TRAILSENDR

Bentonville in 2 Days: The Flow Weekend

Two days, two systems, almost no driving. Slaughter Pen runs straight out of downtown and Coler is a short hop up the road, so you can base near the square and ride flow-tuned intermediate trails both days. This is the weekend most people come to Bentonville for, and it holds up.

Bentonville, AR
Intermediate
Downtown flow weekend, minimal fuss
2Days

The plan

A tight, downtown-based weekend on Bentonville's two best intermediate flow systems, Slaughter Pen and Coler.

Day1

Slaughter Pen from downtown

Morning: Start at the All-American trailhead by Crystal Bridges and Compton Gardens on Main St. All-American is the flowy intro, so warm up there, then work into the Skills Park in the middle of the system to get your jumps and pumps dialed. The trails sprawl across pockets connected by the paved Greenway, so download Trailforks and spin back to pavement whenever you get turned around.

Afternoon: Keep lapping the flow. Phat Tire Bike Shop is walking distance from the square if you need to swap a bike or grab spares. Ride early or late, because the downtown system fills up with e-bikes and kids after 4pm.

Eats: The downtown Bentonville square is a short roll from the trailhead and packed with bike-friendly spots. Anything around the square works post-ride.

Day2

Coler Mountain Bike Preserve

Morning: Head the short distance up to Coler and park at South Gateway, the big lot with bathrooms, water, and tools. Climb to The Hub, the 20-ft steel tower at the top, then drop in on Fire Line for flow. Westside is the beginner and intermediate zone, so stay off the harder Eastside stuff and session what suits you.

Afternoon: Lap The Hub as many times as your legs allow. Everything funnels back to the paved Applegate path, so you cannot get truly lost. When you are cooked, the on-site cafe and brewery is right there.

Eats: The on-site cafe and brewery at Coler. Grab food and a beer without leaving the preserve.

Getting there

Fly in

  • XNANorthwest Arkansas National25 min to town
  • TULTulsa Intl2 hr 15 min to town

Drive in

  • From Tulsa, OK2 hr 15 min
  • From Kansas City, MO3 hr 30 min
  • From Dallas, TX5 hr 30 min
Get directions to Bentonville

Drive times are approximate.