MTB Bentonville:
Family Guide
Mountain Biking in Bentonville With Kids:
Where to Ride?
What to Expect?
How to Plan Your Trip?
Planning a family mountain bike trip to Bentonville, Arkansas?
This page breaks down the best kid friendly trails at Slaughter Pen and Coler MTB Preserve and beyond, what to expect on the trail, and how to build a fun, confidence boosting riding plan for all ages. Whether you’re visiting with first time riders or young shredders ready for flow, we’ll help you maximize your time and make the most of your Bentonville mountain biking adventure.
Bentonville Is One of the Best Places in the U.S. for Kids to Ride
Bentonville isn’t just a place to ride. It’s where family riding stories begin. From their first experience riding the singletrack kid friendly All American trail, gaining confidence at the Skills Park in Slaughter Pen to high fives at the bottom of the Uwabami a green trail at the Castle, this is where kids build confidence, courage, and a lifelong love of mountain biking. Couple the trails in Slaughter Pen with Coler MTB Preserve and you will find a range of options capable of satisfying the needs of everyone in the family. With thoughtfully designed beginner trails, progressive features, and easy access to food, parks, and downtown, Bentonville, Arkansas makes it simple for families to ride together, grow together, and create the kind of trail memories that stick long after the trip ends.
Where to Ride with Kids in Slaughter Pen
The All American Trail begins downtown near Lawrence plaza and weaves around the Razorback Greenway throughout all of Slaughter Pen. It is the path local bike schools take on after school rides.
Black Apple Creek is a scenic ride through the bottom of a wooded ravine that follows a small creek and ends in a tunnel that goes under A Street and Tiger Blvd. The tunnel opens up into Burns Arboretum; a cool spot featuring a small waterfall fed pool of water that makes great place to cool off and enjoy a mid ride snack. The trail itself well packed with gentle hills. It is one of our favorite places to take kids. If you venture further into Burns Arboretum you will find more places to cool off in the summer or scenic views as the trail weaves around the Creek.
The Skills Park is the go to place with kids of all skill levels. In the Beginner Area they can progress from small rollable bumps to short drops of a few inches all designed to accommodate and boost their confidence level. The Intermediate Area offers progressively bigger drops (measured in feet) to try. The Advanced Area brings bigger berms, larger airtime and bigger smiles for those with more confidence and skill. It is the complete package.
Near the north end of Slaughter pen you will find one of the most popular trails for young shredders. The All American (Hero Line) runs right along the Razorback greenway and features some smooth berms, rollable tabletops, and a wooden ramp. This section of trail provides an opportunity to teach them the concept of pre-ride, re-ride and free-ride to get familiar with a specific trail before sending it.
TIP: after you complete this one instead of returning to the greenway take the All American Trail back to the top of the Hero Line.
Bentonville Bike Playground – Kids Skills Area | Slaughter Pen
The Bentonville Bike Playground is one of the best places to introduce young riders to mountain biking in Bentonville. Located off N. Walton Blvd near the north end of Slaughter Pen, this purpose built skills area is designed to help kids build confidence in a fun, low pressure environment.
The playground features a miniature pump track, rollable terrain, and creative elements like large tunnel pipes and cones that encourage exploration and play. Everything is scaled for younger riders, making it easy to practice balance, braking, and basic bike control without the intimidation of full trail riding.
This is a space where progression happens naturally. Kids can ride at their own pace, repeat features, and build the foundational skills they’ll use on green trails throughout Slaughter Pen. With nearby amenities like restrooms and a dog park, it’s also a convenient stop for families spending the day riding in Bentonville.
If you’re searching for kid-friendly bike parks in Bentonville or a beginner MTB area in Slaughter Pen, the Bentonville Bike Playground is a perfect starting point.
Perfect For:
Young riders learning to balance and control a bike
Families looking for a safe, beginner friendly riding area
Practicing basic skills before hitting Slaughter Pen trails
Quick, fun sessions with easy access and nearby amenities
The Bentonville Bike Playground isn’t about distance or difficulty — it’s about building confidence, having fun, and creating the next generation of riders.
Crystal Bridges Art Trail
Side Quest Alert - Looking for something interesting to do with young riders? Along the Razorback Greenway near downtown Bentonville you can take a quick detour and take the Crystal Bridges Art Trail by following the turtle statue near the entrance.
Here are the highlights of what to expect:
The Way of Color Exhibit
Crystal Bridges Pond
30 ft Giant Spider Exhibit
The Love Statue
Arkansas Crystal Exhibit (Along West Walkway)
Skyspace: The Way of Color
Skyspace has been referred to as a “Light Sculpture.” It is best viewed right before sunrise or sunset. During this time the colors inside the exhibit change.
This exhibit is a fun stop during the day as it’s surrounded by grass and a wide area for kids to explore. The inside is open all day providing an opportunity to stare up into the sky through the portal in the center of the roof. Check it out.
A short video showing inside the Skyspace: The way of Color Exhibit along the Crystal Bridges Art Trail in Bentonville Arkansas
More from the Crystal Bridges Art Trail
Where to Ride with Kids in Coler MTB Preserve
The Good Vibrations trail starts at the southern entrance and actually crosses the creek before continuing along the other side of the creek from the Applegate Trail. While the water crossing can be fun, especially in the hot summer, if you want to avoid potentially getting your feet wet you can skip this section and meet up with the trail a little farther into the preserve.
This trail is great for avoiding any foot traffic and is perfect for all skill levels. The best part of this trail is it takes you into the tree cover and out of the sun as it weaves around the Applegate trail.
Family Flow Trail is a short, green-rated flow trail designed for pure, approachable fun. With smooth rollers, gentle berms, and predictable features, it’s a great introduction to flow-style riding for kids and newer riders while still being enjoyable enough for parents to lap alongside them. If you keep to the right side you can enjoy some air off the small rollers while the kids keep to the left.
You can access Family Flow by continuing along Esther’s Loop near the top of the hill by the Thunderdome trailhead, or by climbing up the Family Flow Return from Applegate Trail. Either approach requires a short but manageable climb, making the descent feel earned without being intimidating. For families looking to session a fun, confidence-building flow trail at Coler MTB Preserve, this one delivers.
The Applegate Trail is Coler’s main connector, linking the north and south parking lots with Airship Coffee. Wide, paved, easy to follow, and runs about 2 milees from end to end. It serves as the preserve’s primary reference point and is popular with families, walkers, and casual riders.
This paved trail is perfect for the youngest riders riding their balance bikes as the trail is wide and very popular. There are multiple spots to stop like the firefly gardens, or get a picture in a huge wooden lawn chair or hangout near the creek in the Center of the preserve or by the south entrance to the preserve.
Tip: When possible, ride Good Vibrations to avoid heavy foot traffic.
Esther’s Loop is Coler’s go to green trail for a scenic, confidence-building four mile ride through rolling terrain and shaded hardwood forest on the west side of Coler MTB Preserve. Smooth singletrack, gentle elevation changes, and wide sightlines make it an ideal progression trail for riders ready to move beyond the basics. It’s easily accessed from both the South Parking Lot and Coler Grove, making logistics simple for families.
The trail follows the natural contours of the preserve’s southern hillside, offering just enough variety to keep things engaging without overwhelming newer riders. Younger or first-time riders may find the length and rolling terrain challenging, but kids with a bit of trail experience will gain valuable endurance, climbing confidence, and flow as they complete the loop.
If you’re visiting Coler MTB Preserve with younger riders, treat Pedal Assist as a scenic climb and destination ride rather than a gateway to the advanced lines. Ride up at a steady pace, take a break at The Hub, and enjoy watching riders on the larger features from a safe distance.
Skip Drop the Hammer and other black-diamond features unless everyone in your group is truly ready. Watching people take on these trails can be fun and awe inspiring. For most families, the best plan is to climb Pedal Assist, soak in the views and energy at The Hub, then return the way you came. Confident older kids can descend on the Fireline trail, but newer riders will likely feel most comfortable rolling back down Pedal Assist.
This approach keeps the ride fun, controlled, and confidence building exactly what a great family day at Coler should feel like.
Looking for a fun and beginner-friendly trail in Coler Mountain Bike Preserve? Thunder Rolls is a short, green-rated trail that’s perfect for young riders and anyone just getting started on singletrack in Bentonville.
Starting at the Thunderdome Trailhead, this trail offers smooth, easy-to-follow terrain that helps riders build confidence with balance, braking, and control—all in a low-pressure environment.
What makes Thunder Rolls stand out is how approachable and repeatable it is. The short length makes it ideal for quick laps, giving new riders plenty of opportunities to practice and improve without fatigue.
The highlight of the trail comes at the end—a ride through a tunnel that passes underneath the Thunderdome. It’s a fun, memorable feature that keeps kids smiling and asking for another lap.