Bentonville in 3 Days: Gravity, Jumps, and the Long Ride
Bentonville is mostly flow, but the harder terrain is real if you know where to point. This is three days for riders who want jump lines, tech, and a proper long day in the Ozarks. Coler's descents, the Back 40's ledges, and a push south to Devil's Den for the expert stuff at Lee Creek.
The plan
Three days chasing Bentonville's harder terrain: Coler's gravity and jumps, the Back 40's long Ozark ledges, and the expert Monument Trails at Lee Creek.
Coler gravity laps
Morning: Park at North Gateway for the fastest access to The Hub and the black descents. Climb up, then work the harder lines: Fire Line for flow, Cease and Desist for jumps, Rock Solid for tech. Eastside is where the difficulty lives, so lap it.
Afternoon: This is the day to session. Shore Line Shuttle runs Slaughter Pen to Coler laps on Fridays and Saturdays in a converted M1078 troop carrier, so if you want gravity without the climb, that is the move. Otherwise pedal the climb back to The Hub between runs.
Eats: The on-site cafe and brewery at Coler. It is the chillest spot to hang between laps or after.
Back 40 and The Ledges
Morning: Head to Bella Vista and park at Blowing Springs off Mercy Way and US-71. Ride the 21-mile loop counter-clockwise so you hit The Ledges, the best 2.8 miles of the system, set up in the right direction. It is the long day: rolling Ozark singletrack and punchy descents, a full five hours if you ride the whole thing.
Afternoon: Trim it to an out-and-back on The Ledges if the full loop is too much, or link back toward the Lake Ann trailhead. Just do not ride it wet. The karst turns to peanut butter and the locals will let you know.
Eats: Roll back into downtown Bentonville for food. The square is loaded with bike-friendly spots.
Monument Trails at Lee Creek
Morning: Drive about 45 minutes south to Devil's Den State Park and park at the new Devil's Racetrack trailhead on AR-220. This is the expert day: gravity-fed, built to the same standard as Slaughter Pen but harder and with more exposure. Ride the Racetrack loop as the signature line, fast flow with rock features.
Afternoon: Shore Line Shuttle serves Monument Trails and Devil's Den if you want gravity laps instead of pedaling back up. Grab a printed map at the Visitors Center first, because cell service is spotty and the 25-mile system has 8 separate trailheads.
Eats: Pack food for this one. You are out at the state park and it is a drive back to town for dinner around the square.
Pro tips
- •This trip earns a longer-travel bike. Mojo Cycling runs a premium demo fleet with Evil and Specialized if you want to test something burly before you commit.
- •Shore Line Shuttle mainly runs Fridays and Saturdays, so build your Coler and Lee Creek gravity days around that if you want laps instead of climbs.
- •Nothing here rides well wet. Coler's jump lines and flow close after rain, and the Back 40's karst gets greasy. Check OZ Trails or Trailforks before each day.
This is a proven template. The planner will tune it to your days, skill, and what you want to ride in about ten seconds.
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