Pump Track for Bikes at Rockburn Skills Park Opens Again
A Get-go Timer's Guide to Exploring Bentonville past Wheel
There are bike trails everywhere!!! Seriously. Everywhere. Bentonville, Arkansas might just be our family unit'due south new favorite vacation destination.
We'd heard all the hype about the millions of dollars the Walton family unit had pumped into building an amazing trail system, and took a 6 hour drive to see what all the fuss what nigh. In short, Bentonville is a biking paradise and totally OVER delivered on the hype. **Update – we've gone back six times since our offset trip!**
From paved trails to mountain bike trails, wheel parks, pump tracks, and bike skills areas, Bentonville and its surrounding areas has a little scrap of everything for every style and level of passenger.
And with four kids ranging from 2 to 13 in tow, family unit-friendly biking options were certainly high on our list of priorities. When it comes to biking with little ones, Bentonville has plenty of epic options for kids, toddlers on balance bikes, or even moms with trailers in tow.
Trails
Bentonville is a small town. Similar actually small. Despite being the headquarters of Walmart, its population is just over 35,000. You can bike from one end of boondocks to the other in but a few minutes, which means y'all besides accept access to a huge number of trails without always loading your bikes up on a rack. That's because the trail system surrounds the town like a big bicycle hug. Cover me, please.
As a caveat, this guide is for general bike riding families, or mountain biking families with young kids. If your whole group are serious and skilled mountain bikers, info on those black diamond trails won't exist plant here. 🙂
Bicycle Bentonville is an amazing resources for everything we're about to discuss.
Slaughter Pen
Slaughter Pen lies on the e side of boondocks, basically still in the boondocks itself. It'due south extremely popular because besides being crazy crawly, it's crazy accessible.
For a full map of this trail arrangement, check it the official map here, or on MTB Project.
From a family unit perspective, this was our easily-down favorite. This trail system is actually a parallel sets of trails. The Razorback Greenway is paved and runs forth a system of dirt trails ranging in level of difficulty.
So if you've got more timid kids who don't feel comfortable on a true mountain bike trail (or mom pulling the infant in the trailer), they can ride the paved trail along side more daring sibling who choose to tackle the clay – and information technology'southward still a family ride!
Essentially, the big describe is that you tin can all stay in the same basic area (and literally ride along side i some other at times), while having the option to choose the trail that fits your skill level.
Slaughter Pen – All-American Section
The All-American department of Slaughter Pen (Phase three) is a green level trail and super fun for beginning and advanced riders. Information technology was a department of trail that I could hands dominate while riding a hybrid bike andpulling the trailer backside me.
This particular department nosotros rode over and over. Information technology was less well-nigh distance and all about only enjoying this roller coaster for bikes. Being close to town, information technology was overnice because nosotros could just quit and go domicile as soon as nosotros were tired.
This particular section is peculiarly great for families because the paved and dirt trails are right side by side to each other. While pulling the trailer, there were sections that I would bond and become back on the paved trail. All the while I could still see my kids and cheer them on.
For smaller kids (or moms with trailer in tow), we recommend starting at the bottom of Crystal Bridges, as the very pinnacle portion of All American may exist a bit steep for less-skilled riders.
Slaughter Pen – Choo Choo, Weep Infant, Boo Boo, Medusa
There are also blue and black runs all over Slaughter Pen. Dad and the boys explored these more than technical trails later they ditched mom and the trailer. 🙂 While they explored mostly in Phase iii and Phase 1, there are pretty much endlesstrails to explore.
Go along in heed that my kids are not experienced mount bikers, only they were still able to confidently manage blue trails (Choo Choo, Weep Baby, Boo Boo), an even the blackness trail Medusa. It's often but a matter of rolling over a jump rather than catching air. 😉
After subsequent trips, we highly recommend Ravine Trail (blueish) as a drop-in to Slaughter Pen, Leopard'due south Loop (blue) which is a paved downhill berm heaven, and Black Apple tree Creek (greenish) which takes you through a tunnel nether Tiger Blvd. Nosotros hoot and holler the whole manner through!
Coler Mount Wheel Reserve
On our second trip to Bentonville, our beginning cease was 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲, which DID Non DISAPPOINT. In search of family-friendly trails that even Mom can ride with trailer in tow, we discovered Esther's Loop near the south archway.
Enough of climbing and rocky, root-strewn trails, but wide enough for a single trailer! "𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘆, 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗺𝗽𝘆! 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆!" 𝗠𝗼𝗺-𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱. 𝗕𝗮𝗯𝘆-𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱. Only be prepared to sweat! Information technology may exist labeled green trail, merely it's a pretty advanced dark-green trail, and you may take to walk a few portions if you have a trailer in tow. It's a lilliputian over five miles.
I had recently purchased a new hardtail mountain wheel and would merely suggest tackling this trail with a truthful mountain bicycle. A hybrid, similar the one I brought my first trip, would not have cutting it.
Family unit Flow trail can be accessed virtually Esther'due south, and is a flowy intro to downhill riding that'south perfect for aggressive, confident piddling ones. On our seventh trip to Bentonville, we towed our merely-turned-4-year-sometime to the top and she baby bombed it down with a smile on her face. (Proceed in heed this little one is pretty avant-garde for her age, so keep your child's skill level in mind!)
If you're looking for something more balmy, there's a paved trail that connects the north and south entrances. The paved road is often paralleled past Good Vibrations, an easy dirt catamenia trail – literally something for everybody!
And nosotros can't exit out the Thunderdome!! Whether this is kid-friendly or non is really up to the kids, simply it is then. freaking. epic. No way I would practise it with a trailer in tow, but confident kids with expert bicycle treatment skills volition have the time of their lives.
It'due south a dual slalom down hill course so kids and friends (or parents) can race each other on the manner down. You walk your bike up to the top of a pretty steep incline, but information technology was so rad our kids were non complaining. It'southward located correct off the s entrance.
This area also has several water access points for kids to play in the shallow, wearisome-flowing creek.
Paved Family Rides
If yous're not into mount biking, there are enough of scenic paved trails for long or leisurely family unit rides.
Bentonville Local
Trails run through the town of Bentonville itself, and even down into the renowned campus of Crystal Bridges Fine art Museum.
Razorback Greenway
The Razorback Regional Greenway is a 36 mile system of paved and off-road trails starting all the way to downward in Fayetteville and extending north to Lake Bella Vista.
We did a 13-mile circular trip ride from the city up and around Lake Bella Vista to the north. The lake was really ugly, but the ride was corking!
Lake Atalanta
The prettier lake to explore is Lake Atalanta. You could technically ride there from Bentonville, but it would be a bit of a booty. Ameliorate to load up the rack and starting time your ride fresh at the lake. You can also get-go your ride at the Railyard Wheel Park in Rogers which has a paved trail downwards to the lake.
The lake trail itself is a paved and shaded one.eight mile loop with some pretty dainty climbs and descends, and gorgeous views of the lake. There are besides a few off-shoot MTB trails off the paved sections.
Local Bike Parks, Skills Areas, and Pump Tracks
If you desire a pause from strict trail riding, or the kids just want more of a chance to play for fun, the Bentonville area is full of pump tracks and bike skills areas.
These areas are too extremely conducive to balance bike riding considering their size is limited and when your lilliputian i tires out, you don't have to comport them (and their bicycle) for miles back to the car.
Runway Cycle Park (Springdale)
Easily the all-time wheel park in the area, the Runway Wheel Park was designed and built to claiming every riding level.
Bicycle Skills Area: With 3 lines (greenish, bluish, and black), our 2-yr-quondam toddler dominated the green line parallel to dudes decked out in all their MTB gear running the black lines.
Velosolutions Pump Track:While congenital with BMXers in mind, this asphalt pump rails is also a fun spot for toddlers on balance bikes and kids on bikes upwardly to 26″. The track tin can get decorated with serious BMXers, and so if your kids are young, try to become in the morning when the traffic is lower.
Bicycle Playground:For very beginning riders the playground is the best place to start. The features are easy, and the pump track is small and isolated from bigger kids. Our nigh two.5-year-old was a fleck bored, but she'southward insanely brave and at the "mastery" phase of her balance bike and enjoyed the bike skills area much more.
The Railyard (Rogers)
The Railyard Bicycle Park is a few miles away in Rogers, but definitely worth the short bulldoze if you accept a child on a remainder cycle. The Kid Zone is adorably railyard-themed and features a tunnel, wood bridges, and a small-scale pump track.
In that location are 8 runs in the main part of the park itself, but they are generally intermediate track to intensely advanced jumps. There is one downhill dark-green run that is challenging only manageable for young, skilled riders. Our avant-garde three-twelvemonth-one-time pedal bike rider loved this run, but got bored quickly because information technology was the only run safe for her.
Thaden School (Bentonville)
Located on the south side of Bentonville, this private school has its own Velosolutions pump track! It's open up every day after schoolhouse hours and on the weekend.
Not all pump tracks are keen for immature riders. This particular pump runway is deep with sharper angles. While our little one enjoyed this track on a balance cycle, she's institute information technology quite difficult to navigate the inclines with a xiv″ or 16″ pedal bike. It's a nifty fit for our son on a 24″ bike, who pumps his little centre out.
If the pump rails isn't a proficient fit for your rider, there's an adjacent dirt runway and bike skills area that all of our kids (balance bike to 26″ bicycle!) declared their new favorite place to ride in Bentonville!
It's directly next to the large ruby-red barn structure.
Walmart Bicycle Playground (Bentonville)
Simply north of the Bark Park domestic dog playground on the Razorback Greenway northward of the urban center, the bike playground has cutesy and fun bike skills features for very beginning riders. We didn't take our older kids because we knew they would ride it once and be washed.
Metfield Skills Surface area (Bella Vista)
To the due north of Bentonville in Bella Vista, the Metfield Skills area is small but varied and fun. The actual skills features (ladders, drops, and skinnies) tin exist a fleck narrow and intimidating for boilerplate riders, but the beginner's concrete pump track is fantastic for rest bikes, small bikes, and scooters.
Mama Bear Pump Rail at 8th Street Market
New equally of October 2020, this large, shallow pumptrack is challenging, nevertheless very manageable for balance bike riders and young pedal bike riders. While older riders volition get bored after ii or three loops, we loved it for our iii-year-one-time who is withal developing her pedal wheel skills.
Located right next to 8th Street Market and Momentary, information technology's a great place to ride before or later an outdoor lunch stop!
Wolf Park
Located on the SW side of Bentonville, you'll need to hop in the car for this one, but information technology's definitely worth it. A true mountain bike trail, it's fun for older kids to race and tackle forest and rock features, but too suuuuper balance bike friendly.
Information technology consists of two fairly apartment loops – the longer Wolf Trail and the much shorter Cub Loop. A confident balance biker should take about 10-fifteen minutes to stop Wolf Trail, while Cub Loop tin be completed in less than 5. It's the perfect mountain biking intro for budding shredders!
Renting Bikes
Because our bike rack only holds four bikes, dad's bike got left at home and nosotros rented a Trek for him once we arrived. Phat Tire Bicycle Shop has beer on tap and tonsof bikes of all sizes to choose from. Located in the center of boondocks, it'southward easy to walk to if you lot need to pick upwards your bike on pes.
Where to Stay
Before going to Bentonville, it was hard to sympathize where the "best spot" to stay was. Were at that place bad areas of boondocks? Was the southside too far from the Slaughter Pen trail access?
Like I said before, Bentonville is really small. If you stay anywhere downtown, yous can basically ride your bike or walk everywhere. We ended up staying on the SW side of boondocks and loved that area. Looking at the map I was worried that we should have stayed on the n side and then we'd have quicker access to the trails. Merely everything is so close, it really doesn't matter much.
We stayed in an adorable AirBNB, which worked out perfectly. In that location'southward a Walmart Marketplace grocery shop on the town square, and so like shooting fish in a barrel access to groceries and dwelling house supplies.
Other Things to Do
Buddy Pegs Classes
Our friends over at Buddy Pegs offer bicycle playdates for littles, learn to pedal classes, after school wheel camps, and spring pause 24-hour interval camps. Look them up and schedule a class!
Amazeum
Outside of the D.C. Smithsonians, the Amazuem is our family's favorite museum. Everythingis kid-focused and completely easily-on. Easily the best children's museum we've e'er been to. And aye, information technology's conspicuously amazing.
Town Square
The Town Square is quaint and small-scale towny, and certainly a must-see. The shops are limited and you lot probably won't spend much time in that location, but it's still something y'all need to do. The Walmart Museum and Soda Fountain are located here.
Walmart Museum and Soda Fountain
The museum is costless, so why not? Honestly, the museum is a piddling underwhelming, just one time once more, information technology's free so we're non complaining. There's a cute shop at the offset of the museum that sits in the original Walton Five and Dime space. It sells toys our parents had and actually does experience like you're stepping back in time.
The museum ends with an old-fashioned soda fountain shop with super affordable icecream. We, of form, ordered the Walmart "Spark" flavor. Turns out it's really only blue and yellow vanilla, just a cool side effect was that our toddler'due south poop was bright green the side by side day. HAHAHA.
Trash Water ice Cream Shop
Just due south of the Foursquare, Trash ice cream shop is definitely more expensive than the Soda Fountain, but rightly and then. This 80'southward themed gathering spot has mini arcade games, Simon, and Rubic's cubes at every table. Their specialty is mixing all your toppings into your ice cream so the unabridged bowl is infused with flavor. We loved it!
Crystal Bridges
It'south a famous art museum and it's free! Gorgeous architecture. Gorgeous art. Gorgeous landscaping. Great for adults and well-behaved kids. Not for escape artist toddlers. Unless you accept a leash for your toddler (we unfortunately left ours at dwelling), just explore the absurd grounds and sculptures outside.
Lesser Line
Nosotros've heard Bentonville referred to equally the Disneyland for biking. It's true and is the place to be for family bike riding. With countless trails, y'all'll never get bored, and there's an appropriate adventure for every skill level. From our first day there, we started plotting our return. And while we're from the big urban center, small-town life never looked so expert.
Source: https://www.twowheelingtots.com/biking-with-kids-in-bentonville/
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