Back 40 & Blowing Springs
Wooded singletrack, rolling terrain and rocky features make room for everything from a focused skills ride to a bigger day out. Pick your route for the challenge you want.
Explore the trail systems
RACING AND RIDING IN BELLA VISTA, AR
Bella Vista, Arkansas · Race, ride & stay
Your riding season
doesn’t have to end.
More time on the trails. More people to share it with.
When snow puts favorite trails on pause and mountain resorts turn to skiing, look south to Bella Vista. Come for a winter riding escape, find your next race or organized ride, and settle into a vacation home with room for the whole crew.
Keep the good miles coming
Trade the winter pause
for time on the trail.
Crisp air. Open views through the trees. A sunny afternoon that makes you glad you brought the bike. Bella Vista’s rocky Ozark terrain and year-round riding opportunities give you more chances to keep moving when winter limits the options back home.
Explore Little Sugar’s well-draining trails, join a community ride, or plan lift-served laps at OZ Trails Bike Park. A few days here can keep your skills growing—and give you a head start on the adventures ahead.
Build experience, one ride at a time
Different trails.
More ways to grow.
Longer climbs, a better line through the rocks, a smoother corner: choose terrain that fits your experience, then give yourself time to get comfortable with something new.
Little Sugar
Rocky tread, repeated climbs and rolling descents reward pacing and bike handling. Build a short outing or a longer endurance day around the conditions and your legs.
Explore Little SugarOZ Trails Bike Park
Lift-served riding lets you repeat a favorite run and work on technique. Choose trails for your level, or book a lesson for focused help with the next step.
Plan a park dayA reason to visit. Another reason to return.
Find your next starting line.
Or your next group ride.
Winter is an invitation to explore. Spring and fall bring signature events that connect Bella Vista’s trails with the wider Northwest Arkansas riding community.
Late springUsually May
Multi-day mountain biking · Bella Vista & Bentonville
OZ Stage Race
Make a long weekend of the challenge. An optional opening prologue and three scored stages showcase trails including the Back 40 and Little Sugar. Race solo or with a teammate, then get to know fellow riders between stages.
SpringUsually May
Pavement, gravel & singletrack · Regional event
Rule of Three
Bring one bike and an appetite for variety. This demanding mixed-surface adventure rides out of Bentonville and incorporates Bella Vista singletrack. Changing routes, solo entries and team options make it a distinctive test of endurance and versatility.
Early fallUsually September
Community rides & connection · Bella Vista
NWA Bike-a-Palooza
A welcoming reason to ride together. Community-led outings, food and conversation bring visiting cyclists and local riders into the same weekend. Explore with a group, meet people who know the trails, and enjoy the social side of cycling.
FallUsually October
Endurance mountain biking · Bella Vista & Bentonville
Life Time Little Sugar MTB
Put your preparation to work on a nationally recognized mountain bike course. Rocky climbs, wooded hollows and flowing descents create a memorable test, with distance options for different ambitions. Check the current start, finish and transport plan when choosing your stay.
Late fallUsually November
Noncompetitive endurance ride & hike · Bella Vista
Loop de Loop
Set yourself a challenge without a race clock. Friends of Arkansas Singletrack brings riders together for an endurance outing with several loop choices and a hiking option. Come for the miles, connect with the local trail community and celebrate the effort together.
Seasons reflect recent editions. Follow each organizer for current dates, routes, categories, registration and spectator information. A shorter distance can still include demanding climbs and technical terrain.
You don’t need a race number
Meet the people
who know these trails.
A community ride turns an unfamiliar trail network into a shared experience. Friends of Arkansas Singletrack—FAST—organizes social rides for a range of fitness and technical abilities, with meeting locations around the region.
Ask about favorite routes. Watch how other riders approach a climb or corner. Trade stories afterward. Those small connections can build confidence and give you a reason to come back.
OZ Trails Bike Park · Bella Vista
One more reason
to stay another day.
Add lift-served riding to your trip, with trails designed for progression from beginner to expert. Book a lesson, repeat a favorite run, or make a park day part of your race weekend.
The rest of the crew can enjoy food, public art and the plaza at OZ Trails HQ. The HQ and grounds welcome nonriders without a lift ticket, so the park can be a shared stop even when everyone’s plans are different.
20+Miles of
gravity trailsLift-served laps.
Room to progress.
gravity trailsLift-served laps.
Room to progress.
Park riding requires the appropriate pass and waiver. Check current operating days, trail status, rentals and lesson availability with the park.
A good trip for everyone
They came with a rider.
They deserve a getaway, too.
Your spouse, partner, friends and family can cheer you on and still have a day of their own. Build the weekend around a few shared moments, with time for everyone’s interests in between.
Get out into the Ozarks.
Take a waterfall walk at Tanyard Creek or explore the wooded setting at Blowing Springs. Pick a route that fits the group, the footing and the day’s weather.
Find a walkFollow a little curiosity.
Discover sculptures along Bluebird’s paved loop and more public art around Bella Vista. Leave time for coffee, a leisurely lunch and the stops you find along the way.
Explore local artMake a round of it.
Bella Vista’s golf courses welcome visitors. Reserve a tee time, enjoy the wooded surroundings and meet the riders afterward. Check course conditions and availability before heading out.
Plan a roundMake it a long weekend. Arrive with time to settle in. Spend a day racing or riding, share dinner back at the house, then leave room for another trail, a park lesson or an outing together before heading home.
For race-day cheering and support, use the organizer’s designated viewing and aid areas. Check travel between your rental, the start, the finish and your group’s other plans.
Bring the bikes. Bring your people.
Stay near the trails.
Come home to your crew.
A Bella Vista vacation home can make the whole trip work better: an early breakfast before the start, room to relax after a long ride, and a place to share the stories that don’t fit into a race result.
A home that fits your kind of trip.
For couples, look for a comfortable retreat with room for both people’s plans. For families, prioritize the bedrooms, kitchen and downtime you need. For riding groups, choose enough space to gather, recover and get organized for the next day.
Start with the event or trail system you want to ride, then find a home nearby. A trailside listing may offer direct access; confirm the actual route with the host.
More about staying in Bella VistaCan I plan a winter trip without entering a race?
Absolutely. Choose your own trail rides, check the FAST calendar for a suitable social ride, or plan a park day and lesson. Most of the featured annual events take place in spring or fall; winter gives you another opportunity to explore and build confidence when conditions allow.
Will every trail and the bike park be open?
Access depends on conditions, maintenance and operating schedules. Check current trail reports and the park’s visitor guide. Respect closures and stay off soft, muddy tread.
Where is Bella Vista, and how do I get there?
Bella Vista is in Northwest Arkansas, just north of Bentonville. Fly into Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) and arrange ground transportation, or drive in with your bikes. Choose your stay around the trails and event venues you plan to visit; the park’s visitor guide includes directions for a park day.
Do I need to be an experienced racer?
You can enjoy Bella Vista without racing at all. Social rides, self-paced outings and lessons offer different ways to take part. For any event, read the distance, climbing and technical requirements before entering; a shorter course is not automatically an easy one. Even introductory mountain bike outings require basic riding skills.
Feed the adventure
Restaurants & groceries
Find a coffee stop before the ride, a table for the whole crew afterward, or groceries for dinner back at the house. Make the food part easy, wherever the day takes you.
Explore Bella Vista EatsFind your place.
A winter escape. A race weekend. A few more days with your favorite people. Start with a stay in Bella Vista.
Add your dates and guest count on the booking site. Amenities and trail access vary by property.