From the early days of Arkansas mountain biking to the development of the Northwoods Trail System, the Attila the Hun Mountain Bike Race has become one of the state’s most enduring cycling traditions. This upcoming race will mark the 35th year of the event.
Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
Long before Arkansas became a nationally recognized mountain biking destination, riders were gathering in the Ouachita Mountains near Hot Springs to test their skills against rugged terrain and one another. The trails were rough, the bikes were considerably less sophisticated, and organized mountain bike racing was still finding its place in the state.
Out of those early days came the Attila the Hun Mountain Bike Race, an event that has survived changing venues, evolving equipment, and more than three decades of growth in the sport.
First held in 1992, Attila the Hun is recognized as Arkansas’s longest consecutively running mountain bike race. On October 24, 2026, the race returns to Cedar Glades Park in Hot Springs as part of the annual Güdrun Northwoods Mountain Bike Festival.
For many Arkansas mountain bikers, Attila is more than another race on the calendar. It is a connection to the early days of the sport and the people who helped build the mountain biking community that exists today.
Mountain Biking Comes to Hot Springs
In the early 1990s, mountain biking was a relatively young competitive sport in Arkansas. Riders were exploring forest roads, hiking trails, and whatever singletrack they could find. Dedicated mountain bike trail systems were uncommon, and most races depended on local volunteers, bicycle shops, and riders willing to organize events.
The first Attila the Hun race took place in 1992 in the area now occupied by the Northwoods Trail System near Hot Springs.
The surrounding Ouachita Mountains offered plenty of challenging terrain, including rocky climbs, twisting trails, and demanding descents. These characteristics helped establish the race’s reputation as a test of endurance and technical riding ability.
Attila emerged during a formative period for Arkansas mountain biking, alongside other early events such as the Ozark Mountain Bike Festival at Devil’s Den State Park. Together, these races helped establish a competitive mountain biking community that extended across the state.
While today’s riders have access to professionally designed trails and advanced equipment, the early Attila competitors tackled their courses on bikes with limited suspension, narrow handlebars, and equipment that required considerably more attention to line choice and bike handling.
The bikes have changed, but the challenge of cross-country racing remains much the same.
Finding a Permanent Home
Although Attila the Hun began in the Northwoods area, the race did not remain on its original course.
Following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the event relocated to the Charlton Recreation Area along Highway 270 west of Hot Springs. It later moved to Cedar Glades Park, where it became an established part of the local mountain biking calendar.
The venue changes could have ended a smaller event, but Attila maintained its following.
Cedar Glades provided a suitable setting for cross-country competition, with challenging terrain and room for the infrastructure needed to support a growing race.
Eventually, the development of the Northwoods Trail System would bring the race’s current home into a larger network of trails that transformed mountain biking in Hot Springs.
Bruce and Jann Hubbard: The People Behind the Race
A significant part of Attila the Hun’s longevity can be credited to Bruce and Jann Hubbard, longtime owners of Parkside Cycle in Hot Springs.
For decades, the Hubbards were closely involved in organizing and supporting the event, helping maintain a racing tradition through periods when mountain biking received far less attention than it does today.
Their contributions extended beyond registration tables and race-day logistics. Like many of the early mountain bike advocates in Arkansas, they helped build a community around the sport.
Local bicycle shops played an essential role in those early years. They provided equipment, technical assistance, organizational support, and gathering places where riders could exchange information about trails and upcoming races.
For more than two decades, the Hubbards helped keep Attila the Hun on the calendar, providing continuity as the sport changed around them.
In 2021, they passed leadership of the race to the Trail Advocacy Coalition of the Ouachitas, better known as TACO.
The transition placed the event in the hands of a local trail advocacy organization while preserving the racing tradition the Hubbards had helped sustain.
Their involvement remains an important part of the history of mountain biking in Hot Springs.
Northwoods Changes the Mountain Biking Landscape
The opening of the Northwoods Trail System in November 2018 represented a major milestone for outdoor recreation in Hot Springs.
The project transformed the area into a purpose-built mountain biking destination, with trails designed for different riding abilities and styles.
Northwoods also connected with Cedar Glades Park, creating a larger riding network and providing opportunities for recreational riding, competitive events, and mountain bike tourism.
For Attila the Hun, the development brought the event’s history full circle.
The race that began in the Northwoods area in 1992 was now associated with one of Arkansas’s newer mountain biking destinations.
The improvements also provided an opportunity to introduce a broader audience to mountain biking in Hot Springs.
Northwoods/Cedar Glades Earns Recognition from Arkansas Mountain Bikers
The Northwoods/Cedar Glades Trail System has repeatedly earned top honors in the annual Arkansas Outside Reader Poll, winning the title of Best Mountain Bike Trail System in Arkansas for several years. Voted on by readers and riders from across the state, the recognition reflects the popularity of the interconnected trail network and its appeal to mountain bikers of varying skill levels. From beginner-friendly trails and flowing singletrack to challenging climbs, technical features, and purpose-built downhill routes, Northwoods/Cedar Glades offers a wide variety of riding experiences in the Ouachita Mountains.
The repeated reader poll victories also demonstrate how far mountain biking in Hot Springs has come since the first Attila the Hun race in 1992. What began as a rugged setting for early mountain bike competition has evolved into a destination trail system attracting recreational riders and competitive cyclists from across Arkansas and beyond. Continued investment in trail development, community support, and events such as the Güdrun Northwoods Mountain Bike Festival has helped establish Northwoods/Cedar Glades as one of the state’s most recognized mountain biking destinations.
Güdrun Brings a New Generation of Riders
In 2019, Hot Springs introduced the Güdrun Northwoods Mountain Bike Festival to celebrate the first anniversary of the Northwoods Trail System.
The festival built on the community’s mountain biking history while introducing additional competitions and activities.
Its Viking-inspired identity complemented the longstanding Attila the Hun name, helping connect the area’s racing heritage with a new event.
The inaugural festival attracted approximately 500 riders, including participants traveling from outside Arkansas and as far away as Canada.
While Attila continued as a traditional cross-country race, Güdrun introduced additional mountain biking disciplines, including enduro, dual slalom, jump competitions, time trials, and recreational rides.
The expanded festival offered opportunities for riders who might not otherwise participate in a traditional cross-country event.
It also allowed Hot Springs to showcase the growing Northwoods Trail System and its connection to Cedar Glades Park.
Rather than replacing Attila the Hun, the festival gave the historic race a larger stage.
A Tradition Within the Arkansas Mountain Bike Championship Series
Attila the Hun has long been associated with the Arkansas Mountain Bike Championship Series, or AMBCS.
The statewide series provides organized cross-country racing opportunities for riders of different ages and abilities.
Attila has traditionally served as the season finale, giving competitors one final opportunity to earn points toward their overall championship standings.
For racers who travel across Arkansas throughout the season, the event is also an opportunity to reconnect with friends and fellow competitors before the racing calendar comes to a close.
Over the years, the race has expanded its categories to reflect changes in mountain biking.
By 2024, Attila offered 44 racing categories, including divisions for beginners, experienced racers, singlespeed riders, tandem teams, and electric mountain bikes.
Despite those changes, the essential character of the event remains traditional cross-country racing.
Competitors must balance speed with endurance while navigating climbs, descents, and technical trail features. Success requires fitness, bike-handling skills, and the ability to maintain a consistent pace over the course.
For many riders, simply completing Attila is an accomplishment worth celebrating.
Attila the Hun Returns October 24, 2026
The 2026 Attila the Hun Mountain Bike Race takes place Saturday, October 24, at Cedar Glades Park in Hot Springs.
The race is part of the Güdrun Northwoods Mountain Bike Festival, scheduled for October 23 through 25.
This year’s festival moves from its traditional November dates to October, bringing the celebration of mountain biking to Hot Springs earlier in the fall.
The schedule also moves Attila from its customary Sunday position to Saturday, with Arkansas Mountain Bike Championship Series awards following the race.
The festival continues to evolve, including a partnership with the Ozark Foundation to produce the enduro competition as part of the Arkansas Enduro Series.
But Attila remains the event that connects the modern festival with the earliest days of organized mountain bike racing in Hot Springs.
Riders interested in competing can find registration information at BikeReg. Participants should confirm race start times and category schedules with organizers before arriving.
More Than Three Decades of Arkansas Mountain Biking
Arkansas mountain biking has changed dramatically since 1992.
The state now has purpose-built trail systems, nationally recognized mountain biking destinations, youth cycling programs, and major events attracting riders from across the country.
None of that existed on the same scale when Attila the Hun first appeared on the racing calendar.
The event belongs to an earlier generation of Arkansas mountain biking, when dedicated riders, local bike shops, and volunteers provided much of the energy required to establish the sport.
Many of those early competitors and organizers helped lay the groundwork for the trail development and cycling advocacy that followed.
Attila the Hun has provided a continuous connection between that history and the mountain biking community of today.
The race has changed locations, welcomed new organizers, and become part of a larger festival. Through it all, its identity as a challenging cross-country mountain bike race has remained.
For longtime competitors, Attila offers an opportunity to revisit familiar rivalries and memories. For newer riders, it provides a chance to participate in one of the oldest traditions in Arkansas mountain biking.
And 34 years after the first riders gathered near Hot Springs, Attila the Hun continues to bring the Arkansas mountain biking community together.
2026 Attila the Hun Mountain Bike Race
- Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
- Location: Cedar Glades Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas
- Festival: Güdrun Northwoods Mountain Bike Festival, October 23 through 25
- Race: Arkansas Mountain Bike Championship Series cross-country competition
- Registration: https://www.bikereg.com/attila-the-hun-xc-race
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!