JASPER, Ark. – May 23, 2025 – Horseshoe Canyon Ranch, a renowned rock climbing destination in Arkansas, today announced the official opening of an extensive e-mountain bike trail network and upgraded camping facilities, transforming the area into an e-mountain bike paradise. The ranch now features a 20-mile system of hand-cut mountain bike trails designed to highlight the property’s unique natural features.
The new trail system caters to all skill levels, offering four green beginner trails, nine blue intermediate trails, and four black advanced downhill routes. “What makes Horseshoe Canyon Ranch unique is the terrain,” said Alberto Santiago, head of trail maintenance. “In just 10 miles, riders can experience up to 2,000 feet of climbing, making it perfect for e-mountain bikes.”
A distinctive feature of these trails is their hand-cut construction by Rock Solid Trail Contracting, one of the world’s premier trail-building groups. Unlike machine-built trails, hand-cut trails primarily use manual labor with minimal mechanized equipment. “It creates a different ride feel,” Santiago said. “Hand-cut trails preserve the natural contours of the landscape and are more ecologically sensitive to what’s already grown naturally there.” This method allows builders to make real-time decisions about the trail’s path, working around existing trees and root systems, which results in trails that feel integrated with the landscape.
“It’s the most gorgeous property I’ve had the pleasure to be a part of,” said Mike Carpenter, construction project manager for Rock Solid. “Our design and build teams absolutely knocked it out of the park. There’s nothing in Northwest Arkansas that’s similar to Horseshoe Canyon. It’s a must-visit for sure.”
To support the challenging terrain, the ranch offers a rental fleet of 60 Specialized Levo full-suspension e-mountain bikes. These bikes feature 160mm front and 150mm rear travel and are available in sizes from extra-small to extra-large, with children’s e-bikes also available.
“E-bikes allow more riders to enjoy our trails more readily,” said Rudy Chalmers, facilities manager. “Our topography is quite pitchy, and the e-bikes make it accessible to a wider range of visitors.”
A standout trail, “Electric Cowboy,” is described by staff as “one of the best jump trails in Northwest Arkansas,” featuring large tabletops, a shark fin feature, high-speed sections, and swooping berms. A new skills progression area has also been added for riders to practice before attempting more challenging routes.
Campsite Improvements
Enhancements to the ranch include 25 new reservable campsites situated among large boulders with a nearby creek. The upgraded camping area features a bathhouse with four showers and six toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings at each site. While electrical hookups are not available, the campground will provide Wi-Fi service via Starlink.
“These sites are designed with van campers in mind,” Chalmers said. “We’ve created an elevated camping experience in one of the coolest settings I’ve seen for a campground.”
Daily passes to the ranch are $14 and include access to the lodge, climbing walls in the bike barn, and volleyball courts. E-bike rentals are $50 for adults and $40 for children for a half-day, or $90 for adults and $60 for children for a full day, in addition to the day-pass fee. Reservations are recommended.
More than Mountain Biking
Beyond mountain biking, Horseshoe Canyon Ranch continues to offer rock climbing, a Via Ferrata climbing route for $115, and zipline tours for $50 (adults) and $40 (children). Thirteen cabins, accommodating between three and seven guests each, are available for overnight stays. Food service includes grab-and-go options during the day, with restaurant dinner service from Thursday to Saturday and daily breakfast for overnight guests.
The ranch emphasized that these improvements were completed with a commitment to environmental preservation, utilizing trail construction methods that maintain the natural landscape and protect the local ecosystem.
For more information or to make reservations, visit the Horseshoe Canyon Ranch website (https://www.horseshoecanyon.com) or call (800) 480-9635.
Read about our visit to Horseshoe Canyon Ranch last year during early stages of this transformation where we ride, climb, and eat here.
Photos for this article were provided by Horseshoe Canyon Ranch.
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!
