In May 2024, tornadoes caused significant damage across Northwest Arkansas, impacting both personal and public property. Among the hardest-hit areas was Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area, located on the south shore of Beaver Lake near Rogers. Spanning over 12,000 acres, Hobbs is Arkansas’ largest state park and home to an extensive trail system supporting hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian activities.
Trail development at Hobbs has taken place over decades, with popular hiking trails such as the Pigeon Roost Trail (8.4 miles), Shaddox Hollow Trail (1.5 miles), and Sinking Stream Trail (0.5 miles) drawing visitors since the park’s early years. Mountain bike trails were first introduced in 2005 with the Hidden Diversity Multi-Use Trail, marking the beginning of Northwest Arkansas’ growth as a mountain biking destination. In 2018, Hobbs became the first state park to feature a Monument Trail, reinforcing Arkansas’ leadership in mountain biking infrastructure.
The tornadoes caused extensive damage throughout the park, leading to widespread trail closures. As reported in November, repairs are ongoing. Deputy Director of Arkansas State Parks Jeff King provided an update in coordination with Park Planner Jacob Evans, outlining the current restoration progress:
Open Trails
Several trails have reopened, though some may still require additional repairs:
- Ozark Plateau Trail
- Historic Van Winkle Trail
- Sinking Stream Trail
- Shaddox Hollow Trail
- Bashore Trail
- Dutton Trail
- Dry Creek Loop of Pigeon Roost Trail
Trail Repair Progress
Karst Loop
- Contractor: Rogue Trails
- Mileage: 7.8 miles
- Completion: 95%
- Estimated Finish: March 2025
- Status: The trail has been cleared, and tread repairs are nearly complete. The reconstruction of a trail bridge remains.
War Eagle Loop
- Contractor: Rogue Trails
- Mileage: 6 miles
- Completion: 25%
- Estimated Finish: May 2025
- Status: One of the most heavily damaged sections. Rogue Trails is making steady progress in clearing debris and will address additional fallen trees, root balls, and tread repair once the initial clearing is completed.
Little Clifty Loop
- Contractor: Rock Solid
- Mileage: 9 miles
- Completion: 75% cleared
- Estimated Finish: March 2025
- Status: Significant portions of the trail have been cleared. Rock Solid is finalizing the initial clearing before addressing the remaining debris and tread restoration.
Wolf Den Loop
- Contractor: Jagged Ax
- Mileage: 4.2 miles
- Completion: 20%
- Estimated Finish: March 2025
- Status: Cutting is 95% complete, and trail clearing has now begun.
Pigeon Roost Trail
- Contractor: Progressive Trail Design
- Mileage: 8.4 miles
- Completion: 0%
- Estimated Finish: 6 weeks from project start
- Status: Work is set to begin in late February or early March. The trail remains open.
Remaining Monument Trails
- Contractor: CBW Contracting
- Mileage: 5.25 miles
- Completion: 0%
- Estimated Finish: TBD
- Status: Work is scheduled to begin in late February or early March.
Restoration efforts continue as contractors work to clear and repair damaged trails, with estimated completion timelines varying based on the extent of damage and weather. Visitors are encouraged to check for updates on trail conditions before planning their trips.
As we get closer to the Monument Trails reopening, here is a little inspiration from Arkansas State Parks:
All photos are courtesy of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. 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!
