Why We Created NWA Trails?
Helping Riders Experience the Best of Northwest Arkansas
Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas have some of the premier mountain biking destinations in the United States. With hundreds of miles of purpose built singletrack, progressive trail design, and easy access to world class riding, the region has attracted riders from around the country who want to experience what makes the area so special.
NWA Trails was created to help riders better understand and explore the growing trail systems across Northwest Arkansas. Whether you're planning your first trip to the region or you're a local rider looking for new lines and hidden gems, this site exists to make navigating the trails easier.
Here you'll find detailed trail guides, riding tips, trail feature breakdowns, and resources designed to help riders get the most out of their time on the bike.
NWA Trails is designed to help:
Riders visiting Bentonville for the first time
Local riders looking for new trails
Families searching for beginner friendly rides
Mountain bikers planning Northwest Arkansas trips
Riders interested in trail inspired artwork and mountain bike themed apparel
What You’ll Find on NWA Trails
This site focuses on helping riders discover, understand, and experience the mountain bike trails across Northwest Arkansas.
Content on the site includes:
Trail Guides
Detailed trail breakdowns that highlight the character, difficulty, and ride style of different trails throughout the region. These guides help riders understand what to expect before dropping in.
Trail Feature Highlights
Many trails in Slaughter Pen, Coler MTB Preserve or nearby trails like the Back 40 or Wonderland include unique design elements such as berms, rollers, rock features, and jump lines. Feature breakdowns help riders better understand the terrain and riding style each trail offers.
Trail System Overviews
Northwest Arkansas includes multiple trail systems with very different riding styles. Guides across the site help riders explore trail networks and understand how they connect together.
Trail Condition Resources
Trail conditions can change quickly depending on weather and usage. The site includes resources that help riders check trail status and ride responsibly when conditions are wet.
Mountain Bike Inspired Artwork
In addition to trail resources, the site also features trail-inspired Metal Prints or Canvas artwork designed for riders who want to bring a piece of the trail experience into their home or workspace.
Why Northwest Arkansas Mountain Biking Is Unique
Northwest Arkansas has transformed into a global mountain biking destination over the past decade. Communities across the region have invested heavily in trail development, resulting in a dense network of trails that are accessible, progressive, and designed for riders of all skill levels.
Two of the most well known trail systems in the region include:
These trail networks feature everything from beginner friendly greenways, a skills park built for everyone and advanced jump lines, rocky tech and downhill flow trails.
What makes Northwest Arkansas unique is not just the quality of the trails, but how easily riders can access them. Many trailheads connect directly to downtown areas, coffee shops, restaurants, and bike shops, creating a riding experience that blends outdoor adventure with vibrant local culture.
Because of this accessibility and trail density, riders can experience multiple trail systems in a single day without needing to travel far between them.
Our Mission
The mission of NWA Trails is to make Northwest Arkansas mountain biking easier to explore and understand.
The site aims to:
Help riders discover new trails
Provide clear explanations of trail features and terrain
Highlight what makes each trail unique
Encourage responsible riding and trail stewardship
Celebrate the trail culture that makes Northwest Arkansas special
By organizing information in a simple and rider focused way, the goal is to help both visiting riders and locals spend less time searching for information and more time riding.
About the Creator
NWA Trails was created by mountain bike enthusiast Brad Purser, a local Bentonville rider passionate about exploring the trail systems across Northwest Arkansas.
After spending time riding the region’s growing network of trails, and watching the ever changing and evolving networks of trails grow and expand it became clear that Northwest Arkansas offers an incredible range of riding experiences from beginner friendly flow trails to advanced downhill jump lines.
The idea behind the site was simple: create a place where riders could quickly learn about trails, understand what makes them unique, and plan their next ride more easily.
By combining trail knowledge, visual storytelling, and trail inspired artwork, the site aims to share the riding experience with a broader community of mountain bikers.
Supporting the Trail Community
Mountain bike trails only exist because of the communities that build, maintain, and protect them.
Trail systems across Northwest Arkansas are supported by dedicated trail organizations, volunteers, and the local community who work to ensure trails remain accessible and well maintained.
Riders visiting the area are encouraged to support these efforts by:
Respecting trail closures
Riding responsibly in wet conditions
Supporting local businesses
Practicing good trail etiquette
Protecting these trails ensures that future riders can continue to experience everything Northwest Arkansas mountain biking has to offer.
