The dust has settled. The brackets have been slashed. The people have spoken. And now, only four trail systems remain standing in the 2026 Arkansas Mountain Bike March Madness bracket.
After weeks of fierce regional competition and some truly nail-biting Elite Eight showdowns, we have arrived at the moment every Arkansas mountain biker has been waiting for: the Final Four. Four trail systems. Two epic matchups. One shot at glory.
This is where legends are made, riders. It is time to vote like your favorite trail depends on it, because it does.
Voting is open now and closes at midnight on March 25, so gather your riding crew, share the bracket, and let the world know where Arkansas mountain biking truly shines.
Matchup 1: Northwest Arkansas Region vs. Central Arkansas / River Valley Region
Devil’s Den State Park vs. Mount Nebo State Park
In what might be the most dramatic Ozark showdown this side of a switchback, two of Arkansas’s most beloved state parks are going head-to-head for a spot in the championship round.
Devil’s Den State Park emerged from the Northwest Arkansas Region by outlasting Hobbs State Park in an Elite Eight clash of Monument Trails heavyweights. The Boston Mountains icon is no stranger to earning respect. With rocky ridges, technical Ozark terrain, tight turns, and a trail system that feels like it was carved from the mountain itself, Devil’s Den has been winning over riders for years. It did not just survive the Elite Eight. It earned its place in the Final Four.
Now Devil’s Den faces a challenger from across the Arkansas River Valley, and this one hits just as hard.
Mount Nebo State Park knocked off Pinnacle Mountain to claim its Final Four spot, and it did so in style. Sitting high above the River Valley with views that make you forget you are even supposed to be pedaling, Mount Nebo delivers mountaintop riding, dramatic elevation, and technical trails that reward focus and punish distraction. It is the kind of place that makes riders stop mid-climb just to take it all in, and then immediately regret losing momentum.
This is a matchup of two Monument Trail systems, two iconic state parks, and two very different flavors of Arkansas mountain biking. The Ozarks versus the River Valley. The Boston Mountains versus the Arkansas River. Rocky ridges versus mountaintop descents.
Which one speaks to your soul? Vote and let them know.
Matchup 2: Southwest / Ouachitas Region vs. Delta / North Central Region
Northwoods Trails vs. Lakewoods Trail System
Buckle up, because this one has all the ingredients of a bracket-busting thriller.
Northwoods Trails in Hot Springs is the reigning champion of this entire tournament. It won the whole thing last year, and it is back with something to prove. Northwoods dispatched the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail in the Elite Eight, knocking out Arkansas’s last remaining IMBA Epic in a matchup that had fans buzzing across the state. Built specifically for mountain biking and woven right into the fabric of Hot Springs, Northwoods brings flow trails, jump lines, technical options, and a community energy that is hard to match. This is a trail system that knows how to win.
But the Cinderella story of this entire bracket is standing right across from them, and it is not going home without a fight.
Lakewoods Trail System is the newcomer, the upstart, the trail that was not supposed to be here. Representing the Delta and North Central Arkansas Region, Lakewoods turned heads in the earlier rounds and kept turning them all the way through the Elite Eight, where it sent Woolly Hollow packing. With scenic riding, thoughtfully designed trails, and a passionate local fanbase that has rallied behind this system from day one, Lakewoods has become the feel-good story of the 2026 bracket.
Can a first-time contender knock off the defending champion? Can Northwoods hold the crown? This is the matchup that has everyone talking, and it is exactly the kind of moment that March Madness was made for.
Cast Your Vote for the Final Four
Arkansas has some of the best mountain biking in the entire country, and this bracket is proof. Four trail systems from four corners of the state, each one worthy of a championship run.
Now it comes down to you.
Whether you are a flow trail fanatic, a technical terrain devotee, a state park loyalist, or a fan of the underdog story, your vote shapes what comes next. Share this with your riding group, post it in your local trail club, tag your friends, and get everyone to the polls.
Voting closes at midnight on Sunday, March 25. The championship round is right around the corner.
The Final Four are set. Who is going to the championship?
For bracket updates, voting links, and all the mountain bike madness as it unfolds, follow Arkansas Outside on social media and visit ArkansasOutside.com.
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