Blowing Springs Trail Guide: The 4-Mile Loop and Bella Vista's Best Basecamp
Blowing Springs is a 4-mile loop that circles the Blowing Springs RV Park and campground in Bella Vista. Ride the loop on its own, or use the park as a basecamp: the Back 40 starts here, and Wonderland is a short ride away.
It isn't a sprawling network you piece together trail by trail. It's one great loop with two very different halves, plus a campground where you roll from your site straight onto the trail.
Blowing Springs at a glance
Location - Blowing Springs Park, 700 Blowing Springs Rd, Bella Vista, just north of Bentonville
The loop - About 4 miles: South section (blue) and North section (blue/black)
Best for - Intermediate and advanced riders; the pump track and park suit everyone else
Where to start - Front lot before the RV Park gatehouse, at the kiosk between the large rocks
Connects to - Back 40, Wonderland, and Slaughter Pen and downtown Bentonville
Wet weather - Yes. Blowing Springs is one of the area's go-to trails after rain
Camping - 64 full-service RV sites and 11 tent sites inside the park
Getting there and where to park
From US-71 northbound, turn east on Mercy Way. It becomes Blowing Springs Road after the stop sign. Follow it about half a mile to the trailhead on the right.
Park in the front lot before the RV Park gatehouse and start at the kiosk between the large rocks. Weekend mornings fill up, especially April through October when the Gear Garden is open.
Riding in from Bentonville? You don't need the car. A trail through the trees alongside the road keeps you off the pavement for most of the way from Slaughter Pen and downtown. Watch the route video on our Blowing Springs page before you go. A shorter connector is under construction and will make the trip faster once it opens.
How the loop rides
Most riders start on the South section and finish on the North, which ends with switchbacks that drop you back at the parking lot. The two halves feel like different trails.
The Blowing Springs Trailhead is easy to find with this Traihead sign
Blowing Springs South (Blue)
The South section is where the ride sets its pace. From the parking area you climb gradually, then the trail opens into flowing singletrack that follows the hillside around to the back of the park. Trailforks lists it at about 1.8 miles, with a couple of small rock drops and one medium drop if you stay trail left.
At the back of the park, you choose: continue onto the North section to finish the loop, or turn onto the Back 40.
Blowing Springs North (Blue/Black)
The North section is where Blowing Springs earns its reputation. Expect more exposed rock, gnarlier roots, chunky rock gardens, and steep rollable drops with limited alternate lines. The switchbacks at the end are some of the most demanding riding on the loop.
If the North section is more than your group wants, ride the South section out and back. It's still a great ride through the park.
[BRAD: add your note about the North section, e.g. the rock garden or drop that catches most visitors, and how you ride it]
Not ready for blue/black? Start at the pump track
This pump track is very close to the Blowing Springs Parking Lot.
Blowing Springs is not a beginner trail system. For newer riders and kids, the small concrete pump track near the parking lot is the better play. Its rollers and concrete berms are a fun place to practice while stronger riders take a lap on the loop.
Non-riders have plenty to do too. The park has picnic areas, two covered pavilions, caves to explore on foot, bluff lines, and spring-fed water features.
Use Blowing Springs as your hub
Once you've ridden the loop, Blowing Springs becomes a launch point. These are the two rides that start most naturally here.
Ride the Back 40
The Back 40 is a 22-mile loop through the hardwood forests and ridges of Bella Vista, and Blowing Springs is one of the best places to start it. The South section finishes at the Back 40 junction, and the North section connects to it as well.
Most riders take the Back 40 counterclockwise, though both directions work. Advanced riders can finish in two to two and a half hours; most visitors should plan on much longer. Water refill points along the route close in late fall and winter, so carry what you need then. Our Back 40 trail guide covers the route in detail.
Ride to Wonderland
Wonderland is Bella Vista's Alice in Wonderland–themed trail system, and it pairs well with a Blowing Springs day. Its trails branch from Eddie's RV, the central hub:
Ace of Spades (blue): a paved, flowing descent with wide berms, easy to session
Mad Hatter (blue to black): flowing berms up top, then a drop and a large step-up at the bottom
Area 51 (black): fast and technical, with drops and optional airtime
Smuggler's Run (blue): short, with an elevated wooden feature that hugs the bluff
Rabbit Hole Loop (green): a one-mile, family-friendly loop
Eddie's RV recently burned down and a replacement is in the works. Ride carefully around that area.
To get to Wonderland you take the Blowing Springs Trailhead until you reach the Cooper Elementary School trail that takes you behind Cooper Elementary. Once past this trail link up with the All American Trail which will take you the rest of the way into Wonderland. The ride should take you between 5 and 10 minutes to make depending on speed.
Camping at Blowing Springs
You can sleep at the trailhead here. The campground sits inside the park the loop circles, so you roll from your site onto the trail.
RV sites: 64 full-service sites with 30- and 50-amp hookups, water, sewer, and Wi-Fi. Big rigs are welcome, and it's open year-round.
Tent sites: 11 primitive sites in a quieter, wooded area away from the RVs.
Facilities: restrooms, hot showers, laundry, and a dump station.
Dogs: welcome throughout the park on a leash.
Gear Garden: April through October, with food trucks, live music, and local beer along the bike route.
Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends and in peak season. Call the park at (479) 855-8075. See our RV and campground guide for other options in the area.
Bike setup
A trail bike with tubeless tires and real sidewall support is the right tool here. The limestone on the North section is sharp and punishes light race casings. A hardtail handles the South section fine, but full suspension makes the North section and a Back 40 day much more comfortable.
Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are welcome on Bentonville trails, and an e-bike makes the Back 40 link-up much more realistic for mixed-ability groups. If you're renting, tell the shop you're riding Blowing Springs and the Back 40. See our bike rentals guide.
Riding after rain
Blowing Springs is on our list of wet-weather trails, so it's often open when other systems close. Wet limestone and roots are still slick, so ease off the pace on the North section. Check the Trail Conditions page before you head out.
[BRAD: add a note on how Blowing Springs rides the day after a good rain]
Pair it with
Morning: a lap of Blowing Springs, then a Back 40 section if your legs are good
Afternoon: Wonderland laps on Ace of Spades and Mad Hatter
Evening: the Gear Garden (April through October), or ride back to downtown Bentonville
