Mountain biking in Northwest Arkansas

Northwest Arkansas (NWA) is an Arkansas metropolitan area and region located in the Ozark Mountains. Northwest Arkansas has invested in an amazing infrastructure, owing to the harsh terrain of the Ozarks and one of the most progressive cycling cultures in the country. Downhill slopes with shuttles, a best-in-class jump park, pump tracks, and skills courses are among the trails. Since hosting the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) World Summit in 2016, the Red Bull Pump Track World Championship in 2019, and now the 2022 Cyclocross World Championships, the area has established itself as one of the country's premier off-road cycling attractions.

In the Natural State, two wheels may provide a lot of adventure mileage. The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) has designated three Arkansas communities as Ride Centers: Fayetteville, Bentonville, and Hot Springs, and Northwest Arkansas was the first IMBA Regional Ride Center in the USA. Yes, there is a lot of jargon being flung around, but the honor is genuine.

The Arkansas highlands are a world-class mountain biking destination, combining two important features - four seasons, with lengthy stretches of temperate weather (especially in the fall), and, well, lots of mountains. There's a lot of shady leaf cover, a lot of dirt trails, and it's pretty easy to get to from larger towns. Take, for example, Lake Leatherwood in Eureka Springs, a municipal park with a specialized, top-tier mountain biking infrastructure. This can be seen as one of the Best Things To Do In Arkansas.

Address: Arkansas, United States
Best time to ride: Fall