March marks the beginning of Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the achievements of women in various fields. In Arkansas, the outdoor recreation industry is thriving, thanks in part to the dedication of women shaping and leading events across the state. This article is the first in a series highlighting some of these trailblazers. Our journey begins with Traci Berry, a lifelong athlete and adventurer who now serves as the director of the Northwoods Trails in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Early Outdoor Influences
Traci Berry’s path to becoming an outdoor event organizer in Arkansas is as winding as the trails she loves. Her story is one of a lifelong love affair with the outdoors, a passion ignited by her unconventional upbringing. “I grew up down the gravel road from my grandparents’ farm, and loved being outside. I’d go fish with my grandmother and my cousins, I just wanted to be outside in the woods. My dad didn’t like it so much it because I’m a girl,” said Berry. Her grandmother, a strong influence in her life, gifted her a knife, an Old Timer pocket knife. “I could cut the strings off the hay bails so when my older cousins or my brother weren’t available, I would go take care of the chores of feeding the cows. It was like a rite of passage.” This early connection with nature was a stark contrast to her love for basketball, a sport she excelled in, playing even at the collegiate level.
From Ball Sports to Bike Trails
Berry’s journey into the world of outdoor recreation began in traditional athletics. Growing up, she played basketball and softball, eventually earning a college basketball scholarship. Berry’s son was born during her freshman year at Henderson State which caused her to give up her scholarship. After some coaxing from her coach, she eventually came back and continued playing as a walk on. “I was like the mom on the team. Because I lived in East End, I couldn’t make the early morning workouts so I would do the morning workout during my lunch break and work out with the team in the afternoon.” After transitioning into coaching and education, her path took an unexpected turn when her girlfriend who was teaching in Bentonville, introduced her to mountain biking. It didn’t take long before she was hooked. What started as a casual ride around Lake Fayetteville on a borrowed bike quickly became a passion, leading her to purchase her first mountain bike and dive into the sport.
The Adventurous Leap into Racing
Berry’s competitive nature soon led her to explore more than just biking. Inspired by the Eco-Challenge adventure races, she immersed herself in adventure racing, a grueling sport combining biking, running, paddling, and navigation. She connected with teammates through online message boards and began training intensely. However, her first official race had to wait—an unfortunate kickball injury left her with a torn ACL just before her debut at Raid the Rock in 2004. Undeterred, she competed the following year and fell in love with the sport, which introduced her to rock climbing, kayaking, and endurance challenges.
“I joined Jed and his dad’s adventure racing team. But first, Jed wanted to test me and see if I could be their teammate. we went out to Lake Sylvia and we did a ride out there. So I was with them for a several years. Raid the Rock, of course, was our home race and was one of our favorite races, but we were in the top ten USARA teams.”
Taking the Lead in Outdoor Events
Berry quickly became a well-known figure in Arkansas’ outdoor recreation community, not just as a competitor but also as an event organizer. When the founders of Raid the Rock adventure race wanted to step away, Berry took over the event in 2012. “I had a passion for adventure racing and raid the rock specifically, I didn’t want to see it go away,” said Berry. Her passion for outdoor challenges, along with her drive to build inclusive and engaging recreational opportunities, made her a natural leader in the field. She has now managed Raid the Rock longer than the original organizers.
Her vision extended beyond racing. Berry saw the potential of the Ozarks as a hub for outdoor activities. Inspired by a trip to Puerto Rico where she tried ziplining, and the natural beauty of the Buffalo River area, she embarked on a mission to create similar experiences in Arkansas. This vision led to her being a part of the establishment of a zip line business at Buffalo Outdoor Center (BOC), a venture born from a desire to showcase the beauty of the Ozarks. During Spring break in 2010, Mike Mills of BOC had brought in Adventure Quest from Oklahoma to scout the property for a canopy tour. Berry entered the woods with them. “They asked if I had closed-toe shoes and some gloves, I wear my Chaco’s everywhere. I did and so, for the next 10 hours, we were moving boulders, cutting trees, moving downed trees just to get into the area. At the end of the day we get to the top of the hill. They said, we think you’d be a good addition to the team. Would you like to help us build. I said, sure. I joined them at the end of the school year, I was the only female in the build.”
Landing in Hot Springs
Looking for her next move, Berry was looking at other possibilities, putting on an adventure race in Hot Springs and an adventure park near Little Rock. All this while co-hosting The Big Gay radio show on KABF and eventually the podcast, Out in Arkansas, as an ad salesperson for Arkansas Times, and beginning her Executive Masters in Public Service at the Clinton School of Public Service. She also became involved with the Arkansas Rowing Club assisting with organizing the 6 Bridges Regatta.
After reaching out to Bill Solleder of Hot Springs Advertising and Promotion Commission, to talk about putting on an Adventure Race in Hot Springs, she was asked to attempt to make a stunt happen to help the promotion of Visit Hot Springs’ annual SpaCon event. She enrolled the help of climbing friend Logan Wilcoxon to rappel down the face of The Waters Hotel dressed as Batman and Robin. The next year, she facilitated the Arlington Hotel rappel where Logan and Daniel Carnahan rappeled as Batman and The Joker. Of course, she had to test out the rappel herself. “I couldn’t pass up the chance to rappel off the roof of the historic Arlington Hotel.”
Her journey eventually led her to a leadership role in Hot Springs, where she took on the role of Northwoods Trails Coordinator, a premier mountain biking destination. Since 2018, she has played a pivotal role in organizing and promoting major outdoor events such as the Güdrun Mountain Bike Festival, the Ouachita Triple Crown, and the Northwoods Mullet Run. Each event reflects her enthusiasm for building a welcoming and dynamic outdoor culture.
Berry gave us a little history behind the name and imagery behind the Güdrun Mountain Bike Festival, “The Valkyrie Trail came about because IMBA had subcontracted with a builder, a solo female builder who’s built all over the world. Her name is Valerie and the crew wanted to name the trail she built. And so that’s how we came up with the Valkyrie Trail. Ragnarök was added later, the last trail built in phase one, It’s where the gods are killed off and a utopia arises. Once you put that with Attila the Hun, a narrative arises. Marisa Rodgers on our marketing team at the time did some research, the story behind Güdrun is she’s this female heroine that was married to Attila the Hun and eventually killed him to avenge the death of her brother. She was a bad-ass. The image was created by a female trail builder and graphic designer.”
Creating a Legacy in Outdoor Recreation
Berry’s impact extends beyond races and events. She is a fierce advocate for expanding access to outdoor recreation, particularly for women and underrepresented groups. The Northwoods Trails have become a hub for riders and trail runners of all skill levels, thanks in part to her leadership and vision.
As this series continues throughout Women’s History Month, we will spotlight more women who are shaping Arkansas’ outdoor recreation scene. Traci Berry’s story serves as an inspiring reminder that the path to leadership can begin anywhere—from the gift of an outdoor tool to a basketball court to a borrowed bike to the rugged trails of Hot Springs.
Stay tuned for the next feature in our series as we continue to celebrate the women making Arkansas’ outdoor spaces more adventurous, inclusive, and exciting.
