Thanks to its existing natural beauty, and a thoughtful rebrand, Bentonville is blossoming into a delightful haven for mountain biking adventurers.
Named one of Forbes’ Popular Adventure Travel Activities for 2022
If you didn’t know, this charming town is the birthplace of Walmart. Back in 1951, it’s where Sam Walton opened “Walton’s 5&10 Variety Store,” which grew to be the world’s largest retailer.
On this tour, the amenities are topnotch. You will have a luxurious Bentonville home all to yourself; equipped with an oasis pool, waterslide and hot tub, plus a half basketball court and outdoor pizza oven. Outside this home base, you’ll find the lush foothills of the Ozark Mountains. Explore over 140 miles of hard and soft trails, ranked a Silver-Level Ride Center by the Mountain Biking Association.
Whether you are an experienced rider or a beginner, Bentonville has something for everyone to enjoy. Off the bike seat, discover Bentonville’s unique scene of art, music, and food. Ever heard of an annual World Champion Squirrel Cook-off? Neither have we. Let’s go check it out!
Also available as a day tour >
After departing from Tulsa, Oklahoma a morning shuttle will deliver us to downtown Bentonville. A light lunch and bike check will have us on the trails in no time. Our first ride leaves right from downtown and takes us right into the Slaughter Pen! The formidably-named Slaughter Pen trail system is located right in the heart of Bentonville. Built over a former livestock management area, it now sits next to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the beautiful Razorback Regional Greenway. On this first day of riding you can expect something for everyone.
Today’s ride takes us to the hollers and ravines of the new Little Sugar trail system. This network of trails takes riders under bluffs along Sugar Creek and to a waterfall on Tanyard Creek as it wraps its way around Windsor and Avalon Lakes.
Expect plenty of switchbacks and berms, as well as more advanced features like drops and jumps that have been generously sprinkled in throughout the system. You should also be prepared to stop and take in the lakes, creeks, waterfalls, caves, and other nooks and crannies found along the trail system that will make you forget you’re just an Uber call away from your hotel or SAG in the event of a flat tire. Be ready to use those climbing legs, too. The descents are a roller coaster, but you have to earn them.
This afternoon, we will head to downtown Bentonville to tour the first Walton 5&10. The museum is in the original 5&10 that Sam Walton opened in 1950 on Bentonville’s town square. There you can see memorabilia from the early days in the store.
The Back 40 trail system weaves its way up and down the ridges and valleys that undulate across the east side of Bella Vista, so you’re in for grinding climbs that alternate with fast, swooping descents. The 21-mile Back 40 Loop encircles the whole network with additional miles of trails crisscrossing the interior.
Memorable sections will include “The Ledges,” a trail that gets its name from the karst ledges riders have to traverse along the route. Portions of Rago have also been rebuilt to include rock features and jumps. Despite being close to Bentonville, these miles will make you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere.
Today’s ride will take us to Hobb’s State Park, Arkansas’s largest state park, spanning a 12,054-acre tract of Ozark landscape along the southern shore of Beaver Lake. This area of the Ozarks consists of plateaus, ridges, valleys, and streams featuring a forest of pine, oak and hickory. There are also disappearing streams, springs and seeps that have carved the many hollows in this fragile limestone landscape.
Trail-wise, there will be great diversity this morning, like most of Bentonville’s riding. Flowing ridge rides, short climbs, and rolling descents – this will be an awesome morning of riding with a delicious break for a picnic lunch!
This afternoon we will visit the Crystal Bridges Art Museum, a world-class collection of American art, stunning architecture, and 120 acres of Ozark forest (including five miles of trails!) Walking through the chronologically arranged galleries of the collection is like cramming an Intro to American Art class into one day.
Our final day we will put all our new skills to test. Even though this trail system is small, an incredible amount of work has been put into it!
Although you might think you are in the backcountry of the Ozarks while riding Coler, the trails are located about two miles west of downtown Bentonville. These trails feature something for everyone. From multiple flowy jump lines, challenging technical rocky sections to several huge gap jumps.
We will visit the “Hub” near the top of the mountain, a 20-foot-tall steel-and-wood structure that guides riders to the start of three downhill runs. From there, you can choose which trail to take and the level of difficulty.
Don’t worry, we will do lots of loops since you will never get enough of these trails!
Today, for the last hurrah, we finish up on some fun local trails. For those looking for a real urban biking experience, we can even try out some of the flow trails near downtown. A stop at Walmart malt shop for a good old-fashioned treat is a must. After that it’s a quick ride back to the house to pack up before the shuttle back to the airport.
The price of this tour does not include your lodging. After booking, you will receive a link to review the room options. We will call you to set you up with the room in the vacation home. It ranges from $400-$1100 per room.
Escape Adventures
Since 1992, we at Escape Adventures have been blessed to shape and lead adventure travel vacations through some of the most awe-inspiring natural destinations in the world. Each successive season, our passion for adventure grows through memorable moments with our guests. Fresh air, faith, fitness and friends are the building blocks for our ventures, the treasured experiences that keep us moving forward. For those of you who have trekked and traveled with us over the past quarter century, Heather and I express our sincerest gratitude. The memories are priceless.
For those who have yet to tour with us, we appreciate the opportunity to introduce you to our family-run company and guiding principles of sustainability and adventure. Our portfolio specializes in Western North America and is rapidly growing internationally. Building on over 100 destinations, we cater to the full spectrum of active traveler, respective to fitness level and activity type. From road cyclist to mountain biker to electric biker, hiker, and multi-sport enthusiast, and from first-timer to friends and family groups of all ability levels, on behalf of our Escape Adventures family, we look forward to many new and exciting adventures with you.
With much gratitude, and happy trails,
Jared and Heather Fisher
Founders and Owner-Operators
Escape Adventures
