Three bucket-list bicycling spots in Arkansas

From the Ranger FX4 to the 2020 Super Duty Tremor to the soon-to-be-released resurrection of the iconic Ford Bronco, we’re all about helping folks get out and find their place in the great outdoors here at McLarty Daniel Ford of Bentonville. When we’re not on four wheels, one of our favorite pass times is to get out there on two in the unmotorized form, with a jaunt through the woods and trails on a mountain bike.

In recent years, Arkansas has become a big draw in the world of cycling, with several world-class bicycling spots being developed. Fall is the perfect time to get out there and enjoy a few of them, so read on for our list of five great places to find adventure on your bike in Arkansas! Need a new car, truck or SUV to which to strap your bike rack? Then stop in today at McLarty Daniel Ford of Bentonville and shop our big selection, or shop our full selection online right now.

ARKANSAS RIVER TRAIL
Little Rock/North Little Rock
Central Arkansas has gone all-in on bicycling fun in recent years, and the crown jewel is the Arkansas River trail. Soon to be expanded to connect with locales as far-flung as Toad Suck Ferry near Conway, the original 16-mile River Trail is all paved for smooth riding on road bikes or mountain bikes, and connects Little Rock and North Little Rock. At each end, the River Trail crosses the Arkansas River by way of the Clinton Presidential Center Bridge in the east and the Big Dam Bridge in the West. The longest pedestrian bridge in the U.S. before the Big River Crossing was opened joining Memphis and West Memphis by way of a converted railroad bridge across the Mississippi, the Big Dam Bridge is worth the trip in itself, with soaring views of Pinnacle Mountain to the west and epic sunsets most any day of the year.

LAKE TRAIL AT CANE CREEK STATE PARK
Star City
One of Arkansas’s least-appreciated State Parks — part of a system that includes many such unsung gems — Cane Creek State Park near Star City includes a true destination for bicyclists, in the form of the 15.5-mile Cane Creek Lake Trail. The trail system, which is also open to runners, walkers and hikers, is a true joy, skirting the wildlife-rich Cane Creek Lake and coming close to Bayou Bartholomew while continuing through ecosystems that include heavy forests, wetlands, and prairie and rolling hills. Along the way, the gravel trail crosses three pedestrian-only suspension bridges secluded deep in the woods, for an almost fairy-tale experience that makes you feel miles from anyone. The park also features birding tours, kayaking, guided walking tours, picnic sites, pavillions, a boat launch and fishing pier and 29 campsites so you can do more than biking.

SLAUGHTER PEN TRAILS
Bentonville
Northwest Arkansas has long been a hotspot for soaking in the great outdoors, and the area has really thrown open the doors to hardcore and bunny-slope-level mountainbikers in recent years as well. One of the biggest and best indications of this dedication to attracting two-wheel pilots looking for adventure is The Slaughter Pen in Bentonville. Part of the 36-mile Razorback Regional Greenway that connects Fayetteville and Bentonville with all the biking fun you can handle, The Slaughter Pen is a full 20 miles of mountain biking trails, ranging from beginner to expert. Along the way, you’ll see some of the area’s most beautiful and engaging spots, including part of the trail that runs near the property of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. With plenty of ups, downs, beautiful vistas, jumps and courage-testing slopes, Slaughter Pen should definitely be on your bucket list if you’re serious about mountain biking thrills.

While there are dozens of other biking hotspots around the state, these three should be more than enough to help you find fun on two wheels this fall. And if you’re looking for fun of the four-wheeled variety, stop in soon at McLarty Daniel Ford of Bentonville, where our selection of Ford-tough off-roaders to get you out there to find adventure is unmatched. Come see us for a test drive, or check out our full selection online right now.

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