Slaughter Pen trailhead parking is spread along the Razorback Greenway, so the right lot depends on where you want to ride first. Park at the Bentonville Bike Playground on N Walton Blvd for families, the Skills Park, and The Castle. Use the NW A Street lot for the north end, the Tiger lot at NE A Street and Cub Circle for a quieter start, or park downtown and ride in on the Greenway.
Slaughter Pen Parking at a Glance
Updated October 2026 · 6 lots| Lot | Location | Best for | Restrooms | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bentonville Bike Playground | 2400 N Walton BlvdNext to the Bark Park | Families, the Skills Park, The Castle | YesPlus water fountains | Free parking The parking the City of Bentonville lists for Slaughter Pen |
| NW A Street lot | North end of Slaughter Pen | Skills Park, All American Skills Line | Not listed | Very popular, fair amount of parking, small changing station |
| Tiger lot | NE A Street and Cub Circle | Black Apple Creek, The Masterpiece, quieter laps | Not listed | Small and popular; quieter than the main lots |
| NE A St Park | Top of the hill above Slaughter Pen | All American trail, Razorback Greenway | Not listed | Small lot. Short climb back to your car |
| Downtown garage | Off Blake Avenue | Riding in from downtown and Crystal Bridges | Not listed | Park on the top level |
| Park Springs Park | 300 NW 10th St | Black Apple Creek and Burns Arboretum with kids | Yes | Small paved lot |
✓ — restrooms on site. – — none listed by the city or Visit Bentonville; don't count on one.
Every lot connects to the Razorback Greenway, so you can reach any Slaughter Pen hub from any of them. Check Trail Conditions before you drive.
Trail system: Slaughter Pen, Bentonville. The city lists about 14 miles of singletrack.
Ride in from downtown: Yes, on the paved Razorback Greenway. It's downhill going in and uphill coming back.
Wet-weather trails in Slaughter Pen: Black Apple Creek, Leopards Loop, Choo Choo, Tatamagouche, Medusa, and Armadillo's Last Stand
Trail status: Check the Trail Conditions page before you drive
How Slaughter Pen trailhead parking works
Slaughter Pen has no single main trailhead. The trails sit on the hillside north of NW A Street and east of N Walton Blvd, and the Razorback Greenway runs through the middle of them. Every lot below connects to the Greenway, so you can reach any hub from any lot. The lot you pick just decides which trails come first and how much climbing you do at the end.
Think of it in two halves:
The north end (Bike Playground and NW A Street lot) puts you close to the Skills Park and The Castle.
The south and east side (Tiger lot, NE A St Park, and downtown) puts you close to the All American trail, Black Apple Creek, and the Flow Hub and Tech Hub side of the system.
Bentonville Bike Playground: the family and Skills Park start
The Bentonville Bike Playground at 2400 N Walton Blvd is the best lot for families and first-timers. The City of Bentonville lists this address, just south of the Bark Park, as the parking for Slaughter Pen, and Visit Bentonville lists free parking, restrooms, water fountains, a pump track, and a beginner bike skills course.
OZ Trails calls it the north-end entry and recommends it for families, skills sessions, and Castle laps. The Skills Park is minutes away, and The Castle is up the gravel road from there. Let little ones warm up on the pump track before you ride over. Our Slaughter Pen Skills Park post has every line and drop by level.
NW A Street lot: the busy north-end lot
The NW A Street lot gives you access from the north end of Slaughter Pen. It's a very popular option, with a fair amount of parking and a small changing station for a little privacy. The Razorback Greenway, the All American Skills Line (the Hero line), and the Skills Park are all a short ride away.
Tiger lot: the quieter side door
The Tiger lot at NE A Street and Cub Circle is the lot to try when the north end is packed. OZ Trails describes it as the closest parking to The Masterpiece sculpture and noticeably quieter than the other main lots, and recommends it for after-work laps and hot afternoons.
It's a small lot, and it's close to Black Apple Creek, The Masterpiece, and the Razorback Greenway.
NE A St Park: small lot at the top of the hill
The NE A St Park lot is a small lot with easy access to the All American trail and the Razorback Greenway. It sits at the top of the hill before you descend into Slaughter Pen, so you'll take a short climb to get back to your car.
The All American trail runs alongside the Greenway and crosses it at several points. It's green and a good first taste of singletrack for young riders, which makes this lot a good pick if your group wants to ease in.
Downtown garage: park once, ride everywhere
If you're staying or eating downtown, park once and ride in. On the 2-level downtown parking garage off Blake Avenue, park on the top level; the first level is reserved for business and valet parking for a nearby hotel. The garage gives easy access to the Crystal Bridges area, the Razorback Greenway, and the All American trailhead.
OZ Trails recommends starting at the All American trailhead at Compton Gardens if you're downtown, where singletrack starts about a minute from the square. From there, the Greenway runs downhill into Slaughter Pen and past the Skills Park.
The catch is the ride home. The Greenway is an easy downhill on the way in, and you'll work your way back up the same way you came. Save a little in the legs for it. Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are welcome on Bentonville trails, and an e-bike takes most of the sting out of that climb.
You can also start farther south. The Razorback Greenway runs through the Walmart Home Office campus, which has plenty of parking and its own trail loops, and downtown is about a mile up the Greenway from there.
Park Springs Park: the easy start for little kids
Park Springs Park, at 300 NW 10th St, has a small paved lot and full restrooms. Short loops on Black Apple Creek and Burns Arboretum start here, with creek crossings along the way.
Black Apple Creek is smooth and flows through the woods, and at the end you'll find a tunnel to explore and even cool off in on a hot day. This trail is also one of my younger son’s favorite trails to ride and It's also on the wet-weather list.
Which lot should you pick?
First visit with kids: Bentonville Bike Playground. Restrooms, water, a pump track, and the Skills Park nearby.
Skills Park or The Castle: Bike Playground or NW A Street lot.
Staying downtown: Don't drive. Ride the Greenway in, or park on the top level of the Blake Avenue garage.
Smallest riders, shortest ride: Park Springs Park for Black Apple Creek and Burns Arboretum.
Wet day: Tiger lot or Park Springs Park for Black Apple Creek, or ride to Leopards Loop and Choo Choo. Tatamagouche, Medusa, and Armadillo's Last Stand are on the list too. Check the Trail Conditions page first.
Before you park
Park only in marked spaces. Several of these lots are small, so arrive early on weekends and during peak seasons. For trail rules and any closures, check the City of Bentonville's Slaughter Pen page and our Trail Conditions page before you go.
Our First Time Visitor Guide has a custom map of the Slaughter Pen parking spots.
Pair it with
From the Bike Playground or NW A Street lot, start at the Skills Park, then take the gravel road up to The Castle and ride Catapult, Uwabami, or Firnas. From the Tiger lot, ride Black Apple Creek, then take the Greenway to the Flow Hub for Moo Moo, Boo Boo, and Choo Choo. Riding Coler the next day? See our Coler Preserve parking post for its three lots.
FAQ
Where do you park for Slaughter Pen in Bentonville?
The most common lots are the Bentonville Bike Playground at 2400 N Walton Blvd, the NW A Street lot on the north end, and the Tiger lot at NE A Street and Cub Circle. You can also park downtown and ride in on the Razorback Greenway.
Is there a Slaughter Pen parking lot with restrooms?
Yes. The Bentonville Bike Playground has restrooms and water fountains, and Park Springs Park has restrooms. Visit Bentonville also lists restrooms and water fountains along the Greenway through Slaughter Pen.
Which lot is closest to the Slaughter Pen Skills Park?
The NW A Street lot and the Bentonville Bike Playground. Both are a short ride from the Skills Park, which sits right off the Razorback Greenway.
Can I ride to Slaughter Pen from downtown Bentonville?
Yes. Take the paved Razorback Greenway or start at the All American trailhead at Compton Gardens. It's downhill into Slaughter Pen and a climb back to downtown.
Is Slaughter Pen parking free?
Yes, there are currently no fees for parking at the parking garage downtown or any of the lots mentioned in this post.
