Arkansas continues to invest heavily in outdoor recreation infrastructure in 2026, with projects ranging from lift-served mountain bike parks to long-distance greenways and new water trails. Across the state, public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private partners are expanding access to trails and outdoor recreation opportunities that are expected to shape tourism, local economies, and quality of life for years to come.
From Northwest Arkansas to the Delta, these projects represent one of the largest periods of trail development in Arkansas history.
OZ Trails Bike Park Set to Open June 12
One of the most anticipated openings in Arkansas outdoor recreation is nearly here. The new OZ Trails Bike Park will officially open June 12, 2026, during the annual Bentonville Bike Fest.
Located on the Bentonville and Bella Vista border, the park is Arkansas’s first chairlift-served mountain bike park. Developed by Runway Group, the facility features over 20 miles of gravity-oriented mountain bike trails, served by a high-speed chairlift system. Trails range from beginner-friendly green routes to advanced double black diamond runs. Roughly 75 percent of the terrain is designed for beginner and intermediate riders.
The base area will include bike rentals, retail space, a community plaza, public art, and a restaurant called Ozzy’s Ride and Dine with rooftop seating overlooking the lift system.
Officials recently released pricing details, including single-ride lift tickets and full-day passes. The park will operate Thursday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with midweek closures dedicated to maintenance.
The park is expected to further strengthen Northwest Arkansas’s reputation as a national mountain biking destination and add another major attraction to the region’s growing cycling economy.
The Trails at Mena Continue Moving Forward
While the OZ Trails Bike Park nears completion, another ambitious mountain biking project is taking shape in western Arkansas. The Trails at Mena project continues progressing through its first phase of development.
The project aims to become the world’s largest lift served mountain bike park built exclusively for biking. Phase One includes approximately 1,300 acres with plans for around 20 miles of trails descending more than 1,000 vertical feet between Ward Lake and Round Top Mountain.
Arkansas State Parks is currently finalizing lift system contracts with Leitner Poma, while trail planning and flagging work are already underway. Trail construction is expected to begin during the summer of 2026. The state has committed approximately $48 million to the project’s first phase.
State officials have described the project as one of the most significant outdoor recreation developments in the country. A second development phase, known as the Eagleton Zone, is expected to include an additional chairlift and expanded terrain.
Delta Heritage Trail Nears Completion
After years of construction and planning, the Delta Heritage Trail State Park is finally nearing full completion.
The rail to trail conversion follows a former Union Pacific rail corridor through eastern Arkansas and currently features more than 80 miles of completed trail surface. When finished, the trail will extend approximately 84.5 miles from Lexa to Arkansas City.
The final 13.4 mile section remains under construction and includes significant engineering work involving crossings of both the White River and Arkansas River. Funding for the final section includes a $20.4 million federal RAISE grant.
The project is expected to provide long term economic benefits to communities across the Arkansas Delta through tourism, lodging, food services, and outdoor recreation businesses.
Southwest Trail Reaches Major Milestones
The long planned Southwest Trail connecting Little Rock and Hot Springs continues gaining momentum in 2026.
In Pulaski County, a 4.3 mile paved section opened in April 2025, running along the former Rock Island railroad corridor. Additional segments are currently in the engineering and bidding phases.
Saline County is preparing to celebrate the opening of its first completed section, Segment S8A, a roughly two mile paved trail near Alexander. Once open, trail users will be able to travel continuously between Pulaski and Saline counties on an off street paved trail for the first time.
Meanwhile, Garland County continues design and engineering work on its portions of the corridor. Local projects including the Hot Springs Creek Greenway and Stokes Creek Greenway are expected to eventually connect into the broader regional network.
The Southwest Trail is expected to become one of Arkansas’s premier long distance active transportation and recreation corridors once fully completed.
Maumelle Pinnacles Project Launches Long Term Vision
In March 2026, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced the Maumelle Pinnacles Master Plan, an ambitious long term effort to connect outdoor recreation areas across Central Arkansas.
The plan proposes linking more than 24,000 acres of public land and recreation space stretching from downtown Little Rock to Lake Sylvia. Areas included in the vision include Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Rattlesnake Ridge, Blue Mountain, and Lake Maumelle.
The initiative includes 28 individual trail and crossing projects, with many scheduled to begin within the next five years. Once completed, users could travel continuously from downtown Little Rock through the Arkansas River Trail system and westward into the Ouachita foothills.
Partners on the project include The Nature Conservancy, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Metroplan, Pulaski County, and Central Arkansas Water. Protecting the Lake Maumelle watershed remains a central priority throughout the plan.
Northwoods Trails Expansion Underway
The popular Northwoods Trails system is also preparing for major growth.
A $350,000 grant from The Oaklawn Foundation will fund new trails around Sanderson Lake, along with expanded access for non motorized paddling and a future kayak rental kiosk. Arkansas based Affordable Trail Solutions is leading trail construction efforts.
Groundbreaking for the expansion took place in April 2026. Once complete, the Waterworks section will grow from approximately 22.5 miles to nearly 30 miles of trail. Combined with Cedar Glades, the entire system is expected to total about 40 miles.
The additions continue to build on Hot Springs’ growing reputation as a mountain biking and outdoor recreation destination.
Upper Illinois River Water Trail Officially Opens
Northwest Arkansas officially gained its first designated water trail in May 2026 with the opening of the Upper Illinois River Water Trail.
The 15.5 mile route stretches from Chamber Springs Access near Siloam Springs downstream to WOKA Whitewater Park in Oklahoma. The trail includes multiple public access points, family friendly floating opportunities, fishing access, and Class II+ rapids.
The project was developed through a partnership involving the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the City of Siloam Springs, and the Grand River Dam Authority. A future access point near Highway 59 is planned as part of a future bridge replacement project.
The new water trail reflects growing interest in conservation based recreation planning and expanded paddling access in one of the fastest growing regions in Arkansas.
Arkansas Continues Expanding Outdoor Infrastructure
From mountain bike parks and greenways to rail trails and water trails, Arkansas continues investing in outdoor recreation at a historic pace. These projects are expected to increase tourism, improve access to public lands, and create new recreation opportunities for residents and visitors alike.
As construction continues and additional phases move forward, many of these projects could reshape how Arkansans and visitors experience the Natural State for decades to come.
This article was originally published on ArkansasOutside.com, your trusted source for outdoor news and updates in The Natural State. Unless otherwise credited, all photos included in this piece are the property of Arkansas Outside, LLC. We take pride in sharing the beauty and adventures of Arkansas through our lens—thank you for supporting our work!
