAL RECORDING
DMV ID SERVICES
BANK HACKING
ZELLE FLIP
PAYPAL FLIP
UNDETECTED FAKE DRIVING DOCUMENTS
CASHAPP FLIPPS
ALL COUNTRIES DLs, IDs, SSN.
PASSPORT SERVICES
Telegram: @Octapusticket
Everyone in this world need to know about this hacker. Am shocked how you are being able to handle so many jobs being provided to you. RecoveryHacker101 has the quickest time frame ever, he can hack into Facebook account within six hours and provide you what you need. I am grateful Sir for your good works… recoveryhacker101@gmail.com
Leave a comment