First Time Mountain Biking in Bentonville: What to Know Before You ride

If you’re new to mountain biking, Bentonville, Arkansas is one of the best places in the country for beginners to start riding. The city is famous for its beginner friendly mountain bike trails, with smooth routes designed for all skill levels — from first-time riders to experienced cyclists. One of the biggest questions visitors have is where to begin, and Bentonville makes that easy with a bikeable city layout, clear trail signage, and trail systems that connect directly to shops, food, and coffee. Need a bike? You’ll find plenty of bike rental shops in Bentonville, many offering delivery to your hotel or Airbnb and pickup when you’re done. And if you run into any issues, local bike shops are always nearby to help you get back on the trail and keep the adventure going.

Checklist

  • Rent a bike - Some deliver to you, others you visit a traditional shop

  • Helmet & Gloves are a must, also consider knee and elbow pads

  • Water bottle, bladder and electrolytes to stay hydrated

  • Navigation: download Alltrails, Trailforks or use Google Maps

  • Snacks to keep up your energy on the trail

  • Start early on weekends

Downloadable Guides

Slaughter Pen Trails Guide: 5 Trail Hubs Every Bentonville Mountain Biker Should Know.
Coler MTB Preserve Trail Guide: This Free Guide Will help You Build Your Perfect Riding Day

Where to Start Riding?

Slaughter Pen and Coler Mountain Bike Preserve are the best places to start if you’re new to riding in Bentonville. Both trail systems offer beginner-friendly mountain bike trails, clear signage, and easy access to bike shops, food, and parking making your first ride feel simple and stress free.

If you have more experience or extra time, Blowing Springs, the Wonderland Trails, and the Back 40 are great next steps. But for your first days in town, start with Slaughter Pen or Coler and you’ll be riding with confidence in no time.

Slaughter Pen: Where To Ride?

The Razorback Greenway is a paved trail that will take you from Downtown Bentonville all the way to the A Street Parking Lot. It serves as a great landmark from which you can explore the surrounding areas.

A picture of the Razorback Greenway and the signpost signifying beginning of the All American Trailhead in the Slaughter Pen trail system in Bentonville Arkansas.

The Skills Park is a perfect place for everyone. You will find a Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Areas that offer opportunities to develop you skills. It is right off the Razorback Greenway in the middle of Slaughter Pen.

An overlook at the Castle in Slaughter Pen. The view is of the Wildfire trail in the summertime complete with the large wooden trail sign.
A small bridge across a shallow creek along the Razorback Greenway near the Skills Park in the Slaughter Pen Trail System. There is plenty of green grass along the creek for families and riders to relax.

The All American trail follows the Razorback Greenway and is perfect for young riders who are ready to venture away from the pavement onto some easy singletrack.

A view of three trails in the Skills park Beginner's Area complete with signage indicating the progressive difficulty of the three trails in the Slaughter Pen Trail System in Bentonville Arkansas.

The Castle is one of the most popular trail hubs in Bentonville. Take the gravel road from the Skills Park. You will find Green rated trails for new riders, Blue rated trails featuring big berms and opportunities to catch some air, and some Black rated trails if you enjoy rocky tech.

Coler Preserve: Where To Ride?

Coler MTB Preserve Paradise Barn near Airship Coffee

The Applegate Trail is Coler’s main connector, linking the north and south parking lots with Airship Coffee. Wide, paved, and easy to follow, it serves as the preserve’s primary reference point and is popular with families, walkers, and casual riders.

Tip: When possible, ride Good Vibrations to avoid heavy foot traffic. The Trail begins near the south end of the preserve as the trail crosses through the creek and meets up again later further into the preserve.

A wooden berm that is also a bridge across a small creek on the Esther's Loop Trail The trail is surrounded by green trees commonly found in the Coler MTB Preserve Trail system in Bentonville Arkansas.

Oscar’s Loop is one of Coler’s most popular blue-level trails, offering a mix of rocky tech and smooth contour riding as it climbs toward The HUB. This trail is a common access route and a great benchmark for intermediate riders visiting Bentonville.

Tip: Short on time? Take The Grouch Trail for a quicker route to The HUB.

Image of One of the Berms on Fireline a downhill flow trail in Coler MTB Preserve

The HUB is a main landmark at Coler MTB Preserve and the gateway to many of its most iconic trails. The Bridge like structure sits at the center of the preserve and provides easy access to flow, tech, and jump lines. The easiest access is from the North End via Oscar’s Loop or the paved Pedal Assist Trail

Tip: Look for Drop the Hammer on your way up. you may catch someone taking on one of Bentonville’s most famous drops.

Esther’s Loop is Coler’s go-to green trail for a scenic, confidence-building ride through trees and rolling terrain on the west side of the preserve. It’s rideable in a wide range of conditions and easily accessed from the South or Coler Grove parking lots.

Tip: Add Family Flow for fast, playful riding — or test yourself on Here’s Jonny for a double-black tech challenge. Both trails are linked to Esther’s Loop.

Picture is of Oscars intersection with Hardway and Meh Way to the Cafe Trails in Coler Mountain Bike Preserve

Fireline is Coler’s signature downhill flow trail, featuring sweeping berms, rollers, and jumps that make it a must-ride for returning visitors. Accessed from The HUB, this trail delivers fast, playful riding from top to bottom.

Tip: Want a tech-focused descent? Dirt Therapy starts nearby.

The HUB Trailhead at Coler MTB Park looks like a bridge with 3 branches each leading to a different trail

Where Do You Park?

Bentonville is a bike friendly area. You may be able to simply ride straight from your Hotel, Vacation Rental, campsite or wherever you decided to stay. Look at a source like google maps to see where you are staying vs. where the trails are located. I’ve included a customized map below to help you find the different parking spots for Slaughter Pen and Coler MTB Preserve. You will also find some lists below and the Points of Interest Map. Happy Hunting.

Slaughter Pen Parking Options

Downtown Bentonville Parking Garage off of Blake Ave provides easy access to the Crystal Bridges area Razorback Greenway and All American Trailhead. The top level of this 2 level parking garage is where you should park as the first level is for business and Valet Parking for a nearby hotel.

One of the many statues in Slaughter Pen depicting a statue of a woman that has been made up entirely using bike chains and other parts that make the statue resemble a yeti or sasquatch.

NW A Street Parking Lot provides access from the North end of Slaughter Pen. It is a very popular option and has a fair amount of parking and even a small changing station for a little privacy. The Razorback Greenway, All Amercian hero Line and the Skills Park are all a short ride away.

Coler MTB Preserve

The pavilion next Coler MTB Preserve's largest parking lot near the top of the hill on the South end of the preserve.

South Gateway Parking Lot is a smaller parking lot at the bottom of the hill. If this lot is full try crossing the street as there may be some additional parking available. Both parking lots are accessed from NW 3rd Street.

A view of the bridge to Oscar's Lower Trail from the North Gateway parking lot at Coler MTB Preserve.
Map showing NE 3rd Street and NE Blake Avenue with local landmarks including Lawrence Plaza, Wright's Barbecue at Bentonville Square, Blake Avenue Parking Deck, and 21c Museum Hotel Bentonville.

NE A Street & Cub Circle Parking Lot is a small lot that is very popular. If you are lucky enough to find a spot you have a great place that can serve as a base to venture into Slaughter Pen. Black Apple Creek, The Masterpiece and the Razorback Greenway are all trails that are very close to this parking lot. Be sure to get a picture with the sasquatch made up of old bike parts

A view of the A street parking lot near the north end of Slaughter Pen Trail system. This parking lot features a small wooden changing station that offers a little privacy to those looking to change clothes before or after a ride in the park.

Coler Grove Parking Lot offers the most parking to those riding at Colher. It is at the top of the hill. You can easily access from NW 3rd Street and Coler Grove Lane. Thunderdome and Esther’s Loop are found right off of the parking lot.

One of the bridges found on the paved Applegate trail near the south gate of Coler MTB Preserve.

North Gateway Parking Lot is very popular for those who are riding to the HUB. Look for a bridge that takes you from the parking lot directly to the trail that leads to you Peddle Assist.