Slaughter Pen
Slaughter Pen is the heartbeat of mountain biking in Bentonville—an interconnected trail system where progression, creativity, and accessibility come together. Anchored by multiple trail hubs, Slaughter Pen makes it easy to build a ride that matches your skill level, time frame, and riding style.
From fast, rolling flow to technical rock features, jumps, and skill-building zones, Slaughter Pen is designed to let riders explore with confidence. Each hub serves as a starting point, offering clear trail options that link seamlessly into the rest of the system. Whether you’re riding with kids, warming up for a bigger day, or stacking laps on your favorite features, Slaughter Pen rewards exploration.
Use this page to understand how the trail system is organized, find the right hub for your ride, and jump directly into detailed trail guides for every named trail in the park.
Downloadable Guides
A visual guide to the fastest, smoothest flow trails at Slaughter Pen. From big berms on Choo Choo to the high-speed rhythm of Catapult and Wildfire, this infographic helps you plan repeat laps and maximize your Bentonville mountain biking trip.
Built for riders who love speed, style, and perfectly sculpted features.
Slaughter Pen Trails in Bentonville are known for more than just flow. This curated list highlights the must-ride technical trails where rock shelves, tight lines, and precise handling define the ride.
Trail Rating System
Green - Easy
Blue - Intermediate
Black - Advanced
Double Black - Expert
The Castle
The Castle is the iconic core of Slaughter Pen—equal parts landmark and launchpad. Sitting high above the trail system, this Castle connects riders to a mix of flowing descents, technical lines, and creative features that define the character of the park.
From here, riders can choose smooth, confidence-building routes or dive into more challenging terrain. It’s a natural meeting point, a great place to reset between laps, and one of the most recognizable features in Bentonville mountain biking.
Best for: First-time visitors, mixed-ability groups, scenic breaks
Ride style: Flow, tech, connectors
Click on the trail name link for more trail info pictures and video
The Skills Park
The Skills Park is Slaughter Pen’s classroom. Designed to help riders learn and refine techniques, this area features different zones that cater to all skill levels. Try out the 7 drop lines that progress from 2 beginner friendly few inches, 3 Intermediate drops and 2 advanced drop of 6 and 8 feet. If you like jumps, progress from the 3 beginner friendly jump lines , Pump Fiction’s rollers and doubles to Yeah Buddy’s speed and big air.
It’s ideal for warming up, riding with kids, or focusing on specific skills before heading out into the trail system.
Best for: Beginners, kids, skill progression
Ride style: Practice, fundamentals, progression
Beginner Area
The Beginner Skills Park at Slaughter Pen is one of the most popular areas in the system for young riders, families, and those building foundational bike skills. Designed with progression in mind, this zone offers rollable drop features and three progressively larger jump lines that allow riders to advance at their own pace.
The features are approachable and repeatable, making it easy to session sections and focus on balance, timing, and body position in a controlled environment. Whether you’re introducing kids to mountain biking in Bentonville or refining basic technique before heading onto the main trails, the Beginner Skills Park provides a confident starting point within Slaughter Pen.
Intermediate Area
The Intermediate Skills Park at Slaughter Pen is designed for riders looking to refine their drop technique in a controlled, repeatable environment. This zone features three progressively larger drops, allowing riders to build confidence step-by-step before taking skills onto the bigger drops in the Advanced Area.
Each feature is purpose-built for progression, making it easy to session multiple attempts and dial in body position, timing, and control. Whether you’re moving up from beginner features or preparing for larger drops found throughout Slaughter Pen, this area provides a place to practice.
Advanced Area
Click on the trail name link for more trail info, pictures and video
Non-Hub Trails
Seed Tick Shuffle - Green
Medusa - Blue
Tatamagouche - Blue
Armadillo’s Last Stand - Blue
The Flow Hub
The Flow Hub delivers exactly what riders come for a smooth, fast, and endlessly repeatable trail fun. Iconic paved berms, rollers, and predictable features make this area perfect for building confidence or stacking high-energy laps. The three trails that originate from the Flow Hub converge at the end and once you cross a small wooden bridge rely on the Highway to Heaven trail which is a little short and steep climb to return back to the Flow Hub. You can also choose to return to the Razorback Greenway taking a short berm to the right before the wooden bridge. Another option is to take Highway to Heaven and turn towards the Tech Hub for a more rocky adventure.
Best for: All skill levels
Ride style: Flow, speed, rhythm
Moo Moo - Green
Highway to Heaven - Green
Click on the trail name link for more pictures, video and a breakdown of the trail
The Tech Hub
As the name suggests, The Tech Hub is Slaughter Pen’s proving ground. This area is focused on precision riding, featuring tight lines, rock gardens, drops, and optional features that let riders challenge themselves at their own pace.
Many trails here offer ride-around options, making it an excellent place to progress skills without committing to consequences. It’s also one of the best zones for sessioning and skill development.
Best for: Riders looking to improve technical skills
Ride style: Technical, slow speed control, progression
Tech Gnar - Black
Walter’s Whistler - Green
Heading Home - Green
Click on the trail name link for more trail info pictures and video
More Trails to Explore
Just off the Razorback Regional Greenway, the intersection of NW A Street and Tiger Blvd serves as a secondary hub for some of the most popular trails in Bentonville—without the heavier traffic you’ll find near the main Slaughter Pen access points.
From here, trails branch out in every direction, offering a mix of flow, shade, and quick connectors that make it easy to build short, repeatable loops or extend your ride deeper into the system.
The nearby Black Apple Creek Trail and Burns Arboretum corridors are especially valuable on hot days. With tree cover, creek crossings, and a more relaxed pace, this zone is perfect for cooling off, catching your breath, or stopping for a quick snack before heading back out.
Why Ride This Zone
Less crowded alternative to main Slaughter Pen access points
Easy-to-build loops with flexible distance options
Shaded trails and creek-side riding—great for hot weather
Ideal for recovery rides, beginner-friendly routes, or quick sessions
Suggested Loop (Approx. 3 Miles)
If you're looking for a short, well-rounded ride that reconnects with the Greenway, this loop delivers a little bit of everything:
Black Apple Creek Trail → Burns Arboretum
Cruise through shaded singletrack and enjoy the tunnel under NW A St & Tiger Blvd—a surprisingly cool and refreshing break in the summer heat.Tristan Trail
A smooth connector that keeps the ride flowing.Red Barn Trail
Classic Bentonville flow with approachable features.Ozone Trail
A fun finish that brings energy back into the loop.
Optional Add-On
Leopard’s Loop
Add roughly 1 mile with this paved flow trail—perfect for an easy spin, cooldown lap, or something different to mix into your ride.
Park Springs Area
Rotten to the Core - Black
Apple Turnover - Black
Burns Arboretum - Green
