In the rugged hills of the Ouachita Mountains, where trails twist through oak forests and wind over rocky ridges, mountain bikers ride today thanks in part to the quiet dedication of one man: Ed Hawkins.
One of my favorite memories of Ed and his wife, and constant companion, Sue, comes from a trip to Colorado. My wife, Lisa, and I were in Pagosa Springs visiting friends while she was acclimating for the Pike’s Peak Half-Marathon. The Tour of Colorado was passing through town during our stay, so we headed to a local park to enjoy the festivities. As we wandered through the crowd, we unexpectedly ran into Ed and Sue, who participated in the tour. It was a wonderful surprise, and we spent a great afternoon catching up with familiar faces from back home.
Long before Arkansas became known for its world-class trail systems, Hawkins was helping shape the future of off-road cycling in the state—not by chasing headlines, but by putting in the work. A farmer by trade and an athlete by passion, Hawkins brought sweat, grit, and vision to the growing mountain biking movement in the Ouachitas.
“He was never looking for the spotlight,” said his wife, Sue Hawkins. “He just believed in the trails and wanted to make them better—for everyone.”
A Pioneer in Trail Stewardship
Hawkins was deeply involved with Friends of the Ouachita Trail (FoOT), often adopting some of the hardest-to-reach sections of the trail to maintain. Using a heavy-duty mountain bike and a BOB trailer loaded with tools, he would ride deep into the backcountry before beginning a long day of sawing limbs, clearing brush, and repairing tread. Some of these sections had no water sources, so he stashed water ahead of time—he found one stash empty with teeth marks on it.
“That was a dicey situation,” Sue recalled. “It was midsummer, hot, and suddenly he had no water. But he managed, like he always did.”
While Hawkins worked trails across the state, the Ouachita Trail held a special place in his heart. When mountain biking access was being debated, he worked closely with trail advocates and Forest Service staff—including longtime friends like Mike Kelsey—to help open and preserve bike access on trails such as the Ouachita and Womble.
“He’d always take on the parts of the trail that were the hardest to reach,” Sue said. “He left the easier sections for others, especially the volunteers who came from out of state.”
Roots in Running, Growth in Cycling
Ed and Sue moved to Arkansas in 1980, already avid runners. They connected with the local outdoor community organizing the Poultry Festival in Waldron with the support of the Bank of Waldron, where they first met the Kelseys. Ed competed in marathons and half-marathons, often finishing strong on tough, hilly courses.
But when running began to wear on his joints, he turned more fully to mountain biking—drawn not just by the fitness, but by the solitude and beauty of the trails. It wasn’t long before he became a foundational figure in the state’s mountain biking scene.
Crowning a distinguished competitive career with numerous state, national, and international victories, he achieved the pinnacle of his sport at age 59 by winning the International Masters Cross Country Biking World Championship for his age group in Bromont, Canada.
Ed helped co-found the Ouachita Cycling Club, a grassroots organization that brought riders together and helped formalize trail access and maintenance efforts. Out of that community grew the Ouachita Challenge, one of Arkansas’s most storied mountain bike events. What began as a small Thanksgiving ride evolved into a major annual race drawing competitors from across the region.
“We watched it grow from a few riders and Mike’s mom cooking spaghetti for everyone, to this big event with gravel and mountain bike divisions,” Sue said. “Ed was involved every step of the way.”
Ed and Sue’s vacations were often spent traveling to National Off Road Bicycle Association (NORBA) races around the country.
A Life of Discipline and Purpose
Off the trail, Hawkins was just as driven. He earned a black belt in taekwondo and maintained a strict daily routine of early mornings, healthy eating, and regular exercise. He never smoked or drank in excess and often attributed his lean frame to both good genes and farm work.
The Hawkinses ran a poultry farm for years, a job that offered some flexibility for Ed’s training schedule. Sue later returned to work as an ESL teacher, but Ed remained committed to the farm—and to the trails.
A Lasting Legacy on Arkansas Trails
As mountain biking continues to grow in Arkansas, the quiet contributions of trail builders like Ed Hawkins often go unnoticed by the riders who benefit from them. But those who knew him remember the long days with tools strapped to a bike, the advocacy meetings, and the deep love he had for the wild places of the Ouachitas.
“He didn’t care about the latest bike or the fanciest gear,” Sue said. “He just wanted a good ride, a well-built trail, and to leave things better than he found them.”
Today, riders on the Womble, the Ouachita Trail, and the course of the Ouachita Challenge may never know his name—but they’re riding in his tracks.
Ed passed away on Monday, January 6, 2025. He is remembered fondly by friends, family, and competitors who will be holding a memorial service for him this weekend.
Thanks to Sue Hawkins for many of the photos and the memories and thanks to Ed for acting on a dream.
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!
