In 1988, Devil’s Den State Park Ranger Wally Scherrey penned a memo thanking the Arkansas Parks and Tourism department heads for allowing him and Ranger Tim Scott to attend Fat Tire Bike Week in Colorado. The trip, billed as a fact-finding mission on mountain biking events, was one they believed would have long-term benefits for the state. Scherrey stated, “We feel that it will pay off for the State in the future.” That future is now a reality, exemplified by the park’s renowned mountain bike trails and the upcoming 35th annual Northwest Arkansas Mountain Bike Championship, scheduled for September 14.
The championship is a part of the Arkansas Mountain Biking Series, where riders from professionals to amateurs race for points to determine the champions of their respective categories by year’s end. The course will be set on the Monument Trails, which includes the revamped Fossil Flats Trail System.
These trails primarily consist of stacked loops, with notable highlights such as the Outlaw Loop, which features a “gravity cavity” that propels riders down a 15-foot gulley. The Dollar A Day trail incorporates elements of a flow trail, while Racer’s Hill retains old-school mountain biking characteristics with hand-cut single track and rock gardens, just as it was built 25 years ago. Sawmill Trail is home to “the ledge,” a narrow stretch along a bluff line that could lead to a 30-foot fall into Lee Creek below if riders aren’t careful. “It has real pucker factor,” Ranger Tim Scott remarked.
“The race is chip-timed, and riders can register up until the Friday before the event,” Scott added. Riders can sign up online at www.bikereg.com/nw-arkansas-mountain-bike-championships or contact Scott directly for more information.
Today, the Northwest Arkansas Mountain Bike Championship is the longest-running mountain bike race in Arkansas, and Devil’s Den State Park is recognized as the birthplace of mountain biking in Northwest Arkansas. What began as a countercultural movement has since evolved, with Northwest Arkansas now known as the Mountain Biking Capital of the World.
“It ended up becoming a legitimate form of recreation,” said Scott. “We helped set the example. We helped draw attention to the sport in Arkansas.”
The first mountain bike race at Devil’s Den was organized largely on old forest service roads, and the construction of trails in the park soon followed. Now, the park boasts over 20 miles of mountain bike trails, concentrating on its scenic beauty and challenging terrain. Last year, the park’s Monument Trails were named the best trails in the nation by *Outside Magazine*.
Built in collaboration with the Arkansas Parks and Recreation Foundation and the Walton Family Foundation, the Monument Trails are part of a world-class network found within Arkansas State Parks. These shared-use trails are professionally designed to showcase the area’s unique terrain, historical sites, and scenic vistas, offering meaningful outdoor experiences for all skill levels.
Devil’s Den State Park, located within the Boston Mountain subdivision of the Ozark Mountains, is known for its rugged landscape. The park is characterized by steep hillsides, rocky outcrops, and lush forests, with elevations ranging from 955 to 1,763 feet. Visitors can explore over 64,000 acres of surrounding U.S. Forest Service property and enjoy the park’s many recreational opportunities, including mountain biking, hiking, backpacking, and horseback riding. The park also offers cabins, campgrounds, a seasonal swimming pool, and a store for groceries and gifts.
Devil’s Den is one of the most intact Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) parks in the country and features the largest sandstone crevice area in the United States. In 1994, it was designated a Historic District and added to the National Register of Historic Places.
For more information about Devil’s Den State Park, visit www.ArkansasStateParks.com. The park is accessible via Interstate 49, either from Exit 53 at West Fork or Exit 45 at Winslow. Visitors are advised that trailers longer than 26 feet should use Exit 53.
