It’s not hard to find barely used mountain bikes purchased by folks who know they want to get off-road, but then can’t find places to ride that don’t leave them discouraged. Starting out on a mountain bike can be tough, especially if you are new, trying it on your own or trying to immediately fall in with a group that is more experienced. Here are a few beginner friendly trails for novice pedalers.
Northwest:
The scenic All-American Trail at Crystal Bridges Museum is a great place to practice new balancing skills. By riding up the paved Crystal Bridge trail behind the museum, the flow of the short All-American takes riders on a fast flowing whoop-de-doo ride with corners, berms and a few “skinnies” when you’re ready to test that balance and control. At the bottom of the hill, it’s an easy connection using the paved bike/pedestrian path to the Seed Tick trail of the Slaughter Pen system. Not all of Slaughter Pen is beginner friendly, but Seed Tick is a great place to start. Other trails open to bikes at on the museum grounds including the Crystal Bridges Trail that connects downtown to Slaughter Pen Trails on the bike/pedestrian path are the Orchard and Art trails. The Orchard Trail is accessible from the parking lot.
Lake Fayetteville trail gives riders 7 miles around the lake that also connects to the Razorback Greenway for a longer ride that isn’t all off-road, or ride from Veteran’s Memorial Park.
Like Slaughter Pen, the new trails at Lake Atalanta have something for every level of rider including sections designated for beginners like the Bluffline, Cramps and Shadow Ridge sections that loop the lake.
In Barling near Ft. Smith, off-road cyclists can enjoy tight, fast turns at Springhill Trail. More than 9 miles of flat twisting trail will give beginners a place to start and experienced riders a place to let loose the speed.
Northeast:
The Beginner Yellow Loop in Craighead Forest is a good place to start if you’re near Jonesboro.
Near Wynne at Village Creek State Park, nearly 20 miles of multi-use trail connecting Lake Dunn and Lake Austell is open to mountain bikes. Watch the stream crossings shared with the equestrian trails, they can be tricky for bikes due to erosion.
LR/Central:
In midtown Little Rock, the city’s Boyle Park is a great place for beginners to test their mettle on the flat fast trails near the playground on the northwest side of the park. With paved connections, new skills can be tested on the tougher sections of trail on the south and east side of the park.
In North Little Rock, the mountain bike trails at Burns Park give riders of all levels miles of trail to ride. Beginners should stick to the Yellow trail and progress to the Green trail as technical skills increase. On some of the Burns Park trails it is the rocky terrain and not the elevation change that is hard for beginners. Be cautious, ride smart, and be ready to walk sections if you aren’t sure of your skill.
Old Post near Dardanelle is another great place to begin. There is not a lot of elevation change, but with close to 6 miles of trail built in a small area, Old Post will give your cornering skills a workout.
For the advancing beginner, Ender’s Fault at Woolly Hollow State Park near Greenbrier is a good choice. With parking and bathrooms near the trailhead, riders can pedal the day away then jump in at the swim beach for a small fee or bring a kayak, canoe or paddleboard to use on the lake for a post ride cool down.
Another choice is the Pfiefer Loop at the base of the NLR side of the Big Dam Bridge. Unfortunately, due to the damage done by recent flooding, this trail is closed. When it reopens, ride from the Big Dam Bridge for a lap on the loop then on to the Yellow Trail in Burns and back for a great beginner friendly ride.
South:
The Fern Hollow Multi-Use Trail at White Oak Lake State Park near Bluff City has almost 10 miles of trail with a cut-off about halfway through if 10 miles is too much. There are tent only campsites adjacent to the trailhead making it an easy way to camp with the family and ride as time allows.
Cane Creek Lake Trail in Star City south of Pine Bluff offers 15.5 miles of rolling hills and multiple bridges across two distinct geological Arkansas regions, the Delta and the Timberlands. With camping shelters at mile 6, family bike-packing is an option. Other options at Cane Creek State Park include great fishing and a marked kayak trail. This is a great place to spend a weekend of play, camp in the campground or rent the park’s stationary RV outfitted with a deck and all the amenities of home.
Looking for trail? Try MTBProject for a list of these trails and many more around the state and around the country. Want to check out new trails when you travel but want to get a good review before you go? Here’s a great place to look first.
